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UV Lights and Fluorescent Minerals - a fun side hobby to metal detecting !

Read the write up on Petoskey Stones in the previous post!

Here is another sample of the same, beautifully hand polished in its entirety. The first picture is in natural light with a US dime for scale, 2nd picture is in LW 365nm, the Royal Torch being held some 4 feet away to prevent the camera photometer from washing out, and finally KT took a picture with the Chinese USB led microscope to display the nice preservation of one of the coral cells at 10X in natural light. This quality of preservation in petoskey stones is common and one reason they are so collectible!

Enjoy the pictures!
 

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  • Colonial coral, Petoskey Stone, Shores of Lake Michigan, Upper Michigan, US dime for scale, na...JPG
    Colonial coral, Petoskey Stone, Shores of Lake Michigan, Upper Michigan, US dime for scale, na...JPG
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  • Colonial coral, Petoskey Stone, Shores of Lake Michigan, Upper Michigan, US dime for scale, LW...JPG
    Colonial coral, Petoskey Stone, Shores of Lake Michigan, Upper Michigan, US dime for scale, LW...JPG
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  • Colonial coral, Petoskey Stone, Shores of Lake Michigan, Upper Michigan, 10X, natural light.jpg
    Colonial coral, Petoskey Stone, Shores of Lake Michigan, Upper Michigan, 10X, natural light.jpg
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Wow KT you sure are not slowing down with the new specimens ! :shock: sure you don't need to add an extension to your "museum" yet ?:lol:

Anyhow, thanks for how you have really kept this thread going with all the neat specimens ! :neat:

Glad you won that calcite, zincite, tephroite, and franklinite specimen on ebay, it's neat !

I'll have to keep that Ultraviolet Tools LLC Model M101HO in mind for when I might be ready for a more powerful SW lamp !
 
Wow KT you sure are not slowing down with the new specimens ! :shock: sure you don't need to add an extension to your "museum" yet ?:lol:

Anyhow, thanks for how you have really kept this thread going with all the neat specimens ! :neat:

Glad you won that calcite, zincite, tephroite, and franklinite specimen on ebay, it's neat !

I'll have to keep that Ultraviolet Tools LLC Model M101HO in mind for when I might be ready for a more powerful SW lamp !
GKL, thanks and this thread is a good outlet for showing off the Royal Fluorescent Collection! And also keep in mind, if you ever get that particular Model, that it comes with a separate LW bulb, too. But KT chose to use it as just a SW Model, since one has to replace the SW bulb with the LW to use it that way. One of KT's friends has 3 of these units, so she can use SW, LW and mid-wave. A very few specimens fluoresce nicely in mid-wave....about 300-310nm, so KT has seen no need to worry with that wavelength. Just a bit too much switching around unless you have dedicated holders for each wavelength!

And that slab of calcite, zincite, tephroite and willemite is one of the nicer, and more espensive specimens KT has purchased. A nice multicolored piece for sure!
 
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GKL, thanks and this thread is a good outlet for showing off the Royal Fluorescent Collection! And also keep in mind, if you ever get that particular Model, that it comes with a separate LW bulb, too. But KT chose to use it as just a SW Model, since one has to replace the SW bulb with the LW to use it that way. One of KT's friends has 3 of these units, so she can use SW, LW and mid-wave. A very few specimens fluoresce nicely in mid-wave....about 300-310nm, so KT has seen no need to worry with that wavelength. Just a bit too much switching around unless you have dedicated holders for each wavelength!

And that slab of calcite, zincite, tephroite and willemite is one of the nicer, and more espensive specimens KT has purchased. A nice multicolored piece for sure!

Yep, those multicolored specimens are nice indeed, though usually more expensive, makes you wish you could find such specimens in the wild yourself :roll: :lol:

I agree with preferring not to keep switching UV bulbs, not only a bother but more chance of something breaking.

I also would consider possibly getting that model to use as SW only, in fact they offer a SW only model for $79.99 -

M100HO (High Output) - 11 Watt Shortwave Ultraviolet Lamp Kit

I notice they have a place for a discount code, did a search online for discount codes good for that company and saw several including free shipping, but just have to check and see if any of the codes are currently valid at the time you order.

The reason I could get the SW only version if I decided to is that I still have this for the 365nm wavelength -

uvBeast New V3 365nm Black Light UV Flashlight

The SW battery operated tube lamp I have now looks similiar to the M100HO 11 Watt model but is a 6 Watt model that UV Tools used to offer, did a search and it seems they had other models they no longer offer based on this page -

https://www.uvtools.com/pages/testimonials

I'm not sure if getting the 11 Watt would make a super huge difference over the 6 Watt SW I already have but I'll keep it in mind as a possibility for when I have enough extra hobby cash that is not needed for other hobby stuff, it would be different if I didn't already have the 6 Watt SW or if I had a 4 Watt SW. I'm sure it would be a nice difference to go from 6 Watt to 11 Watt, but not sure if it would be a big enough difference to be in a hurry to pay about $80 + taxes and shipping. :?: :lol: (not saying I might not eventually get the 11 Watt, just not a big hurry with already having the 6 Watt model)
 
I agree, GKL….with a 6 watt SW KT would have not purchased the 11 watt unit..KT’s Royal thought is just run the 6 watt and when the bulb poops out (eventually), rather than pay like $20 for a new bulb, just pop for the $80 unit and have a new unit, new bulb, and new filter!
 
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I agree, GKL….with a 6 watt SW KT would have not purchased the 11 watt unit..KT’s Royal thought is just run the 6 watt and when the bulb poops out (eventually), rather than pay like $20 for a new bulb, just pop for the $80 unit and have a new unit, new bulb, and new filter!
Good idea KT !

If the 6 watt SW bulb stops I could simply put the 6 watt LW bulb (that was included) in that unit and see about getting the 11 watt SW lamp.
 
Well, here is one new arrival at the Castle and then a bag full of the same type of specimens that KT finally decided to photograph and show off!

The first specimen is from the Taylor Road Site, Franklin Mining District, Franklin, Sussex Co., N.J. It is a miniature, and consists of both normal Sphalerite and the Cleiophane variety of Sphalerite. The chemical formula of sphalerite is (Zn, Fe)S...when a small amount of Mn is present, then Sphalerite fluorescesces orange in SW 254nm. Cleiophane’s chemical formula is ZnS and in the presence of LW 365nm, it fluoresces bright blue. When admixed with normal sphalerite, it causes the sphalerite to fluoresce pinkish in LW 365nm. The sphalerite displays its typical white to pinkish phosphorescence, after exposure to SW. This specimen was collected in 2018.

The first picture is in natural light with a US quarter for scale, second picture is in LW 365nm, displaying both blue Cleiophane and pink Sphalerite. The third picture is in SW 254nm, using 2 4-watt lamps, and shows the normal fluorescence of sphalerite to SW. Amazing what a trace of Mn and even Fe can do! Fe is well known as a fluorescence dampener or killer, but with sphalerite it can enhance fluorescence up to a point, and then kills it. And when it is absent, as in the variety, Cleiophane, the mineral fluoresces a bright blue! Just to let you know, those blue spots on the specimen are mineral, not cotton-based house dust! HA HA

The second set of photographs are of a number of Ruby in Fuchsite specimens from an unknown region of Brazil. KT has spent considerable time trying to chase down a more accurate location that just Brazil, but no luck. Either the sellers know nothing, or no one is telling anywhere. I suspect it is the former! Anyway, the first picture shows the specimens with green chromium mica matrix and a few discernable reddish spots in natural light, FOV is 4” as the pieces are contained within a 4” paper box. The second shows the actual abundance of ruby as the red fluorescent mineral in LW 365nm. If anyone seeing this tome knows a more exact location in Brazil, KT would greatly appreciate knowing! Since these were obtained from a Pakistani dealer, and they are well known for making up locations, His Majesty is actually uncertain if Brazil is the correct country! HA HA
 

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  • Sphalerite, var. Cleiophane & Sphalerite, Taylor Road Site, Franklin Mining District, Sussex C...JPG
    Sphalerite, var. Cleiophane & Sphalerite, Taylor Road Site, Franklin Mining District, Sussex C...JPG
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    Sphalerite, var. Cleiophane & Sphalerite, Taylor Road Site, Franklin Mining District, Sussex C...JPG
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  • Sphalerite, var. Cleiophane & Sphalerite, Taylor Road Site, Franklin Mining District, Sussex C...JPG
    Sphalerite, var. Cleiophane & Sphalerite, Taylor Road Site, Franklin Mining District, Sussex C...JPG
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  • Ruby in fuchsite, unknown region, Brazil, FOV=4 in, natural light.JPG
    Ruby in fuchsite, unknown region, Brazil, FOV=4 in, natural light.JPG
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  • Ruby in fuchsite, unknown region, Brazil, FOV=4 in, LW 365nm.JPG
    Ruby in fuchsite, unknown region, Brazil, FOV=4 in, LW 365nm.JPG
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A controversy in the literature is confronted with this specimen!

The specimen is from the Anderson Mine, Date Creek Basin, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It is interesting as it consists of a yellow crust of clusters of Carnotite, best viewed at 35-40X. It seems to be a controversial mineral concerning its fluorescence. Mindat.org lists it as non-fluorescent. And Fluomin.org lists it with a (?) after the name, but gives LW 365nm and SW 254nm colors as weak green. Other sources list it as fluorescent weak green.

It is certainly visibly fluorescent weak green with SW 254nm to my naked eye at 35X with the Royal optical microscope, yet damn near impossible to photograph its fluorescence with the Chinese USB led microscope. The first image is the specimen at 35X in natural light, the second image is a “fake” weak natural light color-adjusted image of how the fluorescence appears that His Majesty sees at 35X from the side of the specimen with the SW lamp ½ inch from the specimen! So KT took two photos with the Royal HP Photosmart M547 digital camera, one in natural light and the other using 2 4-watt SW lamps and then enlarged both images to show the actual natural light appearance of the T/N specimen and its fluorescence. To KT, the carnotite is most certainly fluorescent green in SW 254nm as He can both observe the green color with the Royal Wilde Herrberg microscope using one 4 watt SW lamp, and take a picture of the fluorescence with a regular digital camera. His Majesty's unsuccessful efforts to photograph the fluorescence with the USB scope tells Him that the light sensor’s response to weak green fluorescence is simply not sensitive enough to pick up what the Royal naked eye can see! And to add to the mix, checking this specimen with both very high powered LW 365 lamps shows NO fluorescent response! HA HA KT just has to say, “ain’t this fun!” Nothing like stirring the pot!

Sorry for the lengthy discussion, but sometimes it is just necessary to prove a point! :laughing: :laughing:
 

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  • Carnotite, Anderson Mine, Yavapai Co., AZ, 35X, natural light.JPG
    Carnotite, Anderson Mine, Yavapai Co., AZ, 35X, natural light.JPG
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  • Carnotite, Anderson Mine, Yavapai Co., AZ, 35X, Fake photo of SW 254nm as seen with optical mi...jpg
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A controversy in the literature is confronted with this specimen!

The specimen is from the Anderson Mine, Date Creek Basin, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It is interesting as it consists of a yellow crust of clusters of Carnotite, best viewed at 35-40X. It seems to be a controversial mineral concerning its fluorescence. Mindat.org lists it as non-fluorescent. And Fluomin.org lists it with a (?) after the name, but gives LW 365nm and SW 254nm colors as weak green. Other sources list it as fluorescent weak green.

It is certainly visibly fluorescent weak green with SW 254nm to my naked eye at 35X with the Royal optical microscope, yet damn near impossible to photograph its fluorescence with the Chinese USB led microscope. The first image is the specimen at 35X in natural light, the second image is a “fake” weak natural light color-adjusted image of how the fluorescence appears that His Majesty sees at 35X from the side of the specimen with the SW lamp ½ inch from the specimen! So KT took two photos with the Royal HP Photosmart M547 digital camera, one in natural light and the other using 2 4-watt SW lamps and then enlarged both images to show the actual natural light appearance of the T/N specimen and its fluorescence. To KT, the carnotite is most certainly fluorescent green in SW 254nm as He can both observe the green color with the Royal Wilde Herrberg microscope using one 4 watt SW lamp, and take a picture of the fluorescence with a regular digital camera. His Majesty's unsuccessful efforts to photograph the fluorescence with the USB scope tells Him that the light sensor’s response to weak green fluorescence is simply not sensitive enough to pick up what the Royal naked eye can see! And to add to the mix, checking this specimen with both very high powered LW 365 lamps shows NO fluorescent response! HA HA KT just has to say, “ain’t this fun!” Nothing like stirring the pot!

Sorry for the lengthy discussion, but sometimes it is just necessary to prove a point! :laughing: :laughing:

Interesting specimens KT !

I definitely understand how sometimes it is not easy to get a photograph under UV to look the same way it looks when you view it in person :roll: :?: :lol:

Some people use a saying "it's not rocket science" but in your case it IS "rock" science :laughing:
 
First of all, let His Majesty say, We of the Castle missed the tornado that hit Little Rock by some 15 miles, AND dodged all the rest of the heavy weather today! KT had calls from friends and relatives from both Arkansas and out of state when it made the national news!

Now to today’s specimen. Quite interesting to KT. It is a nice large miniature displaying on one side an anastomosing vein of what was reported to be dolomite. But a quick check with 10% HCl showed a very strong effervescence, so KT deemed it to be calcite. Adjacent to the exposure to the vein is a dark non-fluorescent mineral the seller called orthochrysotile. Then there is the matrix, it is holocrystalline, gray, and has small crystals of black opaque franklinite scattered through it.

His Majesty examined this specimen with an open mind and after seeing the white vein fluoresce in both LW 365nm and SW 254nm, He was concerned enough to check out a variety of sources, some of which did not even mention dolomite being present at the Franklin deposits and others stating that dolomite was only confined to what has been locally called “crazy calcite” which is a mixture of calcite and dolomite. Pictures of specimens from Franklin and Sterling Hill Mines on Mindat.org do not show the colors that KT saw in LW or SW, but more of a basic orange in SW only. KT wrote the seller, asking who identified the minerals….He wrote back saying he self collected the specimen from Franklin, NJ. So I assume it was his call, without ever checking the calcite with a drop of acid. So much for very basic mineralogy.

So he was concerned enough about the Royal enquiry concerning the identification of the white mineral to send His Majesty's pictures and emails to one of the most experienced local Franklin collectors, who wrote him back and said, yes the white is calcite. So while waiting for his expert to reply, KT sent an email to Danny Settles, my Royal Expert, in Kentucky, who has 30 years of collecting experience with fluorescent minerals and knows a lot about that area. He wrote me back a confirmation that the white is calcite, which is known from that locality to fluoresce an assortment of various colors in both SW and LW, and he stated that the black grains in the matrix are franklinite. Now comes the hard, but fun, part. The gray matrix rock from both its fluorescence and its general appearance under a hand lens, appears to KT to be dolomite, a fairly scarce rock type at that locality.

With all this, Danny did offer to take a look at it when he comes to the Central Arkansas MicroMount Symposium in October. KT will hold it until then but you will note that His Majesty has labeled the photos without a comment about the fluorescent matrix. The Royal specimen label does include that the matrix is dolomite rich.

So enjoy the series of photographs. The first is the calcite vein in matrix in natural light, US dime for scale. Second is LW 365nm. Third is SW 254nm. Fourth is the reverse of the piece to show the matrix in natural light. Fifth is the response of the matrix in LW 365nm and the sixth is the response of the matrix in 254nm. KT assumes that variable traces of Mn are present in the calcite and the matrix dolomite, which is considered to the source of reddish orange, pinkish orange, and orange fluorescence in both calcite and dolomite (Mindat.org, Fluomin.org, etc).

Have fun looking at these pictures!
 

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  • Calcite with fluorescent matrix, Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, reverse, SW 254nm.JPG
    Calcite with fluorescent matrix, Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, reverse, SW 254nm.JPG
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  • Calcite with fluorescent matrix, Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ,  US dime for scale, reverse, LW 365nm.JPG
    Calcite with fluorescent matrix, Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, reverse, LW 365nm.JPG
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  • Calcite with rim of orthochrysotile,Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, SW 254nm.JPG
    Calcite with rim of orthochrysotile,Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, SW 254nm.JPG
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  • Calcite with rim of orthochrysotile , Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, LW 365nm .JPG
    Calcite with rim of orthochrysotile , Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, LW 365nm .JPG
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  • Calcite with rim of orthochrysotile , Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, natural light.JPG
    Calcite with rim of orthochrysotile , Franklin, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, natural light.JPG
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At 10 am this past Wednesday morning, while KT was shaving, the Royal Bathroom lit up and His Majesty heard a CRACK of thunder at the same time. Where ever that lightning hit, it could not have been 100 feet away from the Castle. KT really should go out and try to find some fulgurites! HA HA But it knocked out the Royal server and when Prince John arrived home, he could not revive it, even with telephone assistance from AT&T, so we had to wait for the repair man to arrive. He finally arrived today and now it is repaired. Meanwhile, the fluorescent minerals continued to arrive and KT has been photographing and cataloging them so they do not pile up!

The first specimen is a M/M of Andersonite from the D-Day Mine #2 of the D-Day mine group, Thompson Mining District, Yellow Cat Mesa, Grand Co., Utah. Both these pictures were taken with the Royal Chinese USB led microscope at around 20X. In the first image we see a very few yellow spots scattered among a thin coating of translucent white gypsum on the host rock. Look close to see them! In the second image we see the response of those yellow andersonite grains to LW 365nm light, through a yellow filter to remove the blue LW light reflections of the gypsum. The gypsum does not fluoresce in this instance. KT found this specimen cheap on eBay due to the sparsity of the andersonite grains, but He knew it would be excellent for a M/M photo!

The second pair of pictures is also of an additional Andersonite specimen from the same location. Abundant yellow andersonite is present on this miniature, also perched on a crust of non-fluorescent white gypsum. Andersonite is water soluble and since it contains U, it is always a necessity to wash one’s hands after handling a specimen. The first picture is in natural light with a US dime for scale, and the second picture is in LW 365nm, a nice specimen with a strong blue-green fluorescence. In SW the color is the same, just less intense so no picture was taken.

Enjoy the pictures!
 

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  • Andersonite on gypsum, D-Day Mine #2, Thompson Mining District, Grand Co., Utah 20X, natural l...JPG
    Andersonite on gypsum, D-Day Mine #2, Thompson Mining District, Grand Co., Utah 20X, natural l...JPG
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  • Andersonite on gypsum, D-Day Mine #2, Thompson Mining District, Grand Co., Utah 20X, LW 365nm.jpg
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  • Andersonite on gypsum, D-Day Mine #2, Thompson Mining District, Grand Co., Utah, US dime for s...JPG
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  • Andersonite on gypsum, D-Day Mine #2, Thompson Mining District, Grand Co., Utah, US dime for s...JPG
    Andersonite on gypsum, D-Day Mine #2, Thompson Mining District, Grand Co., Utah, US dime for s...JPG
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Interesting specimens KT !

I definitely understand how sometimes it is not easy to get a photograph under UV to look the same way it looks when you view it in person :roll: :?: :lol:

Some people use a saying "it's not rocket science" but in your case it IS "rock" science :laughing:
Definitely true, GKL, about not being able to photograph what one can see! No matter how fancy the instrument, the eye is not only hyper sensitive to light, but also to various shades of any variations of color on Mother Nature's color wheel! The God designed ultimately sensitive detector. A camera lense contains an iris, but the eye contains an infinitely adjustable iris! :lookclose:
 
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It is nice to be back online again, tho it did not stop the specimens from arriving almost everyday while His Majesty was unable to do anything online! So here is some of the backlog of minerals KT has put in the Royal Collection in the past couple of days!

This first set of pictures is of Meyerhofferite intergrown with Caliche from the Mott Project, Furnace Creek Mining District, Inyo Co., CA. Meyerhofferite is a borate mineral and caliche is a calcite-cemented soil indicative of a desert environment. In the first image, the meyerhofferite is shown in natural light as gray translucent to nearly transparent crystals, while the caliche shows up as a fine-grained tan material. A US dime is in the photo for scale. The second photo shows the LW fluorescence of the borate mineral as gray to white, while the caliche fluoresces orange tan in LW 365nm. Neither fluoresce in SW. Royal apologies for the camera light meter being overwhelmed, but the best part of the second image is the left half anyway!

The 2nd pair of pictures are of salmon colored calcite from the Sterling Hill mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey. US dime in the photos for scale. The first image is in natural light and the second in SW 254nm. A nice fluorescent miniature!

The 3rd specimen photographed is a cabinet specimen consisting of chondrodite, diopside, calcite and aragonite from Long Lake Zn Mine in Ontario, Canada. A US dime on the specimen for scale. The first image is what a Royal friend likes to call “one of those gray rocks” when viewed in natural light. KT took 3 images of the piece in SW 254nm using one 4 watt lamp at about 2 o’clock, and moving the other SW lamp to various positions from 6 to 9 and then 10 o’clock. The images are just different enough that His Majesty could not pick which single one to send, so you get to see all three pictures! You pick the one you like best. HA HA

Enjoy the pictures!
 

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  • Meyerhofferite & Caliche, Mott Project, Furnace Crk Mining District, Inyo Co., CA, US dime for...JPG
    Meyerhofferite & Caliche, Mott Project, Furnace Crk Mining District, Inyo Co., CA, US dime for...JPG
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    Meyerhofferite & Caliche, Mott Project, Furnace Crk Mining District, Inyo Co., CA, US dime for...JPG
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  • Calcite, salmon, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, natural li...JPG
    Calcite, salmon, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, natural li...JPG
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  • Calcite, salmon, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, SW 254nm.JPG
    Calcite, salmon, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, SW 254nm.JPG
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  • Chondrodite, Diopside, Calcite, Aragonite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Twp., Frontenac ...JPG
    Chondrodite, Diopside, Calcite, Aragonite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Twp., Frontenac ...JPG
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  • Chondrodite, Diopside, Calcite, Aragonite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Twp., Frontenac ...JPG
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  • Chondrodite, Diopside, Calcite, Aragonite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Twp., Frontenac ...JPG
    Chondrodite, Diopside, Calcite, Aragonite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Twp., Frontenac ...JPG
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  • Chondrodite, Diopside, Calcite, Aragonite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Twp., Frontenac ...JPG
    Chondrodite, Diopside, Calcite, Aragonite, Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Twp., Frontenac ...JPG
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Wow KT, with all those neat specimens continuing to arrive I hope you have them listed alphabetically to keep track of them all :research: :lol:

Glad the severe weather stayed away from you, and glad that lightning strike didn't do more damage, it is fairly rare for us to have strong lightning storms in our local area, but the times we do have an ongoing lightning storm I try to remember to at least unplug our computers.

A couple days ago it was hot enough to have all the windows open, today it is in the low 40's with rain, but considering weather elsewhere in the country we really can complain too much.
 
Wow KT, with all those neat specimens continuing to arrive I hope you have them listed alphabetically to keep track of them all :research: :lol:

Glad the severe weather stayed away from you, and glad that lightning strike didn't do more damage, it is fairly rare for us to have strong lightning storms in our local area, but the times we do have an ongoing lightning storm I try to remember to at least unplug our computers.

A couple days ago it was hot enough to have all the windows open, today it is in the low 40's with rain, but considering weather elsewhere in the country we really can complain too much.
O yes, GKL, everything is cataloged into the Royal Collection with complete as possible labels accompanying each specimen, AND in the Royal Mineral Collection Spreadsheet on KT's Computer. The spreadsheet is arranged alphabetically, and lists the location of every specimen in the Royal Collection!

Yes, we were lucky, for but 15 miles away, part of west Little Rock was destroyed by a high wind F3 tornado....that is 165 mph winds estimated. It could have been, if 1 more mph, an F4! After a week there are still 600 businesses and residences that are without power. It was over 3500 immediately after it happened, but the power companies have been working day and night to restore power to those buildings and homes not destroyed. Due to Prince John's diligence, we have surge protectors on all the electronic equipment in the Castle, so the weak link is in the powerlines used by AT&T for their internet service. It popped one of their "circuit breakers". Prince John found out if the line has a surge of over 24 volts it fries their surge connector, thus not allowing the surge into the lines in the Castle! :clapping:

Yes today we have Royal Scooter riding weather, but weathermen are calling for one more cold snap the week after Easter Sunday, then warmer weather in the forecast further into Spring! :party:
 
More specimens that arrived earlier this week!

The first specimen is a small miniature of Quartz from the La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Valdi Cecina, Pisa Province, Italy. I have featured 2 of these specimens before in photos. An unusual occurrence of quartz as it is intergrown with calcite and ankerite in what in the literature is called a carbonate vein, but from what I see, I might call a carbonatite vein. KT could find no information concerning the geology and field relationships of this carbonate vein to be found in the literature. Several workers have attempted to determine the cause of the bright yellow fluorescence in both LW and SW UV, but so far their results have been not well accepted. Anyway the first picture is in natural light with a US dime for scale. The second picture is in LW 365nm and a portion of the response has overpowered the Royal camera photometer and resulted in a white patch surrounded by yellow. I assure you it is all a strong brilliant yellow to the naked eye! The fluorescent color is the same in SW 254nm, but weaker.

The 2nd set of photos are of a thumbnail Spodumene crystal, well terminated from Laghman, Afghanistan, with a US dime for scale. The first picture is in natural light and shows the crystal to be essentially colorless, and the second shows a pinkish peach fluorescence in LW 365nm. In the Royal Collection is a lilac Kunzite crystal from the same region, and it is more of a tangerine orange color in LW. Colorless spodumene used to be called triphane, but that name is now discouraged, whereas the colored gem variety is known as kunzite or hiddenite, depending on whether it is lilac or green. Because of the popularity of these gem names, I assume the International Names Committee decided to not mess with them, like with the different varietal names given to different colors of tourmaline. No need to open that can of worms and get all the gemologists and jewelry store owners upset!! HA HA

Enjoy the pictures!
 

Attachments

  • Quartz, La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Valdi Cecina, Pisa Prov., Italy, US dim...JPG
    Quartz, La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Valdi Cecina, Pisa Prov., Italy, US dim...JPG
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  • Quartz, La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Valdi Cecina, Pisa Prov., Italy, US dim...JPG
    Quartz, La Sassa carbonate vein, La Sassa, Montecatini Valdi Cecina, Pisa Prov., Italy, US dim...JPG
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  • Spodumene, Laghman, Afghanistan, US dime for scale, natural light.JPG
    Spodumene, Laghman, Afghanistan, US dime for scale, natural light.JPG
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  • Spodumene, Laghman, Afghanistan, US dime for scale, LW 365nm.JPG
    Spodumene, Laghman, Afghanistan, US dime for scale, LW 365nm.JPG
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Here are a couple of goodies....the second one was added to the Royal Fluorescent Collection.

The first photo is of a nice pair of intergrown octahedral pyrochlore crystals on matrix from the Aqua de Paz Volcano, Sao Miguel Island, Azores District, Portugal. Taken via eyepoint focus at 60X with KT's digital camera through one of the eye pieces of The Royal Wilde-Heerberg microscope (eye point method). KT took a few pictures with The USB led scope but had significant difficulty at this magnification with depth of field and trying to focus it, so discarded those blurry images. KT did recover from the seller’s web site, the second photo of this specimen, but they had no info as to the actual magnification….guessing 55X. It is not surprising that it is a bit sharper than KT's image, but His Majesty is definitely pleased with His own photo! KT purchased this specimen, thinking it would be fluorescent as many pyrochlores are, but alas, it is not.

The next specimen is an example of what has been termed “crazy calcite” from the Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdenburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey. US dime for scale. The first image is in natural light. The second picture is in SW 254nm, using 2 4-watt lights, one at 12 o’clock and the other at 9 o’clock position. The fluorescent calcite is completely bright orange, and the most intense areas of fluorescence washed out the camera meter, yielding bright yellow patches, but His Majesty assures you it is all bright orange. Notice that the fluorescing calcite is in distinct grains. The third picture was taken with LW 365nm and you will see that all the calcite fluoresces uniformally more of a red color across the entire specimen! Most calcite from this location does not fluoresce in LW, but there is always an exception to any rule! Mindat.org attributes this to the intergrowth of Mn-bearing dolomite with Mn-activated calcite. KT could find no apparent difference in what they call Mn-bearing dolomite and the calcite microscopically and did not want to mess with the specimen by dropping 10% HCl on various portions of it, which should allow one to tell the difference, based on the degree of effervescence from one carbonate to the next. Ebay has quite a few specimens listed as crazy calcite, but only a few from this location, the first place it was noted. I think it is crazy because it is so uniformly fluorescent in LW and spotty in SW!! Just goes to show, check every specimen with both LW and SW to look for any response, no matter what you are told!

Enjoy the pictures!
 

Attachments

  • Pyrochlore, Aqua de Pau Volcano, Sao Miguel Island, Azores District, Portugal, 60X, natural li...JPG
    Pyrochlore, Aqua de Pau Volcano, Sao Miguel Island, Azores District, Portugal, 60X, natural li...JPG
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  • Pyrochlore, Aqua de Pau Volcano, Sao Miguel Island, Azores District, Portugal, ~ 55X, natural ...JPG
    Pyrochlore, Aqua de Pau Volcano, Sao Miguel Island, Azores District, Portugal, ~ 55X, natural ...JPG
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  • Calcite, crazy, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, natural light.JPG
    Calcite, crazy, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, natural light.JPG
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  • Calcite, crazy, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, SW 254nm.JPG
    Calcite, crazy, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, SW 254nm.JPG
    76.9 KB · Views: 46
  • Calcite, crazy, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, LW 365nm.JPG
    Calcite, crazy, Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., NJ, US dime for scale, LW 365nm.JPG
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Here are a couple of pictures of fluorescent minerals that KT purchased as a “package deal” from Long Lake Zinc Mine, Parham, Olden Township, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada. The selection is a fine example of “old gray white rocks” in natural light. But when lit by SW 254nm, they come alive with a variety of colors from the contained minerals. Chondrodite, a member of the Humite Group, is a nice bright yellow, Diopside is a bright sky blue, the Calcite matrix is red, and there are streaks of Aragonite that are bright white. Depending upon the abundance of each of these four minerals, specimens exhibit a variety of colors and textures. These 2 pictures were sent to His Majesty by the seller and when the package arrives, KT will be photographing each piece separately in SW 254nm. He will also check every specimen with LW 365nm and if decent fluorescence is observed, KT will provide a picture taken in that wave length.

The following info is taken from Mindat.org:

“The Long Lake zinc deposit has supported small-scale mining operations by different operators several times since its discovery in 1897. Early production included more than 100 tons of ore removed in 1901; between 1902 and 1907, about 3442 tons of zinc ore were shipped from the property; and in 1949 a total of 240 tons of zinc concentrates and 15 tons of lead concentrates were reported to have been produced.

On March 1, 1973, Lynx-Canada Explorations Ltd. in partnership with Canadian Reynolds Metals Ltd. commenced mining of three newly discovered ore lenses (A, B, and C) west of the previously mined ore bodies, using an underground ramp for access and modern trackless mining equipment. Between March 1, 1973, and the closing of the mine on December 31, 1974, a total of 94,631 short tons of ore averaging 11.6 percent zinc were mined and milled.

The Long Lake zinc deposit occurs within a remnant of calcitic marble which forms a xenolith within a large gabbroic intrusion termed the Mountain Grove Mafic Intrusion. The marble remnant has a total strike length of about 1 km and is up to 180 metres wide. Layering in the marbles strikes northeast and generally dips steeply to the northwest. “


All of the waste rock was dumped in piles around the early underground mines and even more is left over in dumps from the 1970s open pit operations. These dumps are where the fluorescent minerals are collected. His Majesty simply cannot comprehend what it would be like to walk across these dumps on a moonless night with UV lamps!

More to come on samples from this location! Enjoy the pictures!
 

Attachments

  • Selection of miniatures, Long Lake Zn mine, Canada, natural light.jpg
    Selection of miniatures, Long Lake Zn mine, Canada, natural light.jpg
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  • Selection of miniatures, Long Lake Zn mine, Canada,  SW 254nm.jpg
    Selection of miniatures, Long Lake Zn mine, Canada, SW 254nm.jpg
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Today we have 2 minerals that are termed feldspathoids, or “foids” for an abbreviation. Similar to the Feldspar Group chemically but somewhat silica deficient during formation, foids are typically found in silica undersaturated igneous rocks as late primary minerals or in secondary gas pockets. They are somewhat easily recognized in thin sections as often having hexagonal outline and very low optical relief (appearing 1st order gray in crossed nichols). During my Royal investigations of the syenitic rocks of the Potash Sulphur Springs intrusive, some of the rock types had fairly abundant nosean, but KT never thought to check them with a LW UV lamp! He was a poor college student and had not the funds for such a tool. Unfortunately the site is now covered and reclaimed so no samples can be had.

Anyway, enough background! Today’s pictures were taken using the eye point method with The Royal digital camera and Wilde-Heerburg microscope at 30X and 45X magnification, respectively. Then cropped to eliminate the circular appearance.

The first pair of photographs is of Nosean crystals from the Pitiglaino Quarry, near Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy. 30X. The first image is in natural light and the second in LW 365nm. Most of the foids fluoresce various shades of orange in LW UV, no matter what their visible light color.

The second pair of photos is of powder blue Hauyne crystals in a small cavity from Hauyne xls, Montenero Qy., Onano, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy. 45X. The first image is in natural light, and the second is in LW 365nm.

Enjoy the pictures!
 

Attachments

  • Nosean xls, Pitiglaino Qy., near Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, 30X, natural light.JPG
    Nosean xls, Pitiglaino Qy., near Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, 30X, natural light.JPG
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  • Nosean xls, Pitiglaino Qy., near Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, 30X, LW 365nm.JPG
    Nosean xls, Pitiglaino Qy., near Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, 30X, LW 365nm.JPG
    139.7 KB · Views: 47
  • Hauyne xls, Montenero Qy., Onano, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy, 45X, natural light.JPG
    Hauyne xls, Montenero Qy., Onano, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy, 45X, natural light.JPG
    140 KB · Views: 40
  • Hauyne xls, Montenero Qy., Onano, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy, 45X, LW 365nm.JPG
    Hauyne xls, Montenero Qy., Onano, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy, 45X, LW 365nm.JPG
    163.1 KB · Views: 44
Here We have a specimen that was labeled Calcite, but KT had HIs Royal doubts. Since both calcite and aragonite are similarly reactive to 10% HCl, that test was out. But some basic mineralogical research revealed that calcite is trigonal and aragonite is orthorhombic, therefore there is a difference in hardness of the two minerals; calcite being defined as 3 and aragonite varying from 3.5 to 4. So His Majesty took out the olde full copper penny from the Royal Working Days field test kit, chipped off a tiny bit of the mineral, and rubbed the chip mineral side down on the penny, and there were scratches, so KT concluded that this specimen is Aragonite. Also the fluorescence is a good clue! Often calcite being one color in LW and another in SW. This cabinet piece is ~5 inches across, and has in places a sparkly crystalline crust. Also that one area that looks almost tooth like….the seller called it strange! HA HA


Anyway this specimen is from the Grotto Poggio alla Guardia, Pieve a Nievole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy. Believe it or not, there is a 30-minute YouTube video of an Italian gentleman leading a tour of that Grotto. Unfortunately he speaks Italian, and the Royal CC just converted it to spelled out Italian, not English. During the tour he shines his light on several areas of cave formations that look similar to this specimen, but none have the “teeth like” formation…..perhaps because a collector already took this one?? HA HA Just KT's Royal speculation.

Anyway, the first picture is in natural light. The second is in SW 254nm and the third is in LW 365nm. The aragonite responses so strongly to LW that His Majesty had to hold the UVBeast some 6 feet away to keep from washing out the photometer of the camera! But both UV photos are pretty accurate colorwise to KT's naked eye observation!

Enjoy the photos!
 

Attachments

  • Aragonite, Grotto Poggio alla Guardia, Pieve a Nievole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy, FOV=5 in., n...JPG
    Aragonite, Grotto Poggio alla Guardia, Pieve a Nievole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy, FOV=5 in., n...JPG
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  • Aragonite, Grotto Poggio alla Guardia, Pieve a Nievole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy, FOV=5 in., S...JPG
    Aragonite, Grotto Poggio alla Guardia, Pieve a Nievole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy, FOV=5 in., S...JPG
    80.9 KB · Views: 42
  • Aragonite, Grotto Poggio alla Guardia, Pieve a Nievole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy, FOV=5 in., L...JPG
    Aragonite, Grotto Poggio alla Guardia, Pieve a Nievole, Florence, Tuscany, Italy, FOV=5 in., L...JPG
    78.9 KB · Views: 41
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