Fluorescent Ruby, Chunky Gal Mountain, Clay County, North Carolina

A little known mining area exists on Chunky Gal Mountain, near Franklin, Clay County, North Carolina. This area produces fine crystals of corundum that often occur in a matrix of smaragdite, a green-colored chromian actinolite. Some of the corundum from this location shows a classic trivalent chromium-activated red fluorescent response under long wave UV. This series of photographs shows specimens of corundum, var. ruby, as individual hexagonal crystals, and in smaragdite matrix, collected in 2017 from Chunky Gal Mountain.

Brightly fluorescent hexagonal ruby crystals collected from Chunky Gal Mountain, North Carolina, seen under long wave UV (365nm) and visible light. The largest crystal, at left, is approximately 23 mm across.

Specimen containing numerous red fluorescent ruby crystals in smaragdite matrix, collected from Chunky Gal Mountain, North Carolina, seen under long wave UV (365nm) and visible light. The bright blue/white fluorescing mineral appears to be aragonite, and is phosphorescent. The size of this specimen in approximately 98 x 55 mm. Mouse over scrolling images for more information.

Specimen containing numerous red fluorescent ruby crystals in smaragdite matrix, collected from Chunky Gal Mountain, North Carolina, seen under long wave UV (365nm) and visible light. The bright blue/white fluorescing mineral appears to be aragonite, and is phosphorescent. The size of this specimen in approximately 98 x 35 mm. Mouse over scrolling images for more information.