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Josele
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 410
Location: Tarifa, Spain
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Posted: Jun 06, 2012 12:17 Post subject: Calcite green fluorescence activator |
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Some days ago I discovered that a karstic calcite from an old Roman quarry that was used to built Baelo - Claudia (ancient Roman city in the coast of Tarifa, Cádiz, Andalousia, Spain) is highly fluorescent. The thing is that fluorescence is not pink as use to be in calcites but green, a bright green.
I have two questions, perhaps you can help me:
- How rare is green fluorescence in calcite? For me is something new, I have not seen this before.
- Which element can be the activator for this green fluorescence?
Comments will be very wellcome, thanks in advance.
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Karstic calcite on bioclastic sandstone and conglomerate Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. 45 x 35 x 30 cm Under natural light: |
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Karstic calcite on bioclastic sandstone and conglomerate Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. 18 x 14 x 14 cm Under halogen lamp: |
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Karstic calcite on bioclastic sandstone and conglomerate Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. 18 x 14 x 14 cm Under halogen lamp: |
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GneissWare
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 1287
Location: California
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Posted: Jun 06, 2012 13:06 Post subject: Re: Calcite green fluorescence activator |
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I think the companion thread on Mindat covers the issues:
https://www.mindat.org/mesg-11-262539.html
Uranyl or organic traces are most likely.
to quote from the Fluorescent Mineral Society website:
A common fluorescent is calcite. It comes in just about all fluorescent colors due to different activators. Red and pink fluorescent calcites are often activated by a team of lead and manganese. Calcite may fluoresce green due to uranyl ion traces. Calcite from the mercury mines at Terlingua, Texas, and just across the border into Muzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico, is a favorite. It fluoresces pink under longwave UV and bright blue under shortwave UV, with a uniquely bright blue phosphorescence after the UV lamp is removed.
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Josele
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 410
Location: Tarifa, Spain
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Posted: Jun 06, 2012 13:35 Post subject: Re: Calcite green fluorescence activator |
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GneissWare wrote: | I think the companion thread on Mindat covers the issues: ... |
Thanks for your input. The reason I'm asking here is answers in Mindat were not very explicit (U or organic inclusions). U should be rare in this sedimentary media and I have not found many information about organic materia as fluorescence activator. My hope is perhaps somebody here can explain little bit more.
Also in Mindat nobody tells if is rare or not to find green fluorescent calcite. There is many caves with karstic calcite but I have not idea if they usually are fluorescent. Have you?
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GneissWare
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 1287
Location: California
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Posted: Jun 06, 2012 14:09 Post subject: Re: Calcite green fluorescence activator |
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Given:
Calcite is not inherently fluorescent in pure form.
Its fluorescence is a function of trace contaminants.
Green fluorescence is due to organic compounds or uranyl ions.
Reddish fluorescence is due to lead and manganese.
Then:
As Mn and Pb are more abundant than U in most environments, I would expect green fluorescence to be less common than the reddish form.
Not knowing what kinds of organic compounds contribute to the greenish fluorescence makes a statement about them harder to speculate about. But, organic compounds are probably more prevalent in some environments, like cave systems. So, it will be largely a function of the depositional environment, I would guess.
I don't know of any studies that have quantified how frequently green fluorescence is encountered. Anecdotally, I have seen it several times.
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Josele
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 410
Location: Tarifa, Spain
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Posted: Jun 06, 2012 17:45 Post subject: Re: Calcite green fluorescence activator |
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Gneissware, thank you very much, in few words you accurately summarized the matter.
Just a data: I have calcites from about 30 different places and 7 localities shows fluorescence, mostly pink, some turns to yellow, and only one green. That gives more than 23% rate of fluo calcites.
To me, most fascinating thing is that a so small quantity of an element, not detectable with standard analysis, can provoke so showy effect.
Greetings.
Can see more pics here:
https://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7665
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Calcite on sulphur La Serrata (Maria de Cerrate), Lorca, Murcia, Spain 4 x 3,5 x 3,5 cm With halogen lamp: |
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Josele
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 410
Location: Tarifa, Spain
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Posted: Jul 15, 2012 18:33 Post subject: Re: Calcite green fluorescence activator |
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Some days ago I walked up to the quarry where these calcites come from. I picked up some samples and at home I was very surprised when check the fluorescence because the color: that one is pink.
After wait for a no moon night, yesterday at sunset I walk up again with camera, tripod and some LW UV LED flashlights. Is a very amazing quarry...
You can see a complete report here:
https://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7867
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Karstic calcite Baelo - Claudia Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. 18 x 10 x 10 cm Under halogen lamp. |
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Karstic calcite Baelo - Claudia Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. 18 x 10 x 10 cm Under LW UV LED: |
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Karstic calcite "in situ" Baelo - Claudia Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. FOV: 2,5 m |
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Karstic calcite "in situ" Baelo - Claudia Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. Same wall under LW UV. FOV: 3 m |
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Karstic calcite "in situ" Baelo - Claudia Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. FOV: 1,5 m Detail of the previous photo. |
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Josele
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 410
Location: Tarifa, Spain
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Posted: Aug 07, 2012 16:50 Post subject: Re: Calcite green fluorescence activator |
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This is another outcrop of same Roman quarry. Here we find some karstic calcite covered walls and also some sections showing inner aggregate structures and geodes.
Thanks for your comments, suggestions and information about fluorescence activators, any help to understand little bit more this phenomenon will be very appreciated.
Please, see a report of this outcrop here:
https://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=79916#79916
or, see a complete report of the quarry here:
https://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7867
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Karstic calcite "in situ" under LW UV LEDs. Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. FOV: 2 m A fallen block of calcite partially green fluorescent against a wall covered by pink fluorescent calcite layer. |
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Karstic calcite "in situ". Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. FOV: 1,2 m Collapsed geode section with some smaller pockets with acute pyramidal calcite points, almost covered by blackish lichens. |
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Karstic calcite "in situ" under LW UV LEDs. Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. FOV: 1,5 m Same wall showing crystals with pink fluorescence and others with a green one. |
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Karstic calcite "in situ" under LW UV LEDs. Roman quarry, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain. FOV: 2 m Please, help me adding a comment, I was speechless after this photo. |
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