Zincite, Willemite, Franklinite - Sterling Hill Mine, New Jersey
Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: May 9th, 2026
Locality: Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (See on Mindat)
Description:
This small piece was languishing in our cabinets until I hit it with a very strong longwave lamp. Only then did the bright yellow zincite appear. Quite stunning actually. The zincite is also an interesting red in natural light. Portions of the willemite have an interesting yellow glow to them as well. If the piece was from somewhere other than Sterling, it might be something altogether different.
Originally posted by Fire Viper on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Willemite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Green
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow