The sulfur mines of the Agrigento region of Sicily, Italy are notable for the production of well-formed clusters, plates and groupings of beautifully fluorescent and phosphorescent aragonite specimens, such as the one featured here. This specimen consists of a cluster of pseudohexagonal aragonite crystals that show a spectacular multi-wavelength response under UV. The size of this piece is 14 x 9 x 7 cm, and it weighs 743 grams.
The photo montage above shows the Agrigento aragonite specimen under visible light (top), short wave UV (SW UV), phosphorescence after short wave (SW P), long wave UV (LW UV), and phosphorescence after long wave (LW P).
Full view of the specimen under visible light.
Bright white fluorescence is seen under short wave UV (254 nm).
Blue phosphorescence following exposure to short wave UV.
Vivid pink fluorescence is seen under long wave UV (365 nm).
Pale green phosphorescence following exposure to long wave UV.