Scapolite var. Marialite Crystals on Gypsum - Afghanistan
Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 9th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 2 x 2 x 2.5 inches
Weight: 4.8 oz
Description:
There is a lot of confusion about the minerals from Afghanistan. Sometimes they are called wernerite, other times scapolite, and even other times misidentified as sodalite/hackmanite. Wernerite is an obsolete name used to describe a member of the scapolite group. So far, all these crystallized specimens appear to be marialite - so that’s what I am gonna call it. This piece is a large crystal of gem translucent piece of marialite, with several smaller crystals on matrix. Under SW it fluoresces a deep red, shows a dark yellow under MW, and brighter yellow under LW. We have a lot to learn about the scapolite series of minerals from Afghanistan.
Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Marialite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red