Willemite on Calcite with Diopside - W. Pierrepont, New York
Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Mar 10th, 2026
Locality: ZCA West Pierrepont Mine, West Pierrepont, Pierrepont, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 3 x 2 x 4 inches
Weight: 13.4 oz
Description:
Willemite on calcite, with diopside - W. Pierrepont, New York. Very phosphorescent. SW, phosphorescent, Natural - iso100, 4 secs, f11
Comment from Facebook on the diopside: Gregory Lesinski wrote " I don\'t think diopside as much as lesser fluorescing calcite. This material was found by Dino Zack ca. (Aka Amzinite after his wife Amy!) October 2001 only one chunk was found before the mine was reclaimed. That is the only willemite calcite found there! I found 2 willemite chunks and one vein but no calcite in association. Unlike Franklin, Sterling it was very rare at Pierrepont. Balmat had some nice ones, but they are not as rich or crystallized like Franklin Sterling material. Many who have never been there do not realize that."
Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Willemite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green
- Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red