Violet Laser Reactive "Optical Calcite" from the Area of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

Contributed by: FMS Admin
minID: H9M-9VK
Date: May 15th, 2026
Locality: Gatineau TE, Outaouais, Québec, Canada (See on Mindat)
Size: 2.6 x 1.2 x 3.3 cm

Description:
Small calcite cleavage from a now depleted small occurrence near Gatineau, in Outaouais, Quebec, Canada. Fluoresces nicely under midwave UV; pretty weak under SW and LW. Shows a nice reaction to a 405 nm violet laser beam (shown in the first and second pictures). Note how the laser beam is split in two by the birefringence of the calcite in the first image.

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

Fluorescence under 405 nm laser. Note how the laser beam is split in two by the birefringence of the calcite.

Fluorescence under 405 nm laser.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under 405nm blue laser: Red
• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm LED) UV light: Red