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!

Hexagonal Columnar Calcite - Black Scalenohedron Color Zoning

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 8th, 2026
Locality: Yongchun Co., Quanzhou, Fujian, China (See on Mindat)
Size: 4 x 2 x 6 inches
Weight: 23.8 oz

Description:
White hexagonal columnar calcite with black scalenohedron color zoning. It is a two-generation growth calcite where the inner black scalenohedron formed first, then the white hexagonal calcite covered the black crystal. Yongchun Co., Quanzhou prefecture, Fujian, China.

The reverse (matrix) side appears to have druzy quartz covering/combined with fluorite. Under SW the quartz appears to fluoresce with about the same brightness of hardystonite, with the blue fluorescence disseminated by the overlying quartz. Under strong LW up close the fluorite is clearly visible in/near/under the quartz (see last set of pictures below).

There has been a plethora of listings on Ebay and other sites highlighting this as a new find. It was apparently mined in Nov 2017, and while not a unique crystal habit for calcite, quite uncommon and exceptionally pretty under UV. Respectable under shortwave, excels under MW, and fluoresces under 365nm LW (most pictures on Ebay are overexposed blobs under 390nm).

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2018.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light. Closeup. Edge-on view of a crystal showing the inner crystal.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light. Closeup. Edge-on view of a crystal showing the inner crystal.
Normal light. Closeup. Edge-on view of a crystal showing the inner crystal.
Normal light. Closeup. Edge-on view of a crystal showing the inner crystal.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Side 2. Matrix.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Side 2. Matrix.
Normal light. Side 2. Matrix.
Normal light. Side 2. Matrix.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light and white light. Fluorite on the reverse matrix side, covered by druzy quartz
Fluorescence under longwave UV light and white light. Fluorite on the reverse matrix side, covered by druzy quartz
Normal light. Closeup. Fluorite on the reverse matrix side, covered by druzy quartz.
Normal light. Closeup. Fluorite on the reverse matrix side, covered by druzy quartz.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Red
  • Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
Fluorite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Blue

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