Really Kaleidoscopic Rock from Australia (Puttapa Zinc Mine)

Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: Feb 26th, 2026
Locality: Puttapa, Pastoral Unincorporated Area, South Australia, Australia (See on Mindat)
Size: 6.3 x 6.3 x 8.2 cm
Weight: 512 g

Description:
Very nice rock with brilliant and saturated red and green colors over a light blue matrix. Black dendritic patterns of about 1 cm are also present.
Phosphorescence is not so spectacular as SW fluorescence.

Originally posted by Stefano Buzzoni on Nature's Rainbows.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Side 2

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Eye of smithsonite and calcite

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Closeup of dendrites

Normal light. Closeup of dendrites

Normal light. Closeup of more dendrites

Summary of luminescence responses:

Willemite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

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

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

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