Canadian

Canadian fluorescent minerals

The specimens shown at right are from Canada. The first column shows the minerals under regular lighting conditions. The second column shows the minerals under long wave fluorescent light. The third column show the mineral under short wave fluorescent light.

The first two rows show the mineral hackmanite which fluoresces an orange color under long wave ultraviolet light. The purple is the reflection of the light off the normally white mineral which is with the hackmanite. The short wave image shows the light reflecting off the otherwise white minerals. I have been told that the mineral will phosphoresce after the lights are turned off, but have not been able to verify this myself.

The second two rows of minerals are wernerite also called scapolite. Under normal lighting conditions the mineral is a white to tan sometimes clear. Under long wave ultraviolet light is fluoresces a strong yellow. the accompanying mineral reflects the light giving it a dark blue to black color. Under short wave ultraviolet light it fluoresces a lighter yellow and the accompanying minerals a lighter blue reflection. Interestingly, even though you get very little fluorescence from the short wave ultraviolet light, it will cause the mineral to phosphoresce for a short while after the lights are turned off.

The crystal specimen to the right is gypsum (var. selenite) from the Red River Floodway, Winnipeg, Canada. It fluoresces a creamy white under long wave and a brighter white under short wave. What I find really special about this specimen is that it will phosphoresce for a few seconds after exposure to either short or long wave UV lights.

Regular lighting

Long wave ultraviolet light

Short wave ultraviolet light