Marialite Crystal - Afghanistan

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 13th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 2.5 x 2.5 x 4 inches
Weight: 12.5 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 is what I am gonna call it.

This piece is a large crystal of gem translucent piece of marialite. Under SW it fluoresces a deep red, and a dull yellow under LW, mixed with some bluish white.

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.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Marialite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Yellow
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Red