Calcite from the West Fork Mine, a Midwestern, Midwave Fluorescent Beauty
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: 228-GVX
Date: Apr 20th, 2026
Locality: West Fork Mine, West Fork, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 59 x 51 x 94 mm
Weight: 182 g
Description:
A beautiful fluorescent calcite from the Viburnum Trend in southeastern Missouri. This single, large, pale golden calcite scalenohedron (about 4 Inches long) sits on matrix of calcite druse-encrusted limestone. The specimen is from the West Fork Mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri. The calcite only responds under midwave UV and shows little to no fluorescence under either shortwave or longwave UV. Pink fluorescence under midwave UV occurs frequently in calcites from the various Viburnum Trend mines.
The West Fork Mine is an operating lead-zinc mine near Centerville, Missouri located on the West Fork of the Black River. The mine produces about 46,000 tons of lead, 6,800 tons of zinc and 3,900 kilograms of silver per year.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2019.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Pink