Calcite with Sturtite – Broken Hill, NSW | 220g Fluorescent Specimen

Calcite with Sturtite – Broken Hill, NSW | 220g Fluorescent Specimen

A lovely 220g fluorescent specimen from Broken Hill, New South Wales — pairing ubiquitous Calcite with Sturtite, a rare manganese silicate mineral that is closely associated with the Broken Hill metamorphic sequence and is seldom found outside this iconic Australian locality.

The minerals

Calcite — calcium carbonate — is one of the mineral world's great fluorescent performers, capable of glowing in vivid reds, oranges, and pinks under UV light depending on its trace element chemistry. At Broken Hill, Calcite occurs in a range of forms and is a familiar companion mineral throughout the deposit.

Sturtite is the real point of distinction here — a manganese-rich silicate mineral named in honour of the famous Australian explorer Charles Sturt, and considered a genuinely localised species tied to the unique high-grade metamorphic environment of Broken Hill. Its presence in a specimen is a mark of genuine regional rarity.

Fluorescence

Under UV light, this specimen delivers — the Calcite responding with characteristic vivid fluorescence that transforms the piece and makes it a natural centrepiece for any UV display.

Specimen highlights

• Weight: 220g
• Origin: Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
• Calcite — strong UV fluorescence
• Sturtite — rare manganese silicate, named for explorer Charles Sturt
• A localised species seldom found outside Broken Hill
• An accessible entry point into Australian fluorescent minerals

A fitting finale — modest in price, meaningful in provenance.