Fluorescent Mineral Database

A new secret project! Trying to create a nice Fluorescent Mineral Database (FMDB), which would be searchable by mineral, locality, and luminescence properties. Also making it easy for people to contribute with their own specimens!

Powellite on Calcite, Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey

Contributed by: FMS Admin
Date: Mar 9th, 2026
Locality: Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 6 x 4.5 x 7 cm

Description:
Gravity tram, 20 ft below 180 level at 1040 N, 1270 W, Sterling Mine, Ogdensburg, New Jersey. (Per R. Bostwick: That particular find of powellite comes from the gravity tram, 20&apops; below the 180 level, mine coordinates 1270W, 1040N) A large grain of dark brown, glassy powellite in a matrix of coarse-grained, red fluorescent calcite and green amphibole. This powellite grain, 2 cm across, is unusually large; most are the size of a pea or smaller.

Originally posted by Earl Verbeek on Nature's Rainbows.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Powellite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red

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