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!

Yellow Calcite from the Sterling Mine, NJ

Contributed by: Simone Conti
minID: KC6-MTH
Date: Apr 8th, 2026
Locality: Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 7 x 4 x 7 cm
Weight: 380.9 g

Description:
A common mix of calcite, sphalerite, and willemite from the Sterling Mine, but with an unusual fluorescence. Under longwave UV light, some of the calcite fluoresces very bright yellow, and the sphalerite its common orange (the main “vein” in the middle) and violet (little dots on the upper left corner) with very long lasting afterglow. Shortwave UV shows the green willemite, and the dull red of the rest of the calcite.

Fluorescence under longwave and shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave and shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under longwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red
Sphalerite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
  • Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Violet
Willemite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Green

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