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!

Vesuvian Mix from Pompeii Disaster

Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: Feb 28th, 2026
Locality: Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Campania, Italy (See on Mindat)
Size: 5 x 4 x 7 cm
Weight: 140 g

Description:
This specimen comes from Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples, Italy. It was found around 1960's in the pumice layers of the 79 DC Vesuvius eruption, the one that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum! It’s a typical Vesuvian volcanic projectile rich in Nepheline and minor other minerals. In this specimen, there are Sodalite, Calcite and probable Diopside.

The best fluorescence is with LW+MW. Sodalite fluoresces better in LW and other minerals are brighter in MW.

Originally posted by Stefano Buzzoni on Nature's Rainbows.

Fluorescence under longwave and midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave and midwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.
Fluorescence under longwave and midwave UV light. Closeup. FOV 18mm
Fluorescence under longwave and midwave UV light. Closeup. FOV 18mm

Summary of luminescence responses:

Sodalite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red

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