Smithsonite Rich El Refugio with Minor Willemite
Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: Feb 24th, 2026
Locality: El Refugio Mine, Choix, Choix Municipality, Sinaloa, Mexico (See on Mindat)
Size: 3 x 1.5 x 3.5 inches
Weight: 1 lb
Description:
Rumor has it that this mine [Sinaloa, Mexico] has been dynamited by the Mexican Gendarmes. Evidently it was being used for storage by the drug cartel - office supplies I suspect. The piece has a pink smithsonite hue in daylight and is as rugged as most ore from this locale. Shortwave fluorescence is the only one pictured as it doesn\'t fluoresce when exposed to longwave ultraviolet light and the fluorescence is dim under midwave light. The smithsonite fluoresces in multiple shades of red and purple. There is some green willemite fluorescence and a spot of bright blue hydrozincite [not seen in pictures].
Fluorescent pictures were taken at ISO-100, f/11 for 2.5 seconds.
Originally posted by John Rofrano on Nature's Rainbows.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Smithsonite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Purple