Calcite, Diopside, and Chondrodite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Ontario, Canada
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: JTP-HY6
Date: May 19th, 2026
Locality: Long Lake Zinc Mine (Richardson Zinc Mine; Lynx Mine), Olden Township, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada (See on Mindat)
Size: 70 x 41 x 71 mm
Weight: 217 g
Description:
This spectacular fluorescent specimen is from the Long Lake Zinc Mine, Olden Township, near Parham, Frontenac Co., Ontario, Canada. The Long Lake Zinc Mine (aka LLZ) location has been a prolific producer of specimens that show a multitude of pastel fluorescent colors under UV. Under shortwave UV, this specimen shows pink/orange fluorescence due to calcite, fluorescent yellow dots from chondrodite, and blue from fluorescent diopside. This specimen was featured as Photo of the Day on Mindat, 1/22/16.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue