Part of an old hobby lives!

[KingTotsalot]

I enjoyed casually collecting rocks I found as a kid, but you made a career out of it, neat !

Actually those humble display boxes do have labels for the minerals, definitely not fancy labeling I used the labels that were sent with them, some were handwritten labels, might not look fancy but the info is there (I'll post picks of the labels from each display)

KT encountered a problem with labeling early on that is mostly a problem with fluorescent minerals...the label often fluoresces brighter than the mineral! This is due to whiteners in the paper. KT found a surprising resolution to this problem. His Majesty drinks a lot of canned Coke Zero and makes labels from the back side of the box paper, very low fluorescing paper as it is a thin cardboard! Cut with scissors to size needed, black ink is easily legible. Best to have some uniform looking label, even if hand written, will improve the look of your collection! Looks like someone found that paper brown grocery sacks works just as well, but should be cut out with scissors to uniform size. Lol

 

[Metal detecto]

KT encountered a problem with labeling early on that is mostly a problem with fluorescent minerals...the label often fluoresces brighter than the mineral! This is due to whiteners in the paper. KT found a surprising resolution to this problem. His Majesty drinks a lot of canned Coke Zero and makes labels from the back side of the box paper, very low fluorescing paper as it is a thin cardboard! Cut with scissors to size needed, black ink is easily legible. Best to have some uniform looking label, even if hand written, will improve the look of your collection! Looks like someone found that paper brown grocery sacks works just as well, but should be cut out with scissors to uniform size. Lol

Nice! I wonder if sparkling water boxes can do the same thing... We have a ton of those.

Josh

 

[GKL]

I enjoyed casually collecting rocks I found as a kid, but you made a career out of it, neat !

Actually those humble display boxes do have labels for the minerals, definitely not fancy labeling I used the labels that were sent with them, some were handwritten labels, might not look fancy but the info is there (I'll post picks of the labels from each display)

KT encountered a problem with labeling early on that is mostly a problem with fluorescent minerals...the label often fluoresces brighter than the mineral! This is due to whiteners in the paper. KT found a surprising resolution to this problem. His Majesty drinks a lot of canned Coke Zero and makes labels from the back side of the box paper, very low fluorescing paper as it is a thin cardboard! Cut with scissors to size needed, black ink is easily legible. Best to have some uniform looking label, even if hand written, will improve the look of your collection! Looks like someone found that paper brown grocery sacks works just as well, but should be cut out with scissors to uniform size. Lol

Fortunately the white labels on the one box are on the outside of the lid so not in view when opened, the other box the labels are on the inside of the lid but haven't been a problem, but I agree I do need to make the labels more uniform, maybe I was had been in a big hurry when I did that initially and figured I'd fix it later (since I'm usually the only one that looks at them it wasn't a rush job to fix )

Thanks for the tips though !

 

[KingTotsalot]

Our royal subject may have stated somewhere in this long thread already, but has his majesty ever been down to the Crater of Diamonds? Lived here all my life and have yet to check it out.

Medicchief, thank you for your question! KT has visited the Crater of Diamonds State Park many many times, mostly leading college student field trips, and a few professional groups. Never had time to hunt for diamonds, too busy leading the trip and showing rock outcrops to the attendees. Even published a poster sized map and pamphlet answering the common questions that tourists ask on their first visit. This is downloadable as a publication through the Arkansas Geological Survey's web site. Try a Google search for the agency's name to get to their web site.

Do not expect to find a diamond on your first visit, although some have been lucky enough to do so! On average it takes about 100 man hours of searching to find one diamond. There is also a free downloadable pamphlet on the AGS web site entitled, Finding Diamonds in Arkansas!, written by yours truly.

 

[KingTotsalot]

I enjoyed casually collecting rocks I found as a kid, but you made a career out of it, neat !

Actually those humble display boxes do have labels for the minerals, definitely not fancy labeling I used the labels that were sent with them, some were handwritten labels, might not look fancy but the info is there (I'll post picks of the labels from each display)

Fortunately the white labels on the one box are on the outside of the lid so not in view when opened, the other box the labels are on the inside of the lid but haven't been a problem, but I agree I do need to make the labels more uniform, maybe I was had been in a big hurry when I did that initially and figured I'd fix it later (since I'm usually the only one that looks at them it wasn't a rush job to fix )

Thanks for the tips though !

You are welcome! KT is still trying to improve His Royal Rock Collection, so it is a never ending effort! Even though retired, there seems to be only 24 hours in a day! and other "more important" activities often get in the way!

 

[GKL]

You are welcome! KT is still trying to improve His Royal Rock Collection, so it is a never ending effort! Even though retired, there seems to be only 24 hours in a day! and other "more important" activities often get in the way!

I'm retired from a "paid job" (on Social Security) but find it seems to take quite a bit of time trying to keep up with taking care of household stuff. I do all the cooking and dishes, about 2/3 of the laundry and most of the cleaning, much of the grocery shopping, and of course there's 1 1/2 acres of yard work occasionally

My wife found out she could not handle being around the house all the time when after getting her degree in 2017 she spent about a year looking for a job before getting one (age discrimination is not allowed but I still think it happens).

She told me in the past she wanted me to retire and take care of the house as she needed to work a regular job (not that we were really hurting for money, she gets Social Security also, but she simply was not ready for retirement) I said fine, (I'm not complaining, hey, at least I can take breaks from chores when I want though sometimes the "boss" is not always totally pleased with my cleaning/uncluttering efforts )

 

[KingTotsalot]

I'm retired from a "paid job" (on Social Security) but find it seems to take quite a bit of time trying to keep up with taking care of household stuff. I do all the cooking and dishes, about 2/3 of the laundry and most of the cleaning, much of the grocery shopping, and of course there's 1 1/2 acres of yard work occasionally

My wife found out she could not handle being around the house all the time when after getting her degree in 2017 she spent about a year looking for a job before getting one (age discrimination is not allowed but I still think it happens).

She told me in the past she wanted me to retire and take care of the house as she needed to work a regular job (not that we were really hurting for money, she gets Social Security also, but she simply was not ready for retirement) I said fine, (I'm not complaining, hey, at least I can take breaks from chores when I want though sometimes the "boss" is not always totally pleased with my cleaning/uncluttering efforts )

Unfortunate is your situation! KT is King of His Royal Castle, having worked for the man for 40 years, and now does what he wants to first, having brought home the bacon all those years and even built the Castle, of course, with the assistance of the Queen. But she has never been KT's boss, instead she is KT's partner. BIG difference! KT does not tell her what to do, and she has been with KT lo these 49 years which is long enough for her to realize she is not changing His Majesty! she sometimes suggests things for KT's attention, but whether KT does them is His Royal Decision!

 

[GKL]

Unfortunate is your situation! KT is King of His Royal Castle, having worked for the man for 40 years, and now does what he wants to first, having brought home the bacon all those years and even built the Castle, of course, with the assistance of the Queen. But she has never been KT's boss, instead she is KT's partner. BIG difference! KT does not tell her what to do, and she has been with KT lo these 49 years which is long enough for her to realize she is not changing His Majesty! she sometimes suggests things for KT's attention, but whether KT does them is His Royal Decision!

.....hey, my situation is far from unfortunate (I used the term "boss" in fun ) my wife is indeed my partner also and we make decisions together.

Hey, can't really call it unfortunate when my wife wanted ME to retire and be away from workplace stress, while she WANTED to keep working (she simply is not ready to be around the house all the time, some people have a personality where they need to be active on a job outside the house)

As far as me doing most of the household stuff, hey, it's only fair for me to do so when she has been working from about 40-50 hours per week on the job (it varies) especially with the job being shorthanded. (supposed to work 4 days, but they needed her for more hours right now)

Each couple's situation can be unique, but speaking in general terms if the wife works a job outside the house then it is not fair to expect her to do all the housework too, especially if the husband is retired, that's simply being a fair partner, sorry if you got the wrong impression when I used the term "boss" but it did remind me of a funny saying "the husband is the head of the house, but the wife is the neck that turns the head"

 

[GKL]

KT knows that there are a few rockhounds in the forum, having heard from them in the past.

Hey KT,

I remember you telling me on another thread somewhere about the UV lamp you got "Way Too Cool 5-Watt "THE TRIPLE" Pocket-Sized Shortwave UV Mineral Lamp"

I checked it out a while back and while I hope to possibly get one of those later on, when I added the extras I wanted on the web page it went from about $119. to where it would be close to $200 with shipping, a little out of my hobby budget for now

But researching UV lamps out there around the price I have to spend right now on hobby stuff I found a very powerful 365nm flashlight that I ordered, I'll tell you more about it and give my review after I get it and have a chance to check it out !

 

[GKL]

Hey KT,

I remember you telling me on another thread somewhere about the UV lamp you got "Way Too Cool 5-Watt "THE TRIPLE" Pocket-Sized Shortwave UV Mineral Lamp"

I checked it out a while back and while I hope to possibly get one of those later on, when I added the extras I wanted on the web page it went from about $119. to where it would be close to $200 with shipping, a little out of my hobby budget for now

But researching UV lamps out there around the price I have to spend right now on hobby stuff I found a very powerful 365nm flashlight that I ordered, I'll tell you more about it and give my review after I get it and have a chance to check it out !

Okay, got my new UV light in the mail yesterday, after charging up the included batteries I got to test it a little last night and it indeed seems pretty powerful for an LED flashlight UV light, and unlike 395nm flashlights that give off a lot of purple light, this light that uses 365nm LEDs with a filter glass at the end cap of the flashlight to further filter things, I didn't seem to notice any obvious purple like with the 395nm flashlight (I shone them side by side for comparison). They can show stuff even without the room being dark, and in a darkened room it lights anything in the entire room that would glow under 365nm UV, a fair amount of my fluorescent rocks glow real nice with this flashlight (the others need me to use by small 254nm tube SW). When I took the flashlight outside last night and walked a good distance away and looked back at where I set the flashlight you could barely see the glow of the LEDs, but when I stepped in front of the beam my clothes glowed brightly

Here is a link to what I got:

uvBeast V3 365nm Black Light UV Flashlight

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CV1XW5K/

......it has a customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars with 550 reviews (as of right now)

I was very impressed with the concern for high quality they put into making these, other customers have been impressed also which motivated me to buy one after reading some of their reviews.

It even comes with two 18650 batteries and a battery charger.

I know 254nm SW is needed for some fluorescent rocks, but from what I read on a flashlight forum 254nm LEDs are still very expensive, so likely why you don't see 254nm LED flashlights like you do the 365nm and higher, and the larger more powerful 254nm tube lights can get pricey too that is why the 254nm tube lights I have are the smaller much less expensive ones. I think a big part of the expense with the 254nm tube lights is the expensive Hoya filter glass that needs to be used.

 

[KingTotsalot]

Okay, got my new UV light in the mail yesterday, after charging up the included batteries I got to test it a little last night and it indeed seems pretty powerful for an LED flashlight UV light, and unlike 395nm flashlights that give off a lot of purple light, this light that uses 365nm LEDs with a filter glass at the end cap of the flashlight to further filter things, I didn't seem to notice any obvious purple like with the 395nm flashlight (I shone them side by side for comparison). They can show stuff even without the room being dark, and in a darkened room it lights anything in the entire room that would glow under 365nm UV, a fair amount of my fluorescent rocks glow real nice with this flashlight (the others need me to use by small 254nm tube SW). When I took the flashlight outside last night and walked a good distance away and looked back at where I set the flashlight you could barely see the glow of the LEDs, but when I stepped in front of the beam my clothes glowed brightly

Here is a link to what I got:

uvBeast V3 365nm Black Light UV Flashlight

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CV1XW5K/

......it has a customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars with 550 reviews (as of right now)

I was very impressed with the concern for high quality they put into making these, other customers have been impressed also which motivated me to buy one after reading some of their reviews.

It even comes with two 18650 batteries and a battery charger.

I know 254nm SW is needed for some fluorescent rocks, but from what I read on a flashlight forum 254nm LEDs are still very expensive, so likely why you don't see 254nm LED flashlights like you do the 365nm and higher, and the larger more powerful 254nm tube lights can get pricey too that is why the 254nm tube lights I have are the smaller much less expensive ones. I think a big part of the expense with the 254nm tube lights is the expensive Hoya filter glass that needs to be used.

First, GKL, please realize KT was teasing you with the Royal Comments! you are indeed a lucky fellow and have my respect as does your wife for her decision! Yes, every couple is different so I totally agree with your comments!

Now, you purchased the exact LW light I have and having used it in the field, I agree it is the most powerful LW flashlight in its size range on the market. KT paid with the shipping, about $84 for it from UVBeast company. The folks who sell the SW I purchased also sell its only competitor, the Conboy 365 LW flashlight. KT got his SW for $126 + shipping, without the 2 filters or charger, preferring to remove the batteries and recharge them with a plug in small 2 battery charger. Later I purchased the 2 available slide in filters to make it mid-wave and long wave. Have not tried them yet. Extra $20. KT purchased a shop type 50 lb. magnet mounted on an adjustable handle and using industrial velcro, found that the Way Too Cool small unit mounts readily on the handle for use, kind of like a metal detector...works well plus KT has a decent field magnet too! Ha ha. The Way Too Cool unit is fine to show people SW minerals at home, but the flashlight is really a great field tool!

