As global lithium demand escalates, rapid spodumene identification is critical for the economic evaluation of pegmatite-hosted resources. Traditional mineralogical characterisation typically relies on sub-sampling then back-feeding for intensive laboratory assays, or on-site expensive scanning instruments that lack high throughput. This study introduces ‘Novel Fluorescence’ (NF) imaging, a new technique for mineralogical characterisation that distinguishes itself from traditional fluorescence through detailed interrogation of emitted fluorescence to achieve superior mineral specificity. By capturing unique spectral signatures, NF allows for the identification of spodumene from other minerals that could be misidentified using either visual identification or conventional UV fluorescence. Furthermore, NF is near-real time, non-contact, requires no sample preparation and is equally applicable to wet or dry samples. The versatility of the NF sensor is shown through the demonstration of an automated prototype measuring across multiple sampling formats: drill core, chip trays, and heavy mineral concentrates (HMC). The system generates mineral phase maps in near real-time with no user intervention required. NF enables rapid screening of minerals in different sample types where it provides spatially resolved data essential for understanding target mineral concentration, deportment and textural relationships. Results indicate that NF compares very favourably with established techniques like Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Comparative mapping of drill core samples shows high correlation between NF spodumene and LIBS-derived lithium maps, providing useful mineralogical insights, but achieved at a much faster rate by NF. An additional significant advantage is operational flexibility; all data in this study—from coarse core to fine concentrates—was generated using a single prototype benchtop unit. By providing immediate feedback across diverse sample types, this Novel Fluorescence approach bridges the gap between field-based sampling and metallurgical assessment, offering a scalable, efficient tool for the critical minerals sector with strong potential for use both as a lab instrument or as a field-deployable system.