Fluorescent Mineral Database

A new secret project! Trying to create a nice Fluorescent Mineral Database (FMDB), which would be searchable by mineral, locality, and luminescence properties. Also making it easy for people to contribute with their own specimens!

Chrome Diaspore from Russia

Contributed by: Michael Crawford
Date: Sep 4th, 2025
Locality: Saranovskii Mine, Sarany, Gornozavodskii District, Perm Krai, Russia (See on Mindat)
Size: 6 x 7 cm

Description:
A specimen of purple chrome diaspore ((Al,Cr)O(OH)) and green uvarovite (Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3) from the Saranovskii Mine, Sarany, Gornozavodskii District, Perm Krai, Russia. The Saranovskii Mine is an active chromite mine in Precambrian ultrabasic rocks consisting of dunites and harzburgites. Chrome diaspore and uvarovite formed in veins during high pressure and moderate temperature (330-340ºC and 6-6.5 kb) metamorphism of the ultrabasic rocks.

The chrome diaspore fluoresces bright red under longwave UV light. It has no fluorescence under midwave and shortwave light. The emission spectrum has a very sharp peak at 692 nm and two smaller peaks at 705 nm and 710 nm. This fluorescence is activated by chromium (Cr3+) replacing aluminum.

Some of the uvarovite has a very weak green fluorescence.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.
Longwave Emission Spectrum
Longwave Emission Spectrum

Summary of luminescence responses:

Diaspore (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Red

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