One of my good friends who lives in KY displays fluorescent minerals at hos local annual gem and mineral club show every year. He brought me to reality about the cost of show quality units....he has $1000s invested in lamps, and years finding quality display pieces to make a showy balanced display! But that is his hobby interest, that and viewing tiny mineral crystals with a stereo microscope.

KT still is interested in micro crystals, having purchased a Wilde Heerburg microscope over 20 years ago and a light source for it....that $3000 investment, would cost a beginner presently over $5000 now. You know what the ladies say, the main difference in boys and men is the price of their toys!

Since you now have the UV Beast T3, like me, KT looks forward to hearing what you come across with it while checking things out at night!

 

[GKL]

First, GKL, please realize KT was teasing you with the Royal Comments! you are indeed a lucky fellow and have my respect as does your wife for her decision! Yes, every couple is different so I totally agree with your comments!

Now, you purchased the exact LW light I have and having used it in the field, I agree it is the most powerful LW flashlight in its size range on the market. KT paid with the shipping, about $84 for it from UVBeast company. The folks who sell the SW I purchased also sell its only competitor, the Conboy 365 LW flashlight. KT got his SW for $126 + shipping, without the 2 filters or charger, preferring to remove the batteries and recharge them with a plug in small 2 battery charger. Later I purchased the 2 available slide in filters to make it mid-wave and long wave. Have not tried them yet. Extra $20. KT purchased a shop type 50 lb. magnet mounted on an adjustable handle and using industrial velcro, found that the Way Too Cool small unit mounts readily on the handle for use, kind of like a metal detector...works well plus KT has a decent field magnet too! Ha ha. The Way Too Cool unit is fine to show people SW minerals at home, but the flashlight is really a great field tool!

One of my good friends who lives in KY displays fluorescent minerals at hos local annual gem and mineral club show every year. He brought me to reality about the cost of show quality units....he has $1000s invested in lamps, and years finding quality display pieces to make a showy balanced display! But that is his hobby interest, that and viewing tiny mineral crystals with a stereo microscope.

KT still is interested in micro crystals, having purchased a Wilde Heerburg microscope over 20 years ago and a light source for it....that $3000 investment, would cost a beginner presently over $5000 now. You know what the ladies say, the main difference in boys and men is the price of their toys!

Since you now have the UV Beast T3, like me, KT looks forward to hearing what you come across with it while checking things out at night!

no offense taken KT, I just wanted to be sure my joking wasn't misunderstood

Now that I know that "KT the geologist" uses the same model UV flashlight I just bought (uvBeast V3 365nm UV flashlight) I genuinely feel even more confident I made a good choice (really !)

I do hope to later get that "Way Too Cool 5-Watt "THE TRIPLE" Pocket-Sized Shortwave UV Mineral Lamp" and was looking at it again as far as the optional accessories, since it also uses 18650 batteries which I already have maybe I could just get it at the base price of about $120 (when I save up more hobby money ) ......the one option I was considering was whether to get the Hoya upgrade filter (extra $25) or just stay with the ZWB3 filter, not sure if it is worth the extra expense just for hobby use.

Since I have a LW flashlight, not sure if I really needed the slide in filters for mid-wave and long-wave, is there really a big need for mid-wave ?

Neat idea using the magnet to make a UV version of a detector

I have a very strong donut shaped magnet I took out of a microwave oven we had that broke and was being trashed, I've put it in a plastic bag and used it to find screws I dropped outside in the grass before, very handy to have !

I have a regular amateur microscope I got for fun years ago, also have the USB microscope. ......you got it right about the price of our toys .....but I think my wife appreciates the additional use of the uvBeast flashlight, besides being one of my "toys" I use for fun hobby stuff like fluorescent minerals, if you shine it around the house you can see some things that you thought looked clean in normal light that need a little extra cleaning

I've heard South Carolina is supposed to have some fluorescent minerals like maybe Fluorite or Calcite, still trying to research more to be sure,

As far as my initial night hunt last night, there were no rocks on my land glowing so far ......though I only did a quick scan last night and likely will be trying some more UV scanning outside tomorrow night. (I should take a regular flashlight too to be sure no new ant hills to watch out for )

I also tried my new 365nm flashlight on the quartz-like rocks and other rocks I collected in the past on my land but no real glow from them, not that I expected it with those, but hey, didn't hurt to try

Hey, I know my area isn't the fluorescent capital of the country, but I'm still having fun looking anyhow ....and when I hopefully do find some rock glowing in the wild it will be really really fun !

 

[KingTotsalot]

no offense taken KT, I just wanted to be sure my joking wasn't misunderstood

Now that I know that "KT the geologist" uses the same model UV flashlight I just bought (uvBeast V3 365nm UV flashlight) I genuinely feel even more confident I made a good choice (really !)

I do hope to later get that "Way Too Cool 5-Watt "THE TRIPLE" Pocket-Sized Shortwave UV Mineral Lamp" and was looking at it again as far as the optional accessories, since it also uses 18650 batteries which I already have maybe I could just get it at the base price of about $120 (when I save up more hobby money ) ......the one option I was considering was whether to get the Hoya upgrade filter (extra $25) or just stay with the ZWB3 filter, not sure if it is worth the extra expense just for hobby use.

Since I have a LW flashlight, not sure if I really needed the slide in filters for mid-wave and long-wave, is there really a big need for mid-wave ?

Neat idea using the magnet to make a UV version of a detector

I have a very strong donut shaped magnet I took out of a microwave oven we had that broke and was being trashed, I've put it in a plastic bag and used it to find screws I dropped outside in the grass before, very handy to have !

I have a regular amateur microscope I got for fun years ago, also have the USB microscope. ......you got it right about the price of our toys .....but I think my wife appreciates the additional use of the uvBeast flashlight, besides being one of my "toys" I use for fun hobby stuff like fluorescent minerals, if you shine it around the house you can see some things that you thought looked clean in normal light that need a little extra cleaning

I've heard South Carolina is supposed to have some fluorescent minerals like maybe Fluorite or Calcite, still trying to research more to be sure,

As far as my initial night hunt last night, there were no rocks on my land glowing so far ......though I only did a quick scan last night and likely will be trying some more UV scanning outside tomorrow night. (I should take a regular flashlight too to be sure no new ant hills to watch out for )

I also tried my new 365nm flashlight on the quartz-like rocks and other rocks I collected in the past on my land but no real glow from them, not that I expected it with those, but hey, didn't hurt to try

Hey, I know my area isn't the fluorescent capital of the country, but I'm still having fun looking anyhow ....and when I hopefully do find some rock glowing in the wild it will be really really fun !

GKL, KT went with the LW lamp over to the neighbors drive way the other night at the Queens suggestion. Found something fluorescing brilliant yellow! On close inspection it turned out to be some type of vegetation...moss or algae on a rock! as it rubbed off the rock when His Majesty attempted to kick it to loosen it up to pick it up! So watch out for such mineral impostors!

 

[GKL]

GKL, KT went with the LW lamp over to the neighbors drive way the other night at the Queens suggestion. Found something fluorescing brilliant yellow! On close inspection it turned out to be some type of vegetation...moss or algae on a rock! as it rubbed off the rock when His Majesty attempted to kick it to loosen it up to pick it up! So watch out for such mineral impostors!

I bet you might have thought you might have made a big find when you first saw that brilliant yellow

......I'll have to watch out for such mineral impostors too !

Just made me think of a fun idea, maybe take some regular non-fluorescent rocks, and paint some spots on them with paint that is invisible in normal light but glows under UV light, put those rocks in a field in the opposite direction of your hunting site, then tell those collectors where they might want to check

(this is one of those jokes you likely might not do but is fun to think about )

Reminded me of some security invisible ink pens I have, good for making your valuables, or just having fun with

These might not be the exact ones I have but very similar if not:

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Type-Invisible-Marking-Marker/dp/B0163IAU34/

looking for that I also from this on my search:

https://www.amazon.com/Opticz-Blacklight-Reactive-Invisible-Marker/dp/B01F6IPK00/

(seems like there also is paint that is invisible in normal light but glows under UV light but not sure how durable it might be outside)

 

[KingTotsalot]

I bet you might have thought you might have made a big find when you first saw that brilliant yellow

......I'll have to watch out for such mineral impostors too !

