Sodalite, Phlogopite, with Nosean? Hauyne? A very confusing piece - very interesting fluorescence
Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 10th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 2 x 1.5 x 4 inches
Weight: 8.6 oz
Description:
This piece was identified as lazurite, thomsonite, with sodalite. I can confirm the sodalite by the orange fluorescence, and the phlogopite is obvious under SW. But the bright white fluorescence is very unusual - could that be the thomsonite? (It may also be gonnardite).
Even more unusual is the blue fluorescence from the supposed lazurite - quite bright all wavelengths. I think this is more like hauyne or nosean. Interestingly the blue fluorescence looks just like the natural color in white light; I had to look many times to believe it was real fluorescence. We have a lot to learn about Afghan rocks!
Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Phlogopite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
- 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