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!

Tugtupite and Fluorite – Kvanefjeld, Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 8th, 2026
Locality: Kuannersuit Plateau (Kvanefjeld), Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland (See on Mindat)
Size: 2.5 x 1.5 x 5 inches
Weight: 16.4 oz

Description:
Fluorite is a common mineral - but not so in the Ilimaussaq Complex, especially the fluorescent variety. Over a dozen years of exploration, we only found a few occurrences of fluorite, most associated with sodalite. One year we made this exceptional find - massive habit fluorite with tugtupite. All the pieces found that year consisted of thin veins in a lujavrite matrix, very difficult to split properly. Only a few were mined and I haven\'t seen any since...

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

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under midwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Tenebrescence after exposure to shortwave UV light.
Tenebrescence after exposure to shortwave UV light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Tugtupite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

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

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