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Science Summaries
Geology

Mineral UV Fluorescence Colors -
Summary Chart

This simplified fluorescence color chart summarizes the colors produced, when minerals are irradiated with Ultraviolet light. Short Wave UV light causes fluorescence in more rocks than Long Wave UV light.


This chart is intended for rock collectors who collect fluorescent rock samples.

.
Mineral Ultraviolet Fluorescence Table
SW UV
Color
Short Wave
Ultraviolet
Fluorescence
Color

Mineral

Elements

White
Light
Color

13

Light Red

.

.

.

15

Dark Red

Halite Halite UV Color

Sodium chloride

Various

FFCC00

Light Orange

Sodalite Sodalite UV Color

NA, Al Silicate Chloride

.

24

Dark Orange

.

.

.

27

Brown

Wulfenite Wulfenite UV Color

Lead molybdate

Various

32

Light Yellow

.

.

.

35

Bright Yellow

Esperite Esperite UV Color

Ca, Pb, Zn silicate

White

36

Dark Yellow

.

.

.

43

Light Green

Opal Opal UV Color

Hydrated silicon dioxide

White

44

Bright Green

Autunite Autunite UV Color

Uranium phosphate

Yellow-green

45

Green

Willemite Willemite UV Color

Zinc silicate

White

46

Dark Green

.

.

.

62

Pale Blue

Selenite Selenite UV Color

Hydrated calcium sulfate

Clear

65

Light Blue

Benitoite Benitoite UV Color

Barium titanium silicate

Blue, none

75

Dark Blue

Fluorite Fluorite UV Color

Calcium fluoride

.

6600FF

Bluish Violet

Hardystonite Hardystonite UV Color

Calcium zinc silicate

White

82

Light Violet

.

.

.

85

Dark Violet

.

.

.

92

Light Pink

Calcite Calcite UV Color

Calcium carbonate

.

95

Dark Pink

.

.

.

19

White

.

.

.

70

Blue White

.

.

.

50

110

140

180-580

100


There is a vast range of UV fluorescence colors. This summary "lumps together" more
subtle colors into general color categories, shown on the left.

Some minerals fluoresce at multiple colors, depending upon impurities ("activators") present,
and UV wavelength used. Some minerals will only flouresce using Short Wave UV light,
and some only using Long Wave UV light.

.
Minerals with Multiple UV Fluorescent Colors
Mineral
Wave
Length
#
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Violet
White

Apatite
(calcium phosphate)

LW

3

.

X
X

.

L

.

.

SW

2

.

X
X

.

.

.

.

Aragonite
(calcium carbonate)

LW

2

.

.

.

X

.

.

X

SW

3

.

.

S

X

.

.

X

Barite
(barium sulfate)

LW

5

X

L

X

.

.

X
X

SW

4

X

.

X

.

.

X
X

Calcite
(calcium carbonate)

LW

7

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

SW

6

X

.

X
X
X
X
X

Celestite
(strontium sulfate)

LW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

SW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

Cerussite
(lead carbonate)

LW

3

.

X
X

.

.

.

L

SW

2

.

X
X

.

.

.

.

Fluorite
(calcium fluoride)

LW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

SW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

Gypsum
(calcium sulfate)

LW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

SW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

.

.

Scapolite
(Ca, Na, Al silicate carbonate chloride sulfate)

LW

3

.

L

X

.

L

.

.

SW

3

S

S

X

.

.

.

S

Scheelite
(calcium tungstate)

LW

2

.

L

X

.

.

.

.

SW

3

.

.

X

.

S

.

X

Sphalerite
(zinc iron sulphide)

LW

4

L

X

L

.

L

.

.

SW

1

.

X

.

.

.

.

.

Witherite
(barium carbonate)

LW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

SW

3

.

.

X

.

X

.

X

Wollastonite
(calcium silicate)

LW

4

.

X
X

.

X

.

X

SW

4

.

X
X

.

X

.

X

Zircon
(zirconium silicate)

LW

2

.

X
X

.

.

.

.

SW

2

.

X
X

.

.

.

.

150 - 580

50

30

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

  X = Fluorescent under BOTH LW and SW Ultraviolet
  L = Fluorescent under Long Wave UV light sources
  S = Fluorescent under Short Wave UV light sources

Top 2 Minerals for Fluorescence
Most colors: Calcite can fluoresce in just about all colors, depending upon impurities.
2nd most colors: Barite can fluoresce in various colors.

To be added:
Adamite (green),
Clinohedrite (orange),
Diopside (yellow, blue),
Tugtupite (red)

Sources:
Mineral Galleries - Fluorescent Mineral Table
Mineral Galleries - The Fluorescent Minerals
Polman Fluorescent Minerals - Phoenix



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DISCLAIMER
Although the author has tried to be as accurate as possible, errors are possible.

I could not find a simplified mineral UV color table like the above. So, I made this fluorescence color chart, to help myself understand the relationships between the type of mineral, and the UV fluorescence colors. I hope that it helps you.




Vaughn's Summaries
©2005 Vaughn Aubuchon
www.vaughns-1-pagers.com
All Rights Reserved
This Vaughns Mineral UV Fluorescence Colors Summary Chart
was last updated on 2012-07-21.