Sphalerite, Ophir Hill Mine, Tooele County, Utah
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: 5WH-9A7
Date: Apr 15th, 2026
Locality: Ophir Hill Consolidated Mine, Ophir, Ophir Mining District, Tooele County, Utah, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 14.6 x 1 x 18.2 cm
Weight: 508 g
Description:
Sawn slab of zinc ore consisting of sphalerite, galena, and other unidentified minerals, from the Ophir Hill Mine, Tooele County, Utah. Under longwave UV (365 nm), the sphalerite shows an orange, fluorescent response and disseminated grains of an unidentified mineral that fluoresces blue.
The Ophir Hill Mine in Tooele County, Utah is known by fluorescent mineral collectors as a source of lovely fluorescent scheelite and calcite specimens. This fluorescent sphalerite is an uncommon find from the location.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2023.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Sphalerite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange