Examples of short wave fluorescent minerals and combinations from Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ.

 

 Aragonite

A common mineral that will display phosphorescence

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Color: Blue-Blue/Green

Pictured: Aragonite (blue), Calcite (red), Willemite (green)

 

Axinite

Axinite can be differentiated from Calcite and Roeblingite by fluorescing and quickly removing the light. Axinite will not display a flash. "Burning embers" Axinite is the most sought after formation of Axinite as it appears a bright and deep red, resembling fire.

Color: Red

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Pictured: Axinite (red) and Willemite (green)

 

Axinite and Margarosanite

Pictured: Axinite (red), Margarosanite (blue), Willemite (green)

 

 

Bladed Axinite

Axinite can become crystalized and form as plates, this form is also called bladed. On rare occasions, the bladed Axinite can fluoresce. 

Pictured: Axinite (red)

 

Barite

Barite is often associated with Calcite and was found in both Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ. 

Color: White

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Pictured: Barite (white) and Willemite (green)

 

 Barite with Willemite

An uncommon association. 

Pictured: Barite (white), Willemite (green) and Calcite (red)

 

Barite with Hardystonite

A rare association. 

Pictured: Barite (white), Hardystonite (purple), Clinohedrite (orange), Willemite (green) and Calcite (red)

 

700 Level Barite

Found at the 700' level in the Sterling Hill mine. The Barite of this find is characterized by bright white Barite and a darker Calcite. 

Pictured: Barite (white), Calcite (red)

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Bustamite (SW)

Bustamite fluoresces under both SW and LW. It is commonly associated with Hardystonite

Color: Cherry Red

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Pictured: Bustamite (cherry red), Hardystonite (purple), Clinohedrite (orange), Willemite (green)

 

Calcite

A common mineral, demonstrates a flash when the light is quickly removed. 

Color: Red

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Pictured: Camptonite Vein (NF) and Calcite (red)

 

"Crazy Calcite"

Calcite mixed with fluorescent Dolomite (dark red fluorescence). 

Pictured: Calcite (red), Willemite (green), Dolomite (dark red)

 

Polka-dot Ore

A unique find of Calcite and Willemite, where the Calcite formed in round circles, and has a polka-dot like pattern

Pictured: Calcite (red), Willemite (green)

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Clinohedrite

Often forms as veins which can be a thin to thick coating, as well as sugar crystals. 

Color: Orange

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Pictured: Clinohedrite (orange), Hardystonite (purple), Willemite (green)

 

Cuspidine

A rare mineral from Franklin, NJ. There have been several notable finds of Cuspidine. 

Color: Gold/Cream

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Pictured: Cuspidine (gold), Hardystonite (purple, Calcite (red), Willemite (green)

 

Cuspidine with Hardystonite

Pictured: Cuspidine (gold), Hardystonite (purple), Calcite (red), Willemite (green)

 

Datolite

Color: Light Blue

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Pictured: Datolite (light blue), Axinite (red), Willemite (green), Clinohedrite (orange)

 

Datolite (Daylight)

Datolite can be identified in daylight by its glassy formation. 

 

Esperite

An extremely bright and sought after mineral, Higher quality Esperite is considered "cherty", resembling the rock Chert in daylight. 

Color: Yellow

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Pictured: Esperite (Yellow), Hardystonite (purple), Willemite (green)

 

Esperite Crystals

Pictured: Esperite crystals (yellow), Hardystonite crystals (purple), Calcite (red) and Willemite (green)

 

Spiderweb Esperite 

A unique formation of Esperite and Hardystonite that resembles a spiderweb appearance. 

Pictured: Esperite (yellow), Hardystonite (purple), Willemite (green)

 

Fluorapatite

Color: orange, light purple (rare)

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Pictured: Fluorapatite (orange), Willemite (green)

 

Fluorapatite (daylight)

Can be easily identified from two other Apatites (Turneaurite and Johnbaumite) by its daylight appearance which is green. The gemmier the fluorapatite, the darker green the mineral becomes. 

 

Orchid Apatite

There was only one find of this unusual formation of light purple fluorescing Fluorapatite and Hardystonite. One of the pieces of the find, even had a tiny bit of Esperite. 

Pictured: Fluorapatite (light purple), Hardystonite (purple), Willemite (green), Calcite (red)

 

Hardystonite

An uncommon mineral and is very popular in the hobby, and can still be self-collected today in Franklin, NJ. Hardystonite can form as crystals and in a "secondary" formation which is a lighter color and is brighter than a standard Hardystonite. 

Color: Purple-Blue

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Pictured: Hardystonite (purple), Calcite (red), Willemite (green)

 

Hardystonite and Margarosanite

An incredibly rare association

Pictured: Hardystonite (purple), Margarosanite (blue),  Clinohedrite (orange), Calcite (red), Willemite (green)

 

Altered Hardystonite

Altered Hardystonite, also known as secondary Hardystonite, is a formation of Hardystonite where the Hardystonite is a unique light blue/purple, it is often associated with Bustamite. 

Pictured: Hardystonite (light blue), Clinohedrite (orange), Willemite (green)

 

Hardystonite Crystals

Hardystonite can form as crystals, these form in Calcite and the outline can be observed, similar to Esperite crystals. On rare occasion Hardystonite crystals will protrude out of a specimen (see image below). 

Pictured: Hardystonite (purple), Esperite (yellow), Willemite (green)

 

Johnbaumite

A member of the Apatite group found in both Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ. Johnbaumite is characterized by a grey daylight. The only 100% way to differentiate between the three is through testing. 

Color: Orange

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Pictured: Johnbaumite (orange), Fluorapatite (dark orange/brown), Barite (white), Calcite (red)

IMAGE COMING SOON

 

Margarosanite

A rare, bright and highly sought after mineral, Margarosanite can form in veins but can also form in plates. 

Color: Blue

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Pictured: Margarosanite (blue), Clinohedrite (orange), Nasonite (green/tan), Roeblingite (pink-red), Willemite (green)

 

Margarosanite and Prehnite

Pictured: Margarosanite (blue), Prehnite (tan), Xonotlite (purple), Clinohedrite (orange), Willemite (green)

 

 

Platy Margarosanite

Margarosanite that formed in massive plates. 

Pictured: Margarosanite (blue)

 

Platy Margarosanite on Calcite

A very rare formation.

Pictured: Margarosanite (blue), Calcite (red)

 

Minehillite

A very rare Franklin specimen, most commonly associated with Fibrous Wollastonite. It often fluoresces a dull blue under short-wave but becomes very bright under midwave. Platy Minehillite is an extremely rare formation of an already very rare mineral. 

Color: blue/purple

Pictured: Platy Minehillite (blue/purple), Margarosanite (light blue), Calcite (red)

 

Nasonite

Color: white/light green/tan

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Pictured: Nasonite (white), Clinohedrite (orange), Roeblingite (red), Xonotlite (purple), Willemite (green)

 

Prehnite

Comes in a variety of forms and colors, the most sought after are its association with pectolite. 

Color: tan/pink/purple

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Pictured: Prehnite (tan/pink), Clinohedrite (orange)

 

Pecto-Prehnite

A Pectolite and Prehnite, there are two different formations: honeycomb and sugar. The piece pictured falls in between the two formations

Pictured: Pectolite (orange), Prehnite (purple), Willemite (green)

 

Sugar Pecto-Prehnite

The Pectolite and Prehnite have become crystalized. Notice the color difference due to the crystallization. 

Pictured: Pectolite (orange), Prehnite (purple)

 

Sugar Pecto-Prehnite (Daylight)

 

Honeycomb Pecto-Prehnite

The first stage where the Pectolite and Prehnite have begun to crystallize and have a honeycomb appearance. 

Pictured: Pectolite (orange), Prehnite (purple)

 

 Roeblingite

A very rare mineral. Sometimes forms in nodules inside Hendricksite (NF) or in "soup mixes". Soup mixes is a combination of several other parker shaft minerals. Roeblingite like Calcite also flashes. 

Color: red

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Pictured: Roeblingite (red), Xonotlite (purple)

 

Roeblingite Veins in Pecto-Prehnite

Pictured: Roeblingite veins (red), Pectolite (orange), Prehnite (purple)

 

Roeblingite and Margarosanite

Pictured: Roeblingite (red), Margarosanite (blue), Prehnite (tan), Clinohedrite (orange)

 

Scheelite

Color: White

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Pictured: Scheelite (white), Calcite (red)

 

Sphalerite

Fluoresces under SW, MW and LW. For more types of Sphalerite, check the long wave section. 

