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A striking benitoite and neptunite specimen from the Benitoite Gem Mine in San Benito County, California. The prominent 6 mm blue benitoite crystal sits against a white mineral matrix, surrounded by numerous lustrous black neptunite crystals. Additional blue benitoite crystals across the specimen add color and interest from multiple viewing angles.
Under shortwave UV light, the benitoite displays brilliant blue-white fluorescence, creating a dramatic contrast with the dark neptunite crystals. An appealing specimen for collectors of fluorescent minerals, California minerals, and classic benitoite specimens.
You will receive the exact specimen pictured. UV photograph taken under shortwave illumination.
They were nicknamed "Yooperlites" which is derived from the name “yooper”. A yooper is a nickname for the Upper Peninsula natives and these fluorescent stones quickly gained fame. After data was published on these fluorescent stones, it was discovered that sodalite is the actual true mineral that is fluorescing orange.
365nm UV light is often called "blacklight". Before the advent of longwave UV LEDs, blacklight fluorescent tubes, (the kinds used in hippie days to light up psychedelic posters) were the standard longwave UV light for our hobby. They were not very powerful but they did light a large area.
Enter 365nm UV LEDs
First, an animation showing the difference between the UV flashlight we recommend (365nm filtered UV flashlight) versus unfiltered 395nm UV flashlights we see many folks carrying around at shows. So. much. visible purple light. We selected a bunch of rocks as a demonstration. Took pictures of them under his flashlight without the filter and then with the filter.
