Bright Fluorescent Wollastonite, Desert View Mine, California

Contributed by: Chris Clemens
Date: Apr 26th, 2026
Locality: Desert View Mine, Fawnskin (Grout), Bear Valley District, San Bernardino County, California, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 3.5 x 1.5 x 8.5 cm
Weight: 46 g

Description:
This specimen contains bright fluorescent wollastonite and minor calcite and aragonite, from the Desert View Mine, San Bernardino Mts, San Bernardino County, California. Under shortwave UV, the wollastonite shows a bright yellow/orange response and the calcite fluoresces red. A dim, but interesting multi-colored phosphorescent response is seen after shortwave UV.

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.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Wollastonite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow