Calcites from Sardinia, Italy

Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: Feb 27th, 2026
Locality: Sardinia, Italy (See on Mindat)

Description:
Three red, fluorescent calcites from Sardinia, Italy.

The first calcite is a very beautiful specimen in daylight too.
Quartz and galena crystals are among the red, fluorescent calcite "pine cones". Calcite fluoresces saturated orange red under SW.
Size: 11 x 8 x 5.5 cm / Weight: 480g

The second specimen best fluoresces in LW and resembles the Boccheggiano aragonite for its saturated red color under UV and the green shade in daylight. Under SW UV light, calcite is red/pink and other small areas fluoresces blue and pale yellow.
Size: 9 x 5 x 4 cm / Weight: 168g

The third calcite has variable size dogtooth white crystals on a quartz matrix. The biggest one measures about 32mm. It fluoresces in SW UV.Size: 8 x 8 x 5.5 cm / Weight: 238g.

Originally posted by Stefano Buzzoni on Nature's Rainbows.

Specimen 1. Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Specimen 1. Normal light.

Specimen 1. Photoshop composition of daylight, SW and macro

Specimen 2. Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Specimen 2. Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Specimen 2. Normal light.

Specimen 2. Normal light.

Specimen 3. Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Specimen 3. Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

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