Fluorescent Mineral Database

Apatite Specimens from the Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 5th, 2026
Locality: Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland (See on Mindat)

Description:
Rarest of the rare from Greenland - apatite has only been observed in a handful of pieces over the decade+ we have been exploring Greenland. Image 1 is white-light photo I took of a piece found one year; I did not have my UV camera so there were no UV photos of this piece. Image 2 is a specimen collected by Howie Green (and in his collection). The apatite fluoresces a nice blue under midwave UV light, really nothing under shortwave or longwave. The apatite specimens found have either been in a blue sodalite matrix or in association with sorensenite. Images 3 and 4 show apatite in association with sorensenite in white light and midwave.

Images 5 through 8 show the apatite fluorescing yellow under SW (not observed in the specimens shown in the first set of photos). These images are from Jan Sanderhoff in the Fluorescent Minerals Facebook group. He made a new discovery. Sorensenite (pink) and apatite (blue) in white light. FOV: 80x50 mm. The apatite on this piece fluoresces yellow under LW (365nm Convoy torch). He doesn\'t report the fluorescence MW, but the LW response is the first I have observed from Greenland. Images 5 through 8 below show SW, LW, White Light and a closeup.

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.

Image 1. Normal light. Fluorapatite crystals.
Image 1. Normal light. Fluorapatite crystals.
Image 2. Fluorescence under midwave UV light. Sodalite (orange) and Fluorapatite (blue).
Image 2. Fluorescence under midwave UV light. Sodalite (orange) and Fluorapatite (blue).
Image 3. Fluorescence under midwave UV light. Sorensenite (white) and Fluorapatite (violet).
Image 3. Fluorescence under midwave UV light. Sorensenite (white) and Fluorapatite (violet).
Image 4. Normal light. Sorensenite and Fluorapatite.
Image 4. Normal light. Sorensenite and Fluorapatite.
Image 5. Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Sorensenite (white) and Fluorapatite (violet).
Image 5. Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Sorensenite (white) and Fluorapatite (violet).
Image 6. Fluorescence under longwave UV light. Sorensenite (white) and Fluorapatite (yellow).
Image 6. Fluorescence under longwave UV light. Sorensenite (white) and Fluorapatite (yellow).
Image 7. Normal light. Sorensenite and Fluorapatite.
Image 7. Normal light. Sorensenite and Fluorapatite.
Image 8. Normal light. Closeup. Sorensenite and Fluorapatite.
Image 8. Normal light. Closeup. Sorensenite and Fluorapatite.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Fluorapatite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Violet
Sodalite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Orange
Sorensenite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White
  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: White
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White

FMDB Home Page
Submit a new specimen!
My Collection