Calcite Crystals on Limestone, Pugh Quarry, Custar, Ohio
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: 2JD-9FG
Date: Apr 20th, 2026
Locality: Pugh Quarry, Wood County, Ohio, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 6.25 x 3.5 x 6.5 inches
Weight: 5 lb
Description:
This midwestern fluorescent beauty consists of pockets of scalenohedral calcite crystals on a limestone matrix, and was collected from the Pugh Quarry in Custar, Wood County, Ohio. Under all UV wavelengths the calcite fluoresces bright blue/white. The underlying limestone is also fluorescent, providing an aesthetically contrasting tan/cream background. The calcite and limestone are also phosphorescent after the shortwave UV source is turned off. Unlike the shortwave response, the limestone matrix shows little to no phosphorescence after longwave UV exposure. The phosphorescence is blue/white after shortwave UV exposure, but the phosphorescence is pale green after longwave UV exposure.
Although not well known for producing fluorescent minerals, the Pugh Quarry was a notable source of striking display quality mineral specimens, including beautiful calcites, fluorites, and more rare barites and celestites. Much of the calcite from the Pugh Quarry shows little to no fluorescent response under UV, but some exceptional fluorescent pieces, such as this one, have been found there. The Pugh Quarry has not produced any significant mineral specimens for many years now, as the current level of operation is below the mineralized zone, and thus below the specimen-producing level of previous years. This specimen is from an old collection and was extracted decades ago.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2019.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: White
- Afterglow after exposure to Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Green
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White
- Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White