Color: Orange/Gold/Purple/Green

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Pictured: Sphalerite

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Thomsonite

Formed as a chalky white, sprays and/or rosettes. 

Color: Light blue

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Pictured: Thomsonite (light blue), Calcite (red)

IMAGE COMING SOON

 

Turneaurite

A rare member of the Apatites, there was two distinct finds. Both of which are associated with salmon Calcite.

Color: Orange

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Massi Find Turneaurite

Typically presents as blobs in salmon Calcite.

Pictured: Turneaurite (orange), Calcite (red)

 

Millsite Find Turneaurite

Collected in the early 2000s by Lenny Lee III

Pictured: Turneaurite (orange), Calcite (red)

 

Willemite

A very common mineral from Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ. It is often collected for it's numerous daylight presentations and fluorescent formations. 

Color: Green/yellow

Pictured: Willemite veins in Willemite

 

Beta Willemite

A rare formation of Willemite where it formed as crystals but displays a unique yellow fluorescence. Beta Willemite is normally associated with just ore, it is rarer with Calcite.

Pictured: Beta Willemite, Calcite

 

Willemite crystal in Sphalerite

Pictured: Willemite (green) crystal, Sphalerite (orange), Calcite (red)

 

Wollastonite

There are numerous Wollastonite finds, most from Franklin, NJ and 1 from Sterling Hill, NJ. Of the Franklin finds, there are some specimens collected that are in between finds. 

Color: Orange

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Original Find Wollastonite

One of the rarest finds in the hobby, it's a unique appearing Wollastonite. 

Pictured: Wollastonite (Orange), Willemite (green), Calcite (pale red)

 

First Find Wollastonite

One of the most colorful and bright finds in the hobby. Also one of the rarest and most highly sought after. Massive Wollastonite, Bustamite, Hardystonite and Calcite banding is typical of this find. 

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange), Bustamite (cherry red), Hardystonite (purple), Calcite (red), Willemite (green)

 

 1.5 Find Wollastonite

In between a first and Second Find. Note the typical second find Wollastonite grains are present, as well as the Hardystonite and Calcite mix. However, this piece contains Bustamite which is atypical for a 2nd find. 

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange), Bustamite (cherry red), Hardystonite (purple), Calcite (red)

 

Second Find Wollastonite

The grains of Wollastonite are less massive and the banding is lost. 

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange), Hardystonite (purple), Calcite (red)

 

2.5 Find Wollastonite

The grains have started becoming larger than the typical second find Wollastonite. The dispersed Hardystonite is still present, but Barite (NF) is present and is atypical of a second find. 

Pictured: Wollastonite (purple), Calcite (red), Hardystonite (purple), Willemite (green), Barite (NF)

 

 

Third Find Wollastonite

Large grains are typical of a third find Wollastonite, as well as the presence of Barite.

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange), Barite (white), Calcite (red)

 

 

Fibrous Wollastonite

Fibrous Wollastonite has a unique chalky appearance, and is often formed with Willemite, Calcite and Margarosanite. In higher quality finds, the Wollastonite has become massive and the Margarosanite has become platy, on top of Calcite. In especially rare cases, the Wollastonite can form as rosettes. 

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange)

 

Fibrous Wollastonite with Margarosanite

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange), Margarosanite (blue), Willemite (green)

 

Massive Wollastonite and Margarosanite

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange), Margarosanite (blue), Calcite (red)

 

Fibrous Wollastonite Rosettes 

Pictured: Wollastonite (orange), Margarosanite (blue), Calcite (red)

 

 

Sterling Hill Wollastonite 

The only Wollastonite find from Sterling Hill, NJ. Pieces with Willemite are more rare. 

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Xonotlite

Often formed and then broken on veins. 

Color: Purple-light purple

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Pictured: Xonotlite (purple), Margarosanite (blue), Clinohedrite (orange), Willemite (green)

 

Xonotlite can form as sprays or as crystals. Below is an example of Xonotlite sprays.

Pictured: Xonotlite (light purple), Roeblingite (red)

 

Zincite

Uncommonly fluoresces under both SW, MW and LW. 

Color: Light green/cream, aqua when gemmy

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Pictured: Zincite (Aqua), Willemite (green), Sphalerite (orange), Calcite (red)

 

 

Pictured: Zincite (cream), Sphalerite (orange), Willemite (green)