Calcite – Short Gap, Mineral County, West Virginia

Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: May 7th, 2026
Locality: Short Gap Quarry, Mineral County, West Virginia, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 5 x 5 inches

Description:
West Virginia is not known for a lot of fluorescents. That said, this calcite is a really nice one and very bright, and phosphorescent too. Intriguingly, the crystals appear to have small phantoms and can be found on the surface of the matrix and hidden away in vugs. Shown under SW, MW, LW, with SW and LW phosphorescence.

Originally posted by Fire Viper on Nature's Rainbows in 2018.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to longwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
• Afterglow after exposure to Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Green
• Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green