MinerShop Blog

Welcome to the MinerShop blog. We write about pretty much anything that sparks our interest. We've sorted our articles into the categories below.

What Kind of UV Flashlight Do I Need? (365nm versus 390/395/400nm Unfiltered UV Flashlights)

What Kind of UV Flashlight Do I Need? (365nm versus 390/395/400nm Unfiltered UV Flashlights)

This is an educational post, directed towards folks new to the hobby. There has been discussion in our FB group lately about using cheapie 39Xnm flashlights for fluorescent minerals. 
Read more
Collecting Fluorescent Minerals - The Basics, Where to Find Them, and How to Collect Them

Collecting Fluorescent Minerals - The Basics, Where to Find Them, and How to Collect Them

Rock collecting is a pretty easy hobby to get into - buy a hammer, find a pile of rocks, and you're rock collecting.
Read more
What is Tenebrescence? (All about Hackmanite - Hint: it's not fluorescence)

What is Tenebrescence? (All about Hackmanite - Hint: it's not fluorescence)

Minerals which are capable of this reversible color change by exposure to UV (or other energy sources), without any change in their essential composition, are said to be tenebrescent
Read more
Tugtupite vein

Tugtupite - A Rare Fluorescent Mineral from Greenland

Tugtupite is the most widely known fluorescent mineral from Greeenland. It is used in making beautiful tugtupite cabochons. 
Read more
A piece of Tugtupite heart jewelry

Romancing the Stone (A Brief History of Tugtupite)

Perhaps the most famous mineral found in Greenland is tugtupite - and is certainly the main quest of those who travel to this remote area. Local villagers spend much of their free time in pursuit of this stone and many legends have risen around tugtupite. 
Read more
Convoy Type S2+ 365nm Flashlight Torch Review, The Most Significant Innovation in UV Mineral Lights

Convoy Type S2+ 365nm Flashlight Torch Review, The Most Significant Innovation in UV Mineral Lights

This post was made over four years ago. Since that time it has become outdated. There is a new light - the Convoy FyrFly which is significantly brighter and a major next-generation of an already excellent light.
Read more
FyrFly Convoy C8 365nm UV Flashlight - The Next Generation Convoy - an Original Design by Group Cons

FyrFly Convoy C8 365nm UV Flashlight - The Next Generation Convoy - an Original Design by Group Cons

Reinventing the Convoy for the Fluorescent Mineral hobby 
Read more
BATTERIES - Selecting the Proper Battery for your 365nm UV Flashlight, Convoy S2, Convoy C8, FyrFly

BATTERIES - Selecting the Proper Battery for your 365nm UV Flashlight, Convoy S2, Convoy C8, FyrFly

Buy only from trusted dealers and manufacturers.
Read more
DIY: Converting a Work Light into a Portable Short Wave Lamp

DIY: Converting a Work Light into a Portable Short Wave Lamp

I'm not sure how many people have built the 18 watt SW conversion from Mark Cole's plans on MinerShop, but if you did or intend to do so, here's mine I've finally completed. 
Read more
Fluorescent Mineral Show

Ultraviolation 2017 Show Report

As a short digression to provide background, Ultraviolation is a unique rock and mineral show in that only fluorescent minerals are sold.
Read more
Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland

The Fluorescent Minerals of Greenland

The Ilímaussaq complex is one of the world's most fascinating igneous complexes with an abundance of rare elements.
Read more
Fluorescent Mineral Light

DIY 9-Watt Field Lamp

The instructions on this page are for a 9-watt lamp.
Read more
51 results
.ezsd-arrows .ezsd-arrows_arrow { position: relative !important; padding: 0; height: 100%; pointer-events: all; opacity: 0.9; background-color: white !important; }