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Sodalite from Greenland that has been worn and tumbled by water and glacial activity.
Similar to the recently popular Yooperlite rocks, Greenland has its own Yooperlite rocks (but we just call them sodalite). Glaciers eroded sodalite out of the Ilimaussaq Complex and carried them towards the ocean, grinding and polishing all the way. Many were deposited in the glacial moraines near the village of Narsaq. Lots more can be found on the pebble beaches in the fjords cutting through the complex. The sodalite is brightly fluorescent under LW (365nm).
When split, many exhibit a strong tenebrescence after exposure to shortwave (SW) UV (see animation below). This is (so far) a Greenland exclusive. Minerals include sodalite, arfvedsonite, aegirine, eudialyte, and probably a few others, all in a syenite type rock.
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.
