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!

Phlogopite, Marialite (Scapolite) - Afghanistan

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 8th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 2 x 1.5 x 2.5 inches
Weight: 3.7 oz

Description:
An example of marialite (member of the scapolite series) alongside massive phlogopite. The phlogopite on this piece fluoresces bright yellow under shortwave and shifts to a butterscotch color under MW and LW. Sometimes folks get confused about the two colors. (Often misidentifed as wernerite, an obsolete name). Full set of pictures in gallery below...

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.
Normal light.
Normal light.
Normal light. Closeup
Normal light. Closeup

Summary of luminescence responses:

Phlogopite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

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

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