Scapolite: Colors can fool you!

Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: Sep 19th, 2025
Locality: Kokcha Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)

Description:
A typical scapolite (marialitic) from the Koksha Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. In UV-A (365 nm LED) we see the typical S2- vibronic emission. In UV-C (275 nm LED) we see also a yellow emission, but this not a weakened S2- emission. The resulting color is caused by the usual bright red Fe3+ emission (usually seen alone), together with a violet Ce3+ emission. There is also a weak band in the green.
Originally posted by groensteenfreterke on Nature’s Rainbow.

Fluorescence under 275nm UV light.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Normal light.

Fluorescence spectra.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Scapolite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
• Fluorescence under 275nm LED UV light: Yellow