Blue Phosphorescent Fluorite from a Limited Occurrence in Bedford, Indiana
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: 2NV-M4N
Date: May 20th, 2026
Locality: State Route 37 roadcut, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana, USA (See on Mindat)
Description:
Cubic yellow fluorite crystals on limestone matrix, collected in 2016 from a roadcut in Bedford, Indiana. This fluorite shows a very interesting fluorescent/phosphorescent response. Under shortwave UV, the cubes fluoresce a bright off-white color, with blue phosphorescence. The fluorescent response under midwave and longwave UV is a similar bright white, but without visible phosphorescence. The crystals seen in these photographs measure up to 2.5 mm on edge.
The fluorite occurrence from which this specimen was collected was confined to a relatively limited area of about 40 yards in length, between knee and head height. Other fluorite specimens were found at this location that showed similar fluorescence, but a markedly different phosphorescent response- white after shortwave UV and green after longwave UV.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Fluorite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White
- Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue