Wollastonite with Fluorapatite - Drum Valley, California
Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: May 7th, 2026
Locality: Drum Valley, Tulare County, California, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 4 inches
Description:
Wollastonite is a common and widespread mineral. That said, minerals from each locale seem to have unique differences and qualities. Here is one from Drum Valley in Tulare County, California, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Though the matrix appears to be wollastonite, several other minerals appear to be present, most notably fluorapatite. The fluorapatite appears to be blue in natural light, and pink in shortwave UV. The bright blue in LW is still to be determined, as are some of the other more subtly colored minerals. Interesting piece.
Shown in SW, LW, MW, and natural. Not shown is a low, but lengthy phosphorescence.
Originally posted by Fire Viper on Nature's Rainbows in 2018
Summary of luminescence responses:
Fluorapatite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Pink
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
- Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow