Fluorescent Mineral Database

A new secret project! Trying to create a nice Fluorescent Mineral Database (FMDB), which would be searchable by mineral, locality, and luminescence properties. Also making it easy for people to contribute with their own specimens!

Photochromic scapolite

Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: Sep 19th, 2025
Locality: Kokcha Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)

Description:
This scapolite is surrounded by a hauyne/lazurite coating. It is made photochromic via X-ray irradiation. These specimens have the typical vibrionic S2- fluorescence under UV-A (365 nm LED), but only show a faint fluorescence due to structural defects in the UV-C (275 nm LED). These specimens lack the typical REE UV and blue and the red Fe3+ fluorescence.
Originally posted by groensteenfreterke on Nature’s Rainbow.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.
Tenebrescence after exposure to shortwave UV light.
Tenebrescence after exposure to shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Scapolite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
  • Tenebrescence after exposure to Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Blue

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