Fluorite and Calcite - Berta Quarry, Sant Cugat del Vallès-El Papiol, Barcelona, Spain

Contributed by: FMS Admin
minID: 38N-AKC
Date: May 14th, 2026
Locality: Berta quarry and mine, Sant Cugat del Vallès-El Papiol, Vallès Occidental-Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (See on Mindat)
Size: 4.9 x 1.8 x 6.5 cm

Description:
Shown here is a cute little fluorite and calcite combination specimen from the Berta quarry, that I recently acquired. Very modest specimen in daylight, but lovely under UV.

In the main picture, it is shown fluorescing under midwave UV, with longwave UV combined, to increase the brightness of the fluorite, which fluoresces at its best under longwave UV, while, as it's often the case, the calcite is at its best under midwave UV, followed by shortwave UV. The calcite does not react to longwave.

Originally posted by Frédéric Messier Leroux on Nature's Rainbows in 2021.

Fluorescence under longwave and midwave UV light.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Red
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Red

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue
• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Blue
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (255nm LED) UV light: Blue