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Leucophanite is a rare fluorescent mineral prized by collectors for its striking UV luminescence and rarity. Found in only a few locations globally, including Norway, Quebec, and Russia, massive habit leucophanite specimens suitable for display are known to come exclusively from Norway. These pieces are highly sought after for their aesthetic beauty and rarity on the mineral market. Bright violet-pink under MW and SW, these pieces are also bright blue-purple under LW.
Norwegian leucophanite typically appears in yellow, white, or greenish triclinic crystals, and is often associated with alkaline igneous complexes and pegmatites. The finest examples are brightly fluorescent under both midwave and shortwave UV light.
Due to its rarity and limited geographic occurrence, high-quality leucophanite specimens are rarely available,especially in larger sizes. When they do surface, they are considered top-tier additions to any fluorescent mineral collection or museum-grade mineral display.
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.
