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!

Selenite & Halite from Germany

Contributed by: Simone Conti
minID: CDF-QGQ
Date: Apr 5th, 2026
Locality: Bleicherode Potash Works (Karl Liebknecht Potash Works), Bleicherode, Nordhausen District, Thuringia, Germany (See on Mindat)
Size: 11 x 6 x 13 cm
Weight: 242.5 g

Description:
Clear gypsum crystals, usually referred to as selenite, resting on crystalline halite matrix. Both the gypsum and halite are sharp and well formed, without much damage. Under shortwave UV light the halite fluoresces bright orange, while the gypsum fluoresces ethereal blue, for a nice color contrast. The gypsum shows some very nice hourglass fluorescence zoning. It fluoresces best under longwave, with greenish afterglow.

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

Summary of luminescence responses:

Gypsum var. Selenite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue
Halite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Orange

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