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We recently returned from a wonderful adventure in Greenland mining for rare fluorescent minerals. Over the next few months, we'll be listing our finds on our website and eBay account. There were some interesting new finds we have not seen in prior specimens out of this area.
This incredible colorful and bright specimen comes from remote Taseq Slope in the Ilimaussaq Complex of Greenland, where you will find the highly sought-after “Fantasy Rock.” Found only in this specific area, these rocks are known for their intense array of colors and glow under UV light. This piece is not technically a Fantasy Rock, although comes from the same host rock.
The show stopper on this specimen is the lilac colored chkalovite crystals surrounded by bright yellow fluorescing polylithionite crystals along with the other pearly white variety of chkalovite. The lilac colored chkalovite is fairly unknown, as we haven't seen this variety before.
There is the rich, heavy blue analcime coverage similar to the variety found on the ultamite pieces that also contain strongly fluorescent sodalite intermixed with the blue analcime. There is some delicate tugtupite veining on this material clearly illustrates tugtupite replacing chkalovite. The chkalovite also shows up in green under midwave and is phosphorescent, something we've not seen before.
On one side of the specimen, you'll find a beautiful radiating spray of natrolite green.
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.
