Fluorescent minerals

Fluorescent minerals

Description

Minerals that have the unique physical property to absorb light and one wavelength and instantaneously release it at a different wavelength, resulting in a temporary color change to the eye of the human observer. Only about 15% of minerals are able to fluoresce. The fluorescence is usually due to a cation activator, such as: tungsten, molybdenum, lead, boron, titanium, manganese, uranium, and chromium, but some rare earth elements are also able to contribute to the phenomenon. Some trace elements, such as iron or copper, can quench the fluorscence. Most minerals fluoresce a single color, but some may have multiple colors; for example calcite can fluoresce red, blue, white, pink, green and orange. Because of the potential for many varying factors, the fluorescence of mineral is not typically used for its identification.

Other Properties

Mineral	Composition	Visible color	Fluorescent color
Apatite	Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)	pale green to purple	pink, blue, greenish yellow
Barite	BaSO4	colorless to white	yellowish
Calcite	CaCO3	colorless to white	red, blue, pink, green, orange
Cerrusite	PbCO3	colorless to white	yellowish
Chalcedony	SiO2	colorless to white	yellowish
Corundum	AlO3	colorless to white	yellowish
Dolomite	CaCO3	colorless to white	yellowish
Fluorite	PbCO3	colorless to white	blue-violet
Quartz	SiO23	colorless to white	red
Rhyolite	PbCO3	colorless to white	yellowish
Scapolite	PbCO3	colorless to white	yellowish
Willemite	PbCO3	colorless to white	green

Raman

Additional Information

J. Ogden, Jewelry of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications, New York, 1982.

Comparisons

Properties of Common Abrasives

Properties of Common Gemstones

Natural and Simulated Diamonds