Bityite from the Harding Mine, New Mexico, USA

Contributed by: Simone Conti
minID: 06C-H4N
Date: Jul 6th, 2026
Locality: Harding Mine, Picuris District, Taos County, New Mexico, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 12 x 7 x 14 cm

Description:
Bityite mica flakes on matrix, fluorescent yellow/green under shortwave UV light, together with some fluorapatite, fluorescent bright yellow. On the bottom and left side there are a lot of tiny dots of something fluorescent light yellow under shortwave and more violet under midwave. Not sure what those are...

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Bityite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green

• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow