Tugtupite - Greenland

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Until 2001, tugtupite was really only known from the tugtupite mines on Kvanefjeld. There were reports of other varieties and locales, but none were ever made available to collectors. Crystals were unheard of. In 2002 we made a major discovery of tugtupite on the eastern part of the Taseq Slope. We found veins of tugtupite in an analcime and/or lujavrite matrix. A major characteristic of the tugtupite found in this area is the presence of tugtupite crystals. Small vugs occur in the analcime matrix and occasionally small tug crystals are found. Now they have only been documented in these pieces from Greenland, and even then, very rarely. This piece doesn't have tugtupite crystal vugs, but it's from the same host rock that contained those vugs.

Keep in mind, tugtupite is really found nowhere else in the world, in spite of reports from MSH Canada and Kola Russia, none ever make it to market.

Of course, the tugtupite fluoresces a bright cherry red. Under LW, the color of the tugtupite shifts to the typical salmon color.