Any fluorescent mineral collectors?

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:58 am

Does anyone else on the board collect flourescent minerals? I have quite a large collection and have a lot of backstock that I'd glady give away some to anyone, just for the cost of postage in flat rate boxes. A lot of it is stuff from Sterling Hill and Franklin NJ sites.

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:39 pm

If you are going to give it away check with the local science teachers in your public schools. With all the budget cuts they are always happy to get samples.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:24 am

Thanks, I'll check the schools, but the local museum and college don't want any. They already have some that they no longer display.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:47 am

I would be glad to pay for shipping on some to add to my collection.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:08 pm

I'd be happy to pay for shipping too. I have a LOT of good quality lapidary rock, but no florescents at all. pm me

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:44 am

Shay and fanatic or anyone else.
2 others have sent PM about samples so far.
I have lots so there's no need to fear me running out.
To anyone interested, send a PM with what type of light you have- SW or LW and what size you usually display- small, medium or large.
I'm going to wait a few weeks to see how many want some before I dig out my backstock. It's hard on my poor back.

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:24 am

Shay, Goldeneye, loki258, and Charles: I just packed 4 boxes of fluorescent minerals and am about to make address labels. I should get them mailed Thur or Fri. Just send a check to address you receive in PM. The amount should be on the box. It's $11. and some change but I don't remember the exact amt. now.
All boxes should have some calcite and willemite from the Franklin/ Sterling Hill, NJ area and some hydrozincite from there. There's other asst stuff and one has a fossilized piece of coral. It's a rounded stone with tiny holes and a noticeable pattern and glows soft orange. I think that all have soem flint that glows orange and some "glass" that also glows orange, from a GPOC site. I just opened a couple boxes of backstock and started pulling pieces and putting them in one of each 4 boxes so I really don't know exactly what's in each. Let me know if you'd like any more. I have some other stuff including pieces of Apatite and Hyalite Opal from NC.
Fanatic, I'll PM you since I didn't get a name and address to send stuff to. I just noticed your request/post

Dredger Joined: 25 Dec 2009 Posts: 76 Location: Ohio

Tim wrote:

Shay, Goldeneye, loki258, and Charles: I just packed 4 boxes of fluorescent minerals and am about to make address labels. I should get them mailed Thur or Fri. Just send a check to address you receive in PM. The amount should be on the box. It's $11. and some change but I don't remember the exact amt. now.
All boxes should have some calcite and willemite from the Franklin/ Sterling Hill, NJ area and some hydrozincite from there. There's other asst stuff and one has a fossilized piece of coral. It's a rounded stone with tiny holes and a noticeable pattern and glows soft orange. I think that all have soem flint that glows orange and some "glass" that also glows orange, from a GPOC site. I just opened a couple boxes of backstock and started pulling pieces and putting them in one of each 4 boxes so I really don't know exactly what's in each. Let me know if you'd like any more. I have some other stuff including pieces of Apatite and Hyalite Opal from NC.
Fanatic, I'll PM you since I didn't get a name and address to send stuff to. I just noticed your request/post

Thanks Tim, Package arrived today.

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:31 pm

Hello Tim. I am aware this is a relatively old post....however I was curious if you still had samples? I have a regular black light (like a overhead fixture only a blacklight) and two Autistic children. Ethan is 11 and Emily's 7. They as well I am very interested if you have a box you'd be willing to send. If at all possible smaller samples for the kids....easier to split. And medium to larger pieces for my self. I plan on putting them in a display case illuminated by black light. Should look impressive at night. If it required two or three boxes full that fine. I would cover shipping of course. Please let me know. Thank you sir.

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:06 pm

Malec Family Mining wrote:

Hello Tim. I am aware this is a relatively old post....however I was curious if you still had samples? I have a regular black light (like a overhead fixture only a blacklight) and two Autistic children. Ethan is 11 and Emily's 7. They as well I am very interested if you have a box you'd be willing to send. If at all possible smaller samples for the kids....easier to split. And medium to larger pieces for my self. I plan on putting them in a display case illuminated by black light. Should look impressive at night. If it required two or three boxes full that fine. I would cover shipping of course. Please let me know. Thank you sir.

Standard blacklights will not work... there are a 2-3 wavelengths that the rocks will respond to.

Quote:

Lamps for Viewing Fluorescent Minerals

The lamps used to locate and study fluorescent minerals are very different from the ultraviolet lamps (called "black lights") sold in novelty stores. The novelty store lamps are not suitable for mineral studies for two reasons: 1) they emit long-wave ultraviolet light (most fluorescent minerals respond to short-wave ultraviolet); and, 2) they emit a significant amount of visible light which interferes with accurate observation, but is not a problem for novelty use. The scientific-grade lamps used for mineral studies have a filter that blocks most of the visible light that will interfere with observation. These filters are very expensive and are partly responsible for the significantly higher price of scientific lamps.

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:33 am

A standard black light will work for "some" mineral specimens. Minerals such as fluorite, some calcite, and some times Hyalite opal will often glow from a regular black light. These bulbs give off long wave UV light. Roughly 90% of minerals only glow under short wave UV light. The issue with regular black light fixtures is that they give off some visible light so the effect isn't as pronounced as with a filtered UV light. The best bet is to try to find a BLB, or (Black-Light-Blue) fluorescent bulb.
Long wave filter glass is relatively inexpensive if someone wants to build a homemade UV fixture using a regular black light bulb and fixture. I made one from a fingernail drying fixture.
Shortwave filter glass is very costly with a 1.25" by 5.25" piece costing close to $100 - directly from the only manufacturer, HOYA.