Color Change Scheelite and Fluorite - Xiang Fang Lin Mine, China
Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: May 8th, 2026
Locality: Xianghualing Mine, Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Linwu Co., Chenzhou, Hunan, China (See on Mindat)
Size: 3 x 3.5 inches
Weight: 407 g
Description:
Scheelite is one of the brightest fluorescent minerals around and somewhat widespread. In years gone by, miners would head out into the hills looking for bright scheelite rocks that were indicative of important tungsten ore. What is unusual about this specimen is the color change in midwave--a deep red, with some areas a much brighter red.
While this specimen is labeled as from the Xiang Fang Lin Mine, it's from an older collection and the mine is probably now known as the Xianghualing Mine, one that is known for its color changing scheelite.
Anyway, though we are relatively new to collecting, we have focused a good bit on Chinese material, and this is probably the best example we have seen of the material. Fortunately, we stumbled upon it at a local show.
Originally posted by Fire Viper on Nature's Rainbows in 2018.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Fluorite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue
- Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue
- Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue