Natures Rainbows - Fluorescent Minerals, Rocks, Luminescence, Fluorescence, and UV Lights

Fluorescent minerals are often called "Glow Rocks". They glow, or fluoresce, under ultraviolet light and emit longer wavelength visible light (Stoke's shift). Invisible UV light from ordinary black lights, LW LEDs, or shortwave mineral lights cause this fluorescence (also called luminescence).

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Typical fluorescent minerals include: aragonite, apatite, calcite, fluorite, powellite, scheelite, sodalite, willemite, and zircon. But almost any mineral can "glow" under UV light with the right conditions. Most pure minerals do not fluoresce  (certain minerals such as scheelite are exceptions). Mineral impurities, called "activators", cause a mineral to fluoresce. Different activators, in varying quantities, along with other impurities (quenchers, such as iron) can make the same mineral fluoresce in different colors, or even not fluoresce at all. The amount/type of activators and quenchers in a mineral usually determines the fluorescent color and brightness. Read more.....

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Most mineral collectors are familiar with nature's more common "hidden rainbows" of fluorescent color - But there are hundreds of lesser known species. Nature's Rainbows is all about these fluorescent minerals and their properties.

What is Ultraviolet Light (UV)?

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The form of electromagnetic radiation that is most widely used to observe fluorescence is ultraviolet radiation, as generated by a "black light" or ultraviolet lights. Ultraviolet light is that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies beyond the purple edge of the visible spectrum and has wavelengths between 100 and 400 nm.

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UV lights are the mainstay of the Fluorescent Mineral hobby.  These lights are used in the field to collect these beautiful minerals and are an essential tool.   UV lights are not only used by hobbyists to find these treasures but have been used by prospectors in the past to find minerals such as  uranium and scheelite - primary ores in high demand (see this blog post for more on radioactive minerals).  In the early days of mining at Franklin NJ UV lights were an essential tool in locating the ore veins.

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Learn about UV...

UV lights are needed to view our minerals and are the mainstay of the Fluorescent Mineral hobby.  They are used in the field to collect these beautiful minerals, and at home to display them.   UV lights are not only used by hobbyists to find these treasures but have been used by prospectors in the past to find minerals such as the fluorescent minerals  uranium and scheelite - primary mineral ores used for many purposes. 

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Read more....

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Shopping for a light? Check out the
Fluorescent Mineral Light Review.

The links page lists web sites, museums, dealers, and others that specialize in fluorescent minerals, and do a great job of it.

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Links Page....

There are three types of mineral lights commonly used in our hobby: longwave (365nm LW UV flashlights or blacklight), midwave, and shortwave. Some lights have only one wavelength (shortwave usually), others have all three.  Three shortwave lights are reviewed here from UV Systems, Way Too Cool and UV Tools, as they are the most popular lights used by serious enthusiasts.  If you are not familiar with UV and UV lights you can learn more under the UV Topics pages.

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Go to the review...

Major shows, meetings, and other events that are important to our hobby are listed on the calendar.  Just click any event for details.  Scroll through the months for future planning.

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View the calendar....