Scapolite (Marialite), Calcite, Phlogopite, Diopside, Minor Pyrite - Afghanistan

$0.00 USD

We have run out of stock for this item.

SKU: MSW1367
Weight and Dimensions

1lb 2 oz, 3" x 3" x 3.5"

Shipping and Delivery

$8.50 Shipping
USPS Priority Mail
2-3 Business Days

We've made contact with a miner in the Afghan areas and have a supply of mine fresh material. The fluorescent activators have not been studied very much from this area. It's very unclear what is going on with most of the material from this locality, but as we get more material and discover new fluorescent minerals we will have them analyzed for proper IDs. But they sure do make for some confusing but amazingly beautiful fluorescent specimens. This piece (as most from Afghanistan) is best displayed using multiple wavelengths, and shows best under a combination of longwave, midwave and shortwave (fullwave - first picture), although it is very respectable under SW alone (second pic) - or even MW or LW alone.

There are many scapolite (var. marialite) crystals that are fluorescent a bright yellow LW and dimmer yellow SW.

The matrix appears to have a bright white fluorescing mineral that is suggested to perhaps be diopside. Under SW the calcite fluoresces a dark orange, and the diopside crystals fluoresce a bluish white. Under MW (only) there are areas of a strong blue fluorescence from an unknown mineral - this is one of the few examples of MW only fluorescence we have observed (several closeups of this area are shown at the bottom). Phlogopite is bright yellow under SW, shifting to a bright butterscotch color MW and even deeper LW (very few phlogopites have this multi-wave response). Midwave causes the calcite to pop very nicely. Longwave brings out the yellow color of the afghanite crystals. MW and LW bring out the bright yellow of the marialite very nicely. If we were to display it under only one light, we would probably pick SW, preferably with a MW “kicker”.

fluorescent mineral specimen of tugtupite, sodalite

Common Questions About Fluorescent Minerals – An FAQ Guide

Fluorescent minerals can be fascinating to those who discover these hidden treasures and they often raise various questions. Here are some common questions related to fluorescent minerals.
Read more
purple fluorite crystals

MINERAL OF THE MONTH: FLUORITE

Fluorite often times has bright fluorescence under ultraviolet light, revealing bright colors that range from purples and blues to brilliant greens and pinks. Anyone with a fluorescent mineral collection probably has a piece of fluorescent blue fluorite, the most common fluorescent color for this mineral.
Read more
calcite, hydrozincite, aragonite, diopside specimen under UV light

Long Lake Zinc Mine - Ontario Canada

The sun was slowly setting so we made dinner and relaxed a while (amazing how slowly the sun sets when you're waiting for it). Once it got dark collected started in earnest. The first thing you notice is the bright blue hydrozincite everywhere on red calcite. All of the small rocks glow. We proceeded to check out the large boulders laying around on the surface and quickly determined that dozens of prior collectors had done the same. That's why they're still lying around.
Read more
.ezsd-arrows .ezsd-arrows_arrow { position: relative !important; padding: 0; height: 100%; pointer-events: all; opacity: 0.9; background-color: white !important; }