CALCITE

Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. It is transparent to opaque and may occasionally show phosphorescence or fluorescence. Color is white or none, though shades of gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown, or even black can occur when the mineral is charged with impurities.
The most common fluorescent mineral of Franklin, manganese-activated calcite under shortwave (SW) UV light fluoresces in various shades of pink and orange-red. Most specimens fluoresce slightly under longwave (LW) UV light, but calcite that fluoresces brightly under LW has at times been found. The calcite of Franklin and Ogdensburg has a very brief but intense phosphorescence.

Location Found:

Franklin and Ogdensburg

Formula:

CaCO₃

Essential Elements:

Calcium, Carbon, Oxygen

All Elements in Formula:

Calcium, Carbon, Oxygen

IMA Status:

Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"

Fluorescent Mineral Properties

Shortwave UV light:

Typically moderate to very bright deep orange-red, range of reds from orange-red to purple-red, pink, various hues of yellow, orange, green, blue, violet, and white.

Mid wave UV light:

Weaker orange-red to purple-red, yellow, orange, green, blue, violet, and white.

Longwave UV light:

Weaker orange-red to purple-red, yellow, orange, green, blue, violet, and white.

Additional Information:

Often phosphorescent (red brief intense), can change fluorescent color depending on wavelength. Not always fluorescent.

To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link Calcite

References:

Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.609

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.47

The Picking Table References

	PT Issue and Page	Description / Comment
	V. 64, No. 2 - Fall 2023, pg. 25	The Camptonite Dike at Franklin–What Is It Really? Part Two, Mineralogy, David Vonderheide (small)
View Issue	V. 57, No. 2 - Fall 2016, pg. 14	Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, N.J., Part 1, Richard C. Bostwick - Calcite
View Issue	V. 52, No. 2 - Fall 2011, pg. 29	Yellow-Fluorescing Calcite From Sterling Hill
View Issue	V. 45, No. 1 - Spring 2004, pg. 10	The Art of Fluorescent Mineral Photography, With Special Attention to the Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill Photographing the More Popular Franklin and Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Calcite
View Issue	V. 41, No. 1 - Spring 2000, pg. 13	A Scheelite-bearing Assemblage From Franklin, New Jersey By Robert E. Jenkins II - Calcite
View Issue	V. 35, No. 2 - Fall 1994, pg. 20	A Complex Base-Metal Assemblage From the Sterling Mine New Jersey - Calcite
View Issue	V. 33, No. 2 - Fall 1992, pg. 10	The Check List of Franklin-Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Calcite (Fluorescent Info)
View Issue	V. 30, No. 1 - Spring 1989, pg. 8	The Epidote-Pyroxene-Fluorapophyllite Assemblage in the Franklin Mine at Franklin, New Jersey, Philip P. Betancourt, Calcite (small description)
View Issue	V. 27 No. 2 - Fall 1986, pg. 5	Minerals of the Franklin Quarry, Philip P. Betancourt, Calcite
View Issue	V. 25 No. 1 - Spring 1984, pg. 3	Fluorescent Calcites a comprehensive chemical study, Gerald J. DeMenna
View Issue	V. 24 No. 2 - Fall 1983, pg. 13	Minerals of the Buckwheat Dolomite Franklin, New Jersey, Calcite (small description)
View Issue	V. 18, No. 1 - March 1977, pg. 21	The Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ by Richard C. Bostwick - Calcite
View Issue	V. 13, No. 2 - August 1972, pg. 11	The Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin/Ogdensburg Area by Frank Z. Edwards - Calcite (Fluorescent Info)
View Issue	V. 7, No. 2 - August 1966, pg. 7	The Minerals of Sterling Hill 1962-65 by Frank Z. Edwards - Calcite

Images

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Calcite with inclusions of black willemite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. 3 1/2" x 1 1/2". Photo by WP.		Calcite with inclusions of black willemite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces red-orange and the willemite green. 3 1/2" x 1 1/2". Photo by WP.


Salmon calcite from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. Photo by WP.		Salmon calcite from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ, under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces deep red. Photo by WP.


Calcite, willemite and franklinite, from the Buckwheat Dump, Franklin NJ. 3" x 3". Photo by WP.		Calcite, willemite and franklinite, from the Buckwheat Dump, Franklin NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces bright orange and the willemite green, franklinite is non-fluorescent. 3" x 3". Photo by WP.


Calcite, willemite, franklinite and zincite from the Trotter Dump, Franklin NJ. Photo by WP.		Calcite, willemite, franklinite and zincite from the Trotter Dump, Franklin NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces dark pink and the willemite green, franklinite and zincite are non-fluorescent. Photo by WP.


Calcite, willemite, franklinite and minor sphalerite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. From the collection of and photo by JVF.		Calcite, willemite, franklinite and minor sphalerite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ under longwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces yellow, willemite dull green and the sphalerite orange to pink. From the collection of and photo by JVF.

Calcite, willemite, franklinite and minor sphalerite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces slightly red, willemite green and the sphalerite orange-red. From the collection of and photo by JVF.


Calcite (white to gray) and minor franklinite (black), from the Buckwheat Dump, Franklin NJ. 5" x 4". Photo by WP.		Calcite and minor franklinite, from the Buckwheat Dump, Franklin NJ under longwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces blue and dark pink, franklinite is non-fluorescent. 5" x 4". Photo by WP.

Calcite and minor franklinite, from the Buckwheat Dump, Franklin NJ under mid-wave UV light. The calcite fluoresces blue, franklinite is non-fluorescent. 5" x 4". Photo by WP.		Calcite and minor franklinite, from the Buckwheat Dump, Franklin NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces red-orange, franklinite is non-fluorescent. 5" x 4". Photo by WP.


Weathered calcite boxwork, coated with hemimorphite crystals from Mudzone Passaic Pit at Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. Field of view 3.5" x 3". From the collection of Zack and Ralph Bonard, photo by WP.


Druzy calcite crystals on franklinite, calcite and willemite ore from Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. 2" x 1". From the collection of Zack and Ralph Bonard, photo by WP.		Druzy calcite crystals on franklinite, calcite and willemite ore from Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under longwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces cream and blue, willemite is not fluorescing, and the franklinite is non-fluorescent. 2" x 1". From the collection of Zack and Ralph Bonard, photo by WP.

Druzy calcite crystals on franklinite, calcite and willemite ore from Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces velvet red and orange-red, willemite green, and the franklinite is non-fluorescent. 2" x 1". From the collection of Zack and Ralph Bonard, photo by WP.


Calcite, willemite, quartz, sphalerite, spinel and rhodochrosite from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ. Field of view 1 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by WP		Calcite, willemite, quartz, sphalerite, spinel and rhodochrosite from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ under longwave UV light. The mixed minerals fluoresce several colors described as “Autumn in Vermont”. Field of view 1 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by WP.

Calcite, willemite, quartz, sphalerite, spinel and rhodochrosite from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ under midwave UV light. The mixed minerals fluoresce several dull colors, calcite weak pink and willemite green. Field of view 1 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by WP.		Calcite, willemite, quartz, sphalerite, spinel and rhodochrosite from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces red-orange, willemite green and the mixed minerals do not fluoresce. Field of view 1 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by WP.


Calcite crystals (translucent), dolomite (gray) with carbonate coating (light brown) from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ. Field of view 2". From the collection of, and photo by WP.		Calcite crystals, dolomite with carbonate coating from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ under longwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces orange and the dolomite is non-fluorescent. Field of view 2". From the collection of, and photo by WP.

Calcite crystals, dolomite with carbonate coating from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ under midwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces pink and the dolomite is non-fluorescent. Field of view 2". From the collection of, and photo by WP		Calcite crystals, dolomite with carbonate coating from the Lang Shaft, Franklin, NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces very dull red and the dolomite is non-fluorescent. Field of view 2". From the collection of, and photo by WP.


Calcite druze on franklinite and willemite from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. 5" x 1 3/4". From the collection of, and photo by WP.		Calcite druze on franklinite and willemite from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under longwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces yellow to orange-red, the franklinite and willemite are non-fluorescent. 5" x 1 3/4". From the collection of, and photo by WP.

Calcite druze on franklinite and willemite from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under midwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces dull yellow-orange to red, the franklinite and willemite are non-fluorescent. 5" x 1 3/4". From the collection of, and photo by WP.		Calcite druze on franklinite and willemite from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ under shortwave UV light. The calcite fluoresces dull orange, willemite green and the franklinite is non-fluorescent. 5" x 1 3/4". From the collection of, and photo by WP.


Calcite and franklinite slickenside from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. 4 3/4" x 2 1/2". From the collection of, and photo by Robert A. Boymistruk.