Calcite - Rensselaer Quarry, Rensselaer, Indiana
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: H3V-ALP
Date: May 24th, 2026
Locality: Rensselaer Quarry, Pleasant Ridge, Jasper County, Indiana, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 65 x 46 x 107 mm
Weight: 294 g
Description:
This is a unique fluorescent calcite specimen from the Rensselaer Quarry, Pleasant Ridge, Jasper County, Indiana, that shows an unusual crystal habit consisting of a single mass of intergrown, doubly terminated, highly modified scalenohedrons. Under midwave UV (302 nm), the calcite shows a lovely pastel pink, fluorescent response. As is typical for the Rensselaer location, this specimen also has surface and included bitumen, which is also fluorescent. The calcite is poorly fluorescent under shortwave and longwave UV.
The Rensselaer Quarry, also known as the Pleasant Ridge Quarry, is located approximately 3 miles east of Rensselaer, Indiana. The quarry is a former open pit producer of dolostone aggregate but is now closed and flooded with water. Natural bitumen commonly permeates the dolostone and often coats the mineral specimens collected there.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2022.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Violet