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!

Strange Fluorescent Aragonite Cave Formation, Shoals, Indiana

Contributed by: Chris Clemens
Date: Apr 28th, 2026
Locality: Shoals, Martin County, Indiana, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 34 x 30 x 38 mm

Description:
This is a very peculiar and interesting specimen of aragonite dripstone, collected in an unnamed cave in a limestone quarry in Shoals, Indiana. This brain-like, convoluted formation of off-white aragonite fluoresces blue/white under all UV wavelengths, with blue phosphorescence after shortwave and green phosphorescence after longwave UV.

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

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Afterglow after exposure to longwave UV light.
Afterglow after exposure to longwave UV light.
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.

Summary of luminescence responses:

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

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