This midwestern fluorescent beauty consists of pockets of scalenohedral calcite crystals on a limestone matrix, and was collected from the Pugh Quarry in Custar, Wood County, Ohio. Under all UV wavelengths the calcite fluoresces bright blue/white. The underlying limestone is also fluorescent, providing an aesthetically contrasting tan/cream background. The calcite and limestone are also phosphorescent after the UV source is turned off. This large specimen measures approximately 6.5 x 6.25 x 3.5 inches, and weighs 5 pounds.
Although not well known for producing fluorescent minerals, the Pugh Quarry was a notable source of striking display quality mineral specimens, including beautiful calcites, fluorites, and more rarely barites and celestites. Much of the calcite from the Pugh Quarry shows little to no fluorescent response under UV, but some exceptional fluorescent pieces, such as this one, have been found there. The Pugh Quarry has not produced any significant mineral specimens for many years now, as the current level of operation is below the mineralized zone, and thus below the specimen-producing level of previous years. This specimen is from an old collection, and was extracted decades ago.
The above photograph shows the fluorescent response under short wave UV (254 nm). The calcite fluoresces a bright, ghostly blue/white and the underlying limestone matrix shows a tan/cream response.
The same specimen showing blue/white phosphorescence following exposure to short wave UV. Note that both the calcite and limestone are phosphorescent.
Fluorescent response under long wave UV (365 nm).
The photograph above shows pale green phosphorescence of the calcite following exposure to long wave UV. Unlike the short wave response, the limestone matrix shows little to no phosphorescence after long wave UV.
The same specimen shown under visible light.