Database of luminescent minerals 

CALOMEL

Chemical formula: alpha Hg₂Cl₂

Family: Halides

Status: IMA-GP

Crystal system : Tetragonal

Display mineral: NON

Luminescence:

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Phosphorescence (in the common sense of the term) observable with the naked eye:

No data

Comments:

Fluo brightest under longwave than shortwave contrarly to similar fluorescing calcite;  

The previously reported fluorescent Terlinguaite and Corderoite (two mercury minerals) seems to bee both non fluorescent.

Activator(s) and spectrum:

No data

Peaks in the spectrum (nm):

• band extending from 580nm to 640nm under SWUV;

No spectrum yet

Comments on spectrum and activators:

Synthetic calomel used in chemical lab is also luminescent.Jack De Ment studied the luminescence spectrum of calomel in 1943. It consist of a bright red band extending from 580nm to 640nm under SW excitation.

Activator: "self-activated", the luminescence is produced by electron transfer between paired mercury atoms in different ionization states.
Synthetic calomel used in chemical lab is also luminescent.Jack De Ment studied the luminescence spectrum of calomel in 1943. It consist of a bright red band extending from 580nm to 640nm under SW excitation.

Best localities for fluorescence (*):

• Landsberg (Moschellandsberg), Alsenz-Obermoschel, Palatinate, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany;
• Mariposa mine, Terlingua District, Brewster county, Texas, USA;
• Redwood City, San Mateo Co., California, USA;

(*)The data are not exhaustive and are limited to a few remarkable localities for fluorescence

Bibliographic reference for luminescence:

• The Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, Dr. Gerhard Henkel, Published by the FMS, 1989 ,
• Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light, Manuel Robbins, 1994, Geoscience Press, ISBN 0-945005-13-X ,
• The World of Fluorescent Minerals, Stuart Schneider, Schiffer Publishing, 2006, ISBN 0-7643-2544-2 ,
• Handbook of Fluorescent Gems and Minerals, a practical guide for the gem and mineral collector, Jack de Ment, 1949 ,

Mineralogical reference on the Internet:

  http://www.mindat.org/show.php?name=Calomel

  http://webmineral.com/data/Calomel.shtml

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