Fluorescent Mineral Database

A new secret project! Trying to create a nice Fluorescent Mineral Database (FMDB), which would be searchable by mineral, locality, and luminescence properties. Also making it easy for people to contribute with their own specimens!

Willemite, Smithsonite, Calcite - Puttapa Mine, Puttapa, Australia

Contributed by: Chris Clemens
Date: Apr 27th, 2026
Locality: Beltana Mine, Puttapa, Pastoral Unincorporated Area, South Australia, Australia (See on Mindat)
Size: 4.6 x 3.9 x 5.8 cm
Weight: 135 g

Description:
From the Puttapa Zinc Mine (Beltana Mine), a site famous for producing spectacularly colorful fluorescent specimens, this rock has a single cut surface and contains multi-colored swirls of its various mineral components. Brightly fluorescent under shortwave UV, willemite fluoresces various shades of greens and blues, calcite red, and smithsonite pink. The willemite also shows bright and lasting phosphorescence following shortwave UV.

The Puttapa Mine is no longer in operation, and the fluorescent material has all been collected out. Therefore, this location is not producing new specimens.

Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light.
Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.
Normal light. Side 2.
Normal light. Side 2.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Side 2
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Side 2
Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light. Side 2.
Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light. Side 2.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
Willemite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue
  • Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green

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