Terlingua Calcite - Texas

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A huge piece of Terlingua calcite. Terlingua calcite is one of the most spectacular and beautiful fluorescent minerals due to its bright, multi-colored, multi-wave, fluorescent response, and bright, persistent phosphorescence.

Terlingua calcite shows bright blue fluorescence under shortwave UV, with bright and long-lasting phosphorescence. Under longwave UV, the fluorescent response is bright pink. Under white light, you can see varying shades of green calcite or even blue calcite. The green calcite color has been occaisionally encountered. It has been reported that the green fades upon exposure to sunlight, perhaps why its not frequently encountered.

True Terlingua calcite comes from only one source- the mercury mines of Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, with the most notable location being the Little 38 Mine, located 4 miles west of Terlingua.

These mines have been closed for years, and many have been reclaimed, making the collection of new material very difficult, if not impossible. Calcite showing a similar fluorescent response, but collected from other locations, is referred to as “Terlingua-type” calcite.