Yellow Zincite, Willemite, Calcite, Sphalerite - Sterling Hill Mine, New Jersey

Contributed by: Howie Green
Date: Mar 9th, 2026
Locality: Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (See on Mindat)

Description:
Yellow zincite is strongly fluorescent under longwave 365nm, with willemite and calcite. The blue fluorescence of sphalerite is strongly phosphorescent. First picture is LW, second picture is SW, last picture is white light. The gallery at the end shows closeup pictures of the sphalerite, var. cleiophane. Franklin's cleiophane tends to be small dots whereas Sterling Hill's is more patchy. The blue is cleiophane, the pink and orange (when present) is the sphalerite.

Originally posted by Howie Green on Nature's Rainbows.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Closeup of sphalerite.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light. Closeup of sphalerite.

Afterglow after exposure to longwave UV light. Closeup of sphalerite.

Normal light. Closeup of sphalerite.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Zincite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

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

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

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

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

• Afterglow after exposure to Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue
• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Pink