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Chris Clemens

Bright and Colorful Multi-Wave Afghanite Specimen from Badakhshan, Afghanistan

Here's a specimen from Sar-e-Sang, Koksha Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan that displays well under both UV and visible light. When viewed under visible light, sky blue afghanite crystals are seen sitting on a druse of light colored diopside microcrystals, with pale yellow plates of phlogopite mica. Brassy accents are provided by small pyrite crystals. The size of this specimen is 87 mm x 58 mm x 45 mm, and it weighs 257 grams.


As shown in the photographs below, this specimen shows a bright, multi-colored, multi-wavelength fluorescent response under UV.

The above photograph shows the specimen under full-wave UV (SW/254nm + MW/304nm + LW/365nm). Afghanite crystals fluoresce bright orange on a bright white fluorescent druse of diopside microcrystals, with pale yellow fluorescent accents provided by phlogopite plates. Minor calcite fluoresces red/pink.

The same specimen shown under long wave UV (365 nm). Afghanite crystals fluoresce bright orange and a druse of diopside microcrystals show a moderate white response. Minor calcite is also present, and fluoresces moderate red/pink.

Under short wave UV (254 nm) the afghanite crystals are not significantly fluorescent, but the diopside microcrystals show a bright white response, and numerous small plate-like crystals of phlogopite mica fluoresce pale yellow.

Same specimen shown under visible light. Sky blue afghanite crystals sit on a druse of light colored diopside microcrystals and small plates of pale yellow phlogopite mica. Brassy accents are provided by small pyrite crystals.

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