Afghanite, Calcite, Phlogopite, with Unknowns Afghanistan - Very Bright and Colorful

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 14th, 2026
Locality: Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan (See on Mindat)
Size: 3.5 x 1.5 x 4 inches
Weight: 17.8 oz

Description:
This piece (as most from Afghanistan) is best under fullwave (all three wavelengths - SW+MW+LW - 1st picture). Longwave brings out the beautiful orange color of the afghanite. Midwave makes the calcite really pop, and shortwave brings out the yellow phlogopite and white diopside. There is a very unusually bright yellow fluorescence that seems to be LW only - gotta wonder???

If I were to display it under only one light, I would probably pick MW, preferably with a LW "kicker".

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.