Brightly Fluorescent Hydrozincite and Calcite from the Historic Columbia Mine, Marion, Kentucky
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: JHX-18K
Date: Apr 23rd, 2026
Locality: Columbia mine, Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 6.5 x 5.8 x 11.1 cm
Weight: 396 g
Description:
Brightly fluorescent hydrozincite and calcite from the historic Columbia Mine, Marion, Kentucky. Under shortwave UV (254nm) the hydrozincite shows a spectacular veined blue/white response, and the calcite fluoresces a beautiful red/pink color. The specimen was collected in 2015 during a night dig sponsored by the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum.
Located on private property, the Columbia Mine dates back to the 1800s and was originally owned by then President Andrew Jackson. The Columbia Mine was also the first mine established in the historic Illinois/Kentucky Fluorspar District. The Columbia Mine was originally mined for argentiferous galena as a source of silver but was later mined for zinc in the form of sphalerite. Today it provides easy collecting of spectacular fluorescent mineral specimens.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Hydrozincite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red