Sphalerite from North Carolina
Contributed by: Michael Crawford
Date: Dec 1st, 2025
Locality: Hot Springs Barite Mining District, Madison County, North Carolina, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 6.5 x 10 cm
Description:
Layers of sphalerite in baryte from Hot Springs, Madison County, North Carolina. The sphalerite fluoresces yellow orange under longwave UV illumination; the baryte is non-fluorescent. There is no afterglow. The fluorescence is slightly less intense under shortwave and midwave light. The longwave emission spectrum has a peak with a maximum at 583 nm.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Sphalerite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange