Fluorescent Minerals Catalog
Activator Ions, Crystal Physics, Shortwave (254nm) vs Longwave (365nm) Responses & Phosphorescence
Mineral fluorescence occurs when trace chemical impurities called activators (such as Mn2+, Eu2+, UO22+, Cr3+, or S2-) absorb UV photons and re-emit visible light.
Pure, stoichiometric minerals rarely fluoresce; fluorescence requires specific activator ion concentrations (typically 0.1% to 1%). Conversely, presence of elements like iron (Fe2+ / Fe3+) acts as a quencher, absorbing photon energy non-radiatively and extinguishing fluorescence.
1. Shortwave (254nm) vs Longwave (365nm) Activation
Fluorescent mineral collectors rely on two distinct ultraviolet wavelengths:
Shortwave UV (254 nm / UV-C)
Roughly 85% to 90% of all fluorescent mineral species respond exclusively or most brilliantly to shortwave UV light. The high photon energy of 254 nm (4.88 eV) is required to excite crystal field electronic transitions in minerals like Willemite (neon green) and Calcite (vivid red). Shortwave lamps require fused quartz discharge tubes and specialized solar-blind filters (UG5).
Longwave UV (365 nm / UV-A)
Fewer mineral species respond to longwave UV, but those that do often exhibit spectacular brightness. Classic longwave minerals include Sodalite / Yooperlites (blazing fire-orange), Fluorite (royal blue), Wernerite (sunny yellow), and Ruby / Corundum (laser red). Longwave minerals can be found with battery-operated 365nm filtered LED flashlights.
2. Master Fluorescent Mineral Database
Use the search filter below to search by mineral name, chemical formula, activator, or fluorescence color:
| Mineral Name | Formula | Crystal System | Activator Ion | Shortwave (254nm) | Longwave (365nm) | Phosphorescence | Notable Localities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcite | CaCO3 |
Trigonal | Mn2+ (sensitized by Pb2+ or Ce3+) | Brilliant vivid red / orange-red | Pale pink, yellow, blue, or inert | Strong brief red phosphorescence | Franklin & Sterling Hill, New Jersey, USA; Terlingua, Texas, USA |
| Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
Trigonal | Mn2+ | Blinding intense neon green | Weak yellowish-green to inert | Intense long-lasting green phosphorescence (up to several hours in 'troostite') | Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA; Tsumeb, Namibia |
| Fluorite | CaF2 |
Isometric | Eu2+ (divalent Europium), Y3+, Sm3+ | Weak violet-blue to white | Intense electric royal blue / violet-blue | Occasional pale blue phosphorescence; exhibits thermoluminescence | Weardale, County Durham, England; Hardin County, Illinois, USA |
| Sodalite (Yooperlite / Hackmanite) | Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 |
Isometric | S2- (disulfide molecular ion center) | Bright orange to fiery salmon-orange | Blazing molten fire-orange / bright yellow-orange | Strong orange-red phosphorescence; tenebrescence in Hackmanite variety (reversible photochromism) | Keweenaw Peninsula / Lake Superior, Michigan, USA ('Yooperlites'); Kola Peninsula, Russia |
| Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2·10-12H2O |
Tetragonal | (UO2)2+ (Uranyl ion) | Intense bright electric yellow-green | Intense bright lime-green / chartreuse | Weak green phosphorescence; mineral is naturally radioactive | Daybreak Mine, Mount Spokane, Washington, USA; Autun, France |
| Wernerite (Scapolite) | (Na,Ca)4[(Al,Si)12O24](Cl,CO3,SO4) |
Tetragonal | (UO2)2+ or polysulfide ions | Weak orange-yellow | Blinding brilliant sunny mustard-yellow / canary yellow | Moderate yellow phosphorescence | Grenville Province, Quebec and Ontario, Canada |
| Scheelite | CaWO4 |
Tetragonal | Intrinsic tungstate [WO4]2- groups (modified by MoO4 replacement) | Brilliant bright ice-blue (pure) to golden-yellow (molybdenum-rich powellite series) | Inert (does not fluoresce under 365 nm) | None | Pine Creek Mine, Bishop, California, USA; Mittersill, Austria |
| Hardystonite | Ca2ZnSi2O7 |
Tetragonal | Pb2+ | Deep royal indigo-blue / violet-blue | Inert | None | Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (Type Locality) |
| Esperite | PbCa2Zn3(SiO4)4 |
Monoclinic | Mn2+ | Brilliant canary yellow to lemon yellow | Inert | None | Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA |
| Benitoite | BaTiSi3O9 |
Hexagonal | Ti4+ intrinsic octahedral complex | Vivid sky-blue to bright cobalt blue | Inert to very faint dull red | None | Dallas Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, USA |
| Hyalite Opal (Uranyl-activated Opal) | SiO2·nH2O |
Amorphous | (UO2)2+ (Uranyl trace impurity) | Vivid glowing neon green | Vivid glowing neon apple-green / chartreuse (fluoresces even in indirect sunlight!) | Weak green phosphorescence | Zacatecas, Mexico; Valec, Czech Republic; Erongo, Namibia |
| Aragonite | CaCO3 |
Orthorhombic | Mn2+, organic humic acids, or uranyl ions | Bright rose-pink, cream, or bright green | Warm butter-yellow, white, or salmon-pink | Strong long-lasting cream or greenish phosphorescence | Girgenti, Sicily, Italy; Tazewell County, Virginia, USA |
| Sphalerite | (Zn,Fe)S |
Isometric | Cu+, Ag+, or Mn2+ (low iron content required) | Weak orange to inert | Blazing bright fiery golden-orange or bright pink | Sensational long-lasting triboluminescence (flashes orange when scratched) and phosphorescence | Balmat, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA; Franklin, New Jersey, USA |
| Tremolite | Ca2(Mg5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
Monoclinic | Mn2+ or Cr3+ | Bright yellow, creamy white, or orange | Pink to pale yellow | Moderate yellow phosphorescence | Balmat / Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA |
| Eucryptite | LiAlSiO4 |
Trigonal | Ti4+ or Mn2+ | Brilliant cherry red / crimson | Inert | None | Bikita Pegmatite, Masvingo, Zimbabwe; Harding Mine, Dixon, New Mexico, USA |
| Powellite | CaMoO4 |
Tetragonal | Intrinsic molybdate [MoO4]2- complex | Brilliant creamy golden-yellow | Pale cream-yellow to inert | None | Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India; Tonopah, Nevada, USA |
| Clinohedrite | CaZnSiO4·H2O |
Monoclinic | Mn2+ | Intense rich bright orange | Inert | Weak orange phosphorescence | Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA |
| Margarosanite | Pb(Ca,Mn)2Si3O9 |
Triclinic | Mn2+ / Pb2+ | Spectacular sky-blue with ruby-red and orange highlights | Weak violet to inert | None | Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA; Langban, Sweden |
| Tugtupite | Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl |
Tetragonal | S2- molecular center | Intense fiery crimson red | Bright salmon-orange to peach-red | Spectacular long-lasting crimson phosphorescence; photochromic (deepens to purple-red under sunlight) | Ilimaussaq Complex, Narsaq, Kujalleq, Greenland |
| Corundum (Ruby) | Al2O3:Cr |
Trigonal | Cr3+ (trivalent Chromium) | Weak dull red | Intense fiery laser red (692.8 nm and 694.3 nm R-lines) | Brief red phosphorescence | Mogok, Mandalay Region, Myanmar; Jegdalek, Afghanistan; Luc Yen, Vietnam |