Just made me think of a fun idea, maybe take some regular non-fluorescent rocks, and paint some spots on them with paint that is invisible in normal light but glows under UV light, put those rocks in a field in the opposite direction of your hunting site, then tell those collectors where they might want to check

(this is one of those jokes you likely might not do but is fun to think about )

Reminded me of some security invisible ink pens I have, good for making your valuables, or just having fun with

These might not be the exact ones I have but very similar if not:

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Type-Invisible-Marking-Marker/dp/B0163IAU34/

looking for that I also from this on my search:

https://www.amazon.com/Opticz-Blacklight-Reactive-Invisible-Marker/dp/B01F6IPK00/

(seems like there also is paint that is invisible in normal light but glows under UV light but not sure how durable it might be outside)

KT has 3 such invisible ink pens, purchased them all in blue! It might be fun to get some river pebbles and draw some crazy faces and designs on them to give to kids! HA HA KT got his off of eBay, in a 3 pack.

 

[GKL]

KT has 3 such invisible ink pens, purchased them all in blue! It might be fun to get some river pebbles and draw some crazy faces and designs on them to give to kids! HA HA KT got his off of eBay, in a 3 pack.

Maybe write on a larger one "Good for one free candy bar at your local store"

(maybe not, they might actually try trading it in )

 

[GKL]

Since you now have the UV Beast T3, like me, KT looks forward to hearing what you come across with it while checking things out at night!

GKL, KT went with the LW lamp over to the neighbors drive way the other night at the Queens suggestion. Found something fluorescing brilliant yellow! On close inspection it turned out to be some type of vegetation...moss or algae on a rock! as it rubbed off the rock when His Majesty attempted to kick it to loosen it up to pick it up! So watch out for such mineral impostors!

Did another short yard hunt tonight in another section of yard with the UV Beast flashlight, and I kinda found a "mineral imposter" I saw in a few different places a small brilliant red glow ! after picking up and looking close with a regular flashlight turns out they were tiny bits of the red weed-wacker string .....small bits can occasionally break off when you're trimming the grass

Another interesting sight I discovered was that when shining the UV light on the top of wild ferns it still looks greenish as in normal light, but when you shine the UV on the bottom of the fern leaves it has a dull, rusty, reddish look, but looks green when using a regular flashlight on the bottom of the fern leaves.

We own about 1 1/2 acres of yard that borders on the woods on 3 sides so I still have more yard to cover on other nights, still hoping to maybe find a glowing rock on my own property, but having fun looking regardless

 

[KingTotsalot]

Did another short yard hunt tonight in another section of yard with the UV Beast flashlight, and I kinda found a "mineral imposter" I saw in a few different places a small brilliant red glow ! after picking up and looking close with a regular flashlight turns out they were tiny bits of the red weed-wacker string .....small bits can occasionally break off when you're trimming the grass

Another interesting sight I discovered was that when shining the UV light on the top of wild ferns it still looks greenish as in normal light, but when you shine the UV on the bottom of the fern leaves it has a dull, rusty, reddish look, but looks green when using a regular flashlight on the bottom of the fern leaves.

We own about 1 1/2 acres of yard that borders on the woods on 3 sides so I still have more yard to cover on other nights, still hoping to maybe find a glowing rock on my own property, but having fun looking regardless

Yep, every little tiny bit of paper and some plastic will fluoresce, you will learn to ignor them pretty quickly! KT has examined many of the Queens plants that she has growing in pots on the Castle deck....most fluoresce deep red in LW. Read somewhere that chlorophyll fluoresces red, so the plants are healthy!

 

[KingTotsalot]

In the very first post in this thread, KT stated that he had stopped collecting minerals because the Queen asked Him to, but lo and behold, on a couple of collecting trips to pick up some fluorescent specimens he was accompanied by the Queen. She seems to have enjoyed the experience! Will wonders never cease!

 

[GKL]

Yep, every little tiny bit of paper and some plastic will fluoresce, you will learn to ignor them pretty quickly! KT has examined many of the Queens plants that she has growing in pots on the Castle deck....most fluoresce deep red in LW. Read somewhere that chlorophyll fluoresces red, so the plants are healthy!

Thanks, I was going to read up a little on how some plants might look under UV and why, but the chlorophyll makes sense !

I haven't read up on it yet in detail, but in my internet searches I did notice another additional use for UV was checking the freshness of some foods.

In the very first post in this thread, KT stated that he had stopped collecting minerals because the Queen asked Him to, but lo and behold, on a couple of collecting trips to pick up some fluorescent specimens he was accompanied by the Queen. She seems to have enjoyed the experience! Will wonders never cease!

that is fantastic KT, be very very glad for that, it seems from forum comments I've read occasionally in the past many wives seem to only tolerate their husband's hobbies rather than have an interest in the hobbies themselves