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!

Phlogopite on Calcite - Afghanistan

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Mar 30th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)

Description:
Most phlogopite is only fluorescent yellow under shortwave. A few will fluoresce this beautiful butterscotch color under midwave light and darker under longwave light.

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2015.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
Phlogopite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Orange

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