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!

Tugtupite from the Ilímaussaq complex, Greenland

Contributed by: Simone Conti
minID: XEM-QGL
Date: Dec 01st, 2024
Locality: Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland (See on Mindat)
Size: 5.5 x 2 x 8 x cm
Weight: 76.38 g

Description:
Tenebrescent tugtupite: normally pink, it changes color to a darker red upon exposure to UV light. Strong white light reverses the color back to pink. The fluorescence under UV light is typical for tugtupite: bright red and orange under short and long wave, respectively. More interestingly, it fluoresces a nice pink under midwave UV and shows a very long lasting white afterglow after exposure to UV light (any of them).

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

Summary of luminescence responses:

Tugtupite

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Pink
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
  • Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: White
  • Afterglow after exposure to Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: White
  • Tenebrescence after exposure to Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Red

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