Marialite (Scapolite series), Phlogopite, Calcite, Diopside, and Afghanite - Four Saturated Colors - Afghanistan

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 6th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 2 x 2 x 3 inches
Weight: 7.2 oz

Description:
Marialite is the sodium-rich variety of Scapolite and is the ID of most of the Scapolite found in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. The bright yellow fluorescence of the marialite crystals are backed by bright butterscotch crystals of phlogopite, red fluorescing calcite, blue/white fluorescing diopside, and orange fluorescing afghanite. The photo below was taken under "Fullwave UV" - SW, MW, and LW. Each mineral responds best to certain wavelengths (see the rest of the pictures in the gallery below). Some react with different colors depending on the wavelength.

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