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An incredible, unusual gemmy and extremely tenebrescent tugtupite specimen from Kangerlussaq. On one side displays deep purple colored tugtupite - extremely gemmy; many cabochons are made from this material.
Bright cherry red fluorescing tugtupite on an analcime and lujavrite matrix. Very nicely tenebrescent. Under LW the color shifts to salmon. Note that unlike sodalite/hackmanite from Greenland, red tugtupite does not fade quickly - one of the reasons it is valued as a gemstone.
Under midwave UV light this piece glows all sorts purple-lilac, magenta, red colors. It also displays an incredible phosphorescence.
Tugtupite is a very rare mineral - found in only three places around the world (Kola Russia, Mt St Hilaire, and Greenland). Pieces from Greenland are the most sought after due to coverage, size and brightness.
The Garpenberg mine is located in Bergslagen, a very old mining area in the southern part of Sweden.
The mine is very active today and is one of Europe's most progressive underground mining operations. Collecting is not possible, and the few specimens that reach collector's hands are highly prized. The mineralogy is quite similar to that of Franklin NJ.
