Found some neat rocks, but...

TerryC · Dec 22, 2011

I have been picking up some rocks around Stanton, AZ with some specks in them. Under UV light, they are VERY vivid in color. They seem to glow a very bright "gold color", as if they are tiny led's. I know the specks are not gold because gold does not glow under uv light. Anyone know what the mineral is? Under normal light, they look like gold specks.Tnx. TTC

russau · Dec 22, 2011

no picture. but could this be a reflection??

Astrobouncer · Dec 22, 2011

There are a lot of minerals that glow under uv light, it depends on whether its short or longwave:

http://www.galleries.com/Fluorescent_Minerals

TerryC · Dec 22, 2011

Astrobouncer said:
There are a lot of minerals that glow under uv light, it depends on whether its short or longwave:

http://www.galleries.com/Fluorescent_Minerals

I don't know if the uv is long or short... bought a loupe at Miner's Creek in Wickenburg. The loupe has a natural light and uv built in source. Russau, Hey guy. No chance of a reflection... some of the rocks are nearly opaque with the "flecks" just under the surface . Others are in some crevices. I will be checking with the U. of Phoenix soon. Tnx guys. (BTW: specks are so tiny, I don't think they would be visible in a pic) TTC

GrayCloud · Dec 22, 2011

Terry, Gather up a pile of um and take them to the next Burnin Man. Put the light on um at night and you will make a fortune off the moon beamers. ::)

TerryC · Dec 22, 2011

GrayCloud said:
Terry, Gather up a pile of um and take them to the next Burnin Man. Put the light on um at night and you will make a fortune off the moon beamers.

Good, GC! Didn't someone from the "hippie" times name their kid Moon Beam or something? TTC

GrayCloud · Dec 22, 2011

Terry, Just not sure of the original source, as I grew up way too far in the backwoods to be knowledgeable of the Cool Kids. :dontknow:

But I do know that Jerry Moon Beam Brown is a Burnin Man enthusiast. :thumbsup:

TerryC · Dec 23, 2011

GrayCloud said:
Terry, Just not sure of the original source, as I grew up way too far in the backwoods to be knowledgeable of the Cool Kids. But