An Overview to the Fluorescing Minerals of Australia.By Mark Willoughby.Recently I was asked if I could convey some information about fluorescent minerals of Australia to a collector in the U.S.A.What resulted were the following notes;An outline of the most common, as well as an overview of the lesser-known fluorescent minerals of all but Western Australia. I unfortunately I have very little knowledge of the fluorescents from Western Australia.(I..

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An Overview to the Fluorescing Minerals of Australia.
By Mark Willoughby.


Recently I was asked if I could convey some information about fluorescent minerals of Australia to a collector in the U.S.A. 

What resulted were the following notes; 

An outline of the most common, as well as an overview of the lesser-known fluorescent minerals of all but Western Australia. I unfortunately I have very little knowledge of the fluorescents from Western Australia.
(I would assume however very similar results would apply for Western Australia.)

Although there are many species in Australia that will fluoresce, many of them go un-noticed by most collectors. The following lists are by no means conclusive.

The most common known species would be:
Aragonite
Baryte
Calcite
Dolomite
Epsomite
Fluorite
Gypsum var. Selenite
Halite
Opal var. Hyalite
Opal
Prehnite
Quartz var. ‘nail hole’
Scheelite
Zircon


Lesser-known species include:
Adamite
Aegerine – Augite series
Autunite
Boltwoodite
Borax
Carnotite
Corundum (all variety’s)
Diamond
Dundasite
Gibbsite
Kasolite
Laumontite
Metanatroautunite
Rhodochrosite
Saléeite
Scholzite
Talc 
Topaz
Uranophane
Willemite
Wurtzite-secondary Galena mix


Species known to fluoresce, but not noted as doing so regularly in Australia:
Alunite
Anglesite
Beryl var. Heliodor
Beryl var. Aquamarine
Cerussite
Hemimorphite
Magnesite
Mimetite
Pyromorphite
Quartz var. Agate
Quartz var. Chalcendony
Scapolite
Smithsonite
Spinel
Wavellite


To most collectors in Australia, the most commonly known fluorescent species found here is Calcite: 


Specimens from Broken Hill, N.S.W. being the best known, with fluorescent colours ranging from light yellow to orange thru to pink on to deep purple and magenta. The variance in levels of Lead and Manganese are the major contributors of these colours, with only a minor role being played by other impurities. One of the beauties of this locality is that there can be two or more variants within a single specimen, making for some very interesting and beautiful results. Keeping in mind that Broken Hill has over 300 known mineral species listed as present, the various combinations could be considered endless. Fluorescence is gained from any UV light source, making them one of the most popular minerals among those who collect such specimens. Under daylight viewing, almost all Calcite specimens from Broken Hill appear white to off-white. As well as their fluorescence, Calcite specimens here are well known for their size and availability.
Other minerals known to fluoresce at this locality include; Baryte, Gypsum var. Selenite, Aragonite, Dolomite, Fluorite, Halite, Opal var. Hyalite, Rhodochrosite and a Wurtzite-secondary Galena mix that still causes arguments in labeling. Yellow to orange seems to be a common theme for fluorescence here in many species, although the Fluorite, Halite and Opal var. Hyalite can also vary from white to blue.
Species such as Pyromorphite, Mimetite, Hemimorphite, Anglesite and Cerussite well known to fluoresce in other localities seem to have little if any response to UV lights here.


The next most commonly known site for Calcite would be Biggenden, QLD. There are recordings of bright red fluorescence from here, the key though being that it appears to be only under SW UV. As there is a lack of collectors here with SW UV lamps, confirming this has been a job I have left to be done when the need becomes personally necessary. I would assume that this is quite a possibility due to the fair amounts of Manganese in the area, as well as other possible impurities. The Calcite specimens can vary from clear to milky white, off-white to light yellow and light pink though to a deep pink that borders on red, when viewed under daylight. I believe it is mainly the clear to white and off-white specimens that fluoresce here. There is also no other species of note known to fluoresce here.


The Basalt quarries of Victoria’s volcanic belt and the granite quarries to the north of Victoria would have to be the next best locality’s for Calcite. Most specimens here are not large, but rather several smaller specimens gathered closely on matrix. They can vary greatly in colour, both in daylight and under UV. Possibly the most common colours under UV being, yellow through to deep orange. These localities are also known for a variety of minerals that will fluoresce under all UV lights. Most of these though are quite small and usually found as micromounts. They do however often make good companions to the Calcite when being viewed close. Saléeite, Metanatroautunite and the Aegerine – Augite series are three well known to fluoresce from these localities. 
While Victoria is better known for its Zeolites and Gold rather than anything else, it has an interesting habit of turning up unusual species and associations at times that always need a closer look. This part of Australia is mainly volcanic basalts and is normally overlooked by most collectors. 
 

 

Arkaroola and the Mount Painter region of South Australia would follow here with large masses of Calcite, although usually not in crystal form. The presence of Uranium and secondary Uranium species in this area is often the cause for fluorescence in other species. Here the Calcite fluoresces yellow to golden yellow, not green as one might think. Interestingly a variety of Quartz around Mount Gee, known as ‘nail hole Quartz’ fluoresces green under LW UV. Boltwoodite, Carnotite, Autunite, Kasolite, Uranophane, Scheelite, Opal var. Hyalite, Fluorite, Corundum var. Ruby and Corundum var. Sapphire in this region all fluoresce to some degree. Here the Fluorite has become well known for its unusual banding, purple, clear and green being the most common colours. 


