These barite specimens, collected from an abandoned barite mine in Custer County, Colorado, show an unusual multi-wavelength red to orange fluorescent response under all UV wavelengths. Most fluorescent barite responds to UV with pale white, blue/white, or cream/white fluorescence, so these show atypical fluorescence.
The image gallery above shows an interesting specimen consisting of brecciated clasts of light tan baryte in a dark brown matrix of unknown composition. The baryte clasts show a beautiful orange to red fluorescent response under UV, brightest under short wave. This piece measures 65 x 46 x 28 mm. Shown under short wave UV (upper left), mid wave UV (upper right), long wave UV (lower left), visible light (lower right). Click on each individual image for a larger view.
Another barite specimen from the same location. This piece shows the brightest response under mid wave UV. This specimen measures 56 x 42 x 29 mm. Shown under short wave UV (upper left), mid wave UV (upper right), long wave UV (lower left), visible light (lower right). Click on each individual image for a larger view.