Wollastonite, Calcite and Aragonite, Desert View Mine
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: KFV-CQT
Date: Apr 26th, 2026
Locality: Desert View Mine, Fawnskin (Grout), Bear Valley District, San Bernardino County, California, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 4.5 x 2.6 x 8.7 cm
Weight: 76 g
Description:
This is an interesting 3-color fluorescent specimen from the Desert View Mine, San Bernardino Mts, San Bernardino County, California. At its best under shortwave UV, the wollastonite fluoresces a bright yellow/orange, the calcite red, and the aragonite blue. The aragonite is also phosphorescent. Under longwave UV, the aragonite shows a blue/white response.
The Desert View Mine is notable because it hosts a suite of rare minerals, some of which are found at only one other known location- Franklin, New Jersey.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Aragonite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue
- Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red