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!

Wollastonite and Calcite - White Knob Quarry, Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 12th, 2026
Locality: White Knob Quarry, Lucerne Valley, Lucerne Valley Limestone District, San Bernardino County, California, USA (See on Mindat)

Description:
The White Knob Quarry is operated by Omya, mining white calcium carbonate. Mainly a marble and limestone quarry, much of the gangue ore is tossed aside and, luckily for us, nicely fluorescent. These include the primary (nicest) fluorescent species - wollastonite (bright yellow SW) that has metamorphosized from the limestone. Others include calcite (dull orange, manganese), green hyalite opal, bluish diopside, a white dolomite, and several other unidentified minerals. Mn, U, Zn, Fe, and REE's all probably act as activators. With careful prospecting some spectacular multi-color specimens can be found.

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.
Normal light.
Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Wollastonite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Yellow
Calcite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
  • Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red

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