Non-Root Beer Fluorite from Clay Center, Ohio

Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: 20R-16Y
Date: Apr 22nd, 2026
Locality: Stoneco White Rock Quarry, Clay Center, Allen Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 34 x 28 x 45 mm
Weight: 43 g

Description:
This is lovely and somewhat unusual fluorite from a classic Midwest location. This specimen originated from the White Rock Quarry in Clay Center, Ohio; a location famous for producing brightly fluorescent root beer brown-colored fluorite cubes. In this case the fluorite cubes are transparent with a subtle pale honey-yellow color, and instead of fluorescing bright cream/white, typical for the root beer variety, these show a beautiful blue/white response under shortwave and white under longwave, and are quite phosphorescent. As an added bonus, the Lockport dolomite matrix is also fluorescent, and provides an aesthetic yellow/white color contrast to the fluorescing fluorite cubes under UV.

Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2018.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to longwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Fluorite (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: Blue
• Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue