Florida fluorescent minerals and fossils

      The specimens shown in the first two rows, at right are fossil clams (Mercenaria permagna).  They lived during the Pliocene-Pleistocene Periods.  The specimens were obtained from Ruck's Pit, Okeechobee Co., Florida. The crystals lining the shells are calcite.  Under regular light the specimen has a white to greyish-tan exterior.  The interior is lined with clear to yellowish calcite crystals.  Under long wave ultraviolet light portions of the shell and the calcite crystals fluoresce a creamy white.  These same areas fluoresce a white to bluish white under short wave ultraviolet light.  The third row is calcite encrusted clams, shells, etc. from Dade County, Florida.  The specimen is from the Pliocene-Pleistocene Period.  The calcite encrustation has a yellow or brownish appearance under normal lighting and a creamy white fluorescence under long wave ultraviolet light.  Under short wave ultraviolet light the calcite areas have a bluish white fluorescence.




Regular lighting

Regular lighting

Regular lighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long wave ultraviolet light

Long wave ultraviolet light

Long wave ultraviolet light

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short wave ultraviolet light

Short wave ultraviolet light

Short wave ultraviolet light