Chkalovite, Tugtupite, Analcime, Sodalite, etc. - Taseq West, Greenland
Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: May 14th, 2026
Locality: Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland (See on Mindat)
Size: 7.6 x 5.6 x 9.5 cm
Description:
Shown here is a pretty neat specimen, consisting mostly of sodalite (highly tenebrescent), along with chkalovite, and minor amounts of tugtupite, analcime and uranyl salts, from Taseq West, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland. What I like the most about this specimen is the fact that it contains large phenocrystals of chkalovite that fluoresces in a lilac/violet color under shortwave, which I think is not so common.
Other sides of the specimen have a better fluorescent coverage but consist mostly of sodalite grains. The face shown in this post is, in my opinion at least, the most interesting.
Originally posted by Frédéric Messier Leroux on Nature's Rainbows in 2021.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Chkalovite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Violet
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
- Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Orange
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Red
- Tenebrescence after exposure to Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Purple