The Renison Bell mine is arguably the best producer of Calcite in Tasmania, often in association with Pyrite, and ususally bright red fluoresence. Tasmania also produces what are arguably the best (although not the largest) Fluorite crystals in Australia, Mount Bischoff being the most notable. With white to light blue to bright blue being seen under UV lighting. The ‘chrome’ Cerussite from both the Zeehan and Waratah districts fluoresces dull yellow (Pers Comm: R. Bottrill, noted that it is not as bright as the specimens from Mt. Isa.), making it one of a very few Cerussite localities in Australia to do so. The normal list of possible fluorescing minerals would have to be included here. Aragonite from most localities fluoresces bright white to yellow, Apophyllite from Avebury, bright yellow, Calcite from Cethana yellow, Gibbsite and Dundasite both fluoresce dull white, Scheelites, Fluorites and Zircons all giving fluoresce in colours expected for their spieces. As to whether the Crocoite fluoresces, I do not know. Although a quick check shows that is certainly does not under LW UV.



The Mount Gambier region, in South Australia, also produces Calcite with high levels of fluorescence, although Aragonite is more common here and often specimens labeled as Calcite are in fact Aragonite. Colours can vary here from yellow through to red under UV. All specimens here are white to off-white under daylight. This area is part of the same volcanic field listed from Victoria, although there seems to be quite a different mix of species here, with no other notable fluorescing species to add to the list.


Kyogle, N.S.W. produces a range of varying forms of Calcite, all of which fluoresce, with a range of colours. This area would most likely be second in regards to size and availability, after Broken Hill. Unfortunately, I have no records here as to what colours are most common. This region is also well known for its Zeolites, mainly Natrolite and Analcime. There is nothing else notable in this area.


There is one region in Western Australia that produces quite large Calcite specimens, often well over 50cm/20” across. As to whether they fluoresce, I do not know. I would assume they do, due to the likely impurities in the area. This is the area around the Fitzroy Crossing in the southwestern part of the Kimberly’s, in the northern part of the state. The Twelve Mile Bore-Goongewa (Prices Creek) and Cadjebut mines are the main locality’s here, often having Pyrite or Marcasite associated with the Calcite, they are primarily Silver, Lead and Zinc deposits. The one mineral in this region I know fluoresces is not obtainable easily outside of a jewelers shop, the Diamonds of the Kimberly mines.


The other major mining regions, the Mount Isa - Cloncurry region, QLD, the New England area of N.S.W., Rum Jungle, N.T., the Victorian Goldfields, the Moonta-Wallaroo & Burra Copper regions, S.A., Iron Monarch, Iron Duke Etc, and S.A., all have little to offer for a collector of fluorescing minerals. Although there are species that fluoresce at these localities, size and availability is generally small.


As Calcite is quite common among many areas around Australian, I have concentrated on this a as the main subject of these notes thus far and listed only those areas where Calcite is most prominent. 


One very well known current mine, Olympic Dam, S.A., does produce fluorescing minerals of various species and usually of quite large size, Fluorite, Baryte, Calcite, Gypsum, Celestine (?) and various minor amounts of Secondary Uranium Minerals amongst others. Gaining specimens from this mine is however unfortunately near impossible. In addition, employees found removing specimens from the plant will have their employment terminated once caught. Security is very high and the only specimens generally seen are those chosen by the mining company for exhibit. 


Other notable sites with fluorescing minerals include (In no particular order):


Coober Pedy, Andamooka and Mintabie, S.A. – Opal
White Cliffs and Lightning Ridge, N.S.W. – Opal
Sapphire Fossicking Fields, QLD – Corundum (all varieties), Topaz, Diamond, Spinel and Zircon.
Mud Tank, Harts Ranges, N.T. – Zircon - often bright orange
Ranger Mine, N.T. – Saléeite
Pine Creek Region, N.T. – Hydrozincite (there are others here that should fluoresce – no data)
Ardglen, N.S.W. – Calcite, Aragonite and various Zeolites
Prospect Hill Region, N.S.W. - Prehnite
Torrington Region, N.S.W. – Sheelite, Corundum var. Sapphire, Topaz and Zircon
Puttapa Zinc Mine, S.A. – Willemite - green, but only on fracture faces, Baryte, Calcite - bright red, Adamite, Austinite and Aragonite
Reaphook Hill, S.A. - Scholzite - green under SW, Hillite - Blue under SW
Field River Caves, S.A. – Aragonite
Plumbago Station, S.A. – Fluorite and Sheelite
Salt Lakes, various locations, Australia – Aragonite, Halite, Epsomite and Gypsum var. Selenite
Glen Wills - Albite 
 

Handlebar Hill / Hilton in Mount Isa, QLD - Cerussite, (although not all of them seem to do it under longwave)
 

Unfortunately, there is not a great trend towards collecting fluorescing minerals in Australia and thus there are limited persons with SW & MW UV lights. I personally believe that a lack of knowledge of our own fluorescing minerals is also partly to blame.
If one keeps in mind that approx 2/3 of Australia’s basement rocks have high Uranium and REE count, the possibility for fluorescing minerals is quite high in many regions (even beyond the normal range of known fluorescing minerals). 
If you are seeking intricate specimens, showing mineral form, then there are many from which to choose. 
If however you are seeking large pieces for making blocks etc, purely for displaying UV property of minerals, than I would suggest that other than Broken Hill Calcites (and possibly Fitzroy Crossing, W.A.), there is little of massive material available from Australia.


Thank you to Ryan Eagle, Ralph Bottrill and Graham Fraser for adding information and photos to these listings.

I intend to continue adding to this and making it somewhat more detailed for each location, for now however, it is a start and an introduction to the fluorescing minerals of Australia.
If anyone has any further information that can be added to this article or queries, please feel contact me via my mindat home page.