Brazilianite (UNUSUAL FLUORESCENCE!)

Item Description

First let me say that according to various books and online sources, Brazilianite is NOT supposed to be a fluorescent mineral. When we put this piece under SW UV light, it shows and unusual yellow fluorescence. Now we don't know if this is an incredibly rare piece of fluorescent Brazilianite or if there is something else (i.e., another mineral) present accounting for this rare phenomenon. It seems that the more opaque portions of the crystals show the strongest fluorescence, and the transparent sections seems to show less of it, but there is also a selective fluorescence that only seems to appear on certain faces. We can't see a coating of another mineral anywhere, and even the massive Brazilianite on the underside fluoresces, so it's hard to say what's causing it. With that said, this is a fine quality and showy small cabinet specimen featuring beautiful, lustrous, GEM/gemmy, prismatic, yellow green color crystals of Brazilianite associated with minor white Albite, golden Muscovite an a fine quality, GEMMY Quartz crystal. The quality is good on this piece and the crystals are actually smooth, lustrous and some are notably gemmy. They not at all "crazed" like many from this area. The largest Brazilianite measures 4.0 cm long, but it has another crystal lying on top of it, so you have to follow it across the specimen (We drew a red arrow in the first photo to show the length of the crystal). Only a bit of minor damage that I can see with the naked eye. Due to the bizarre fluorescence, the piece hold a higher value than it typically would were it a normal non-fluorescing specimen. Valued at approximately $900-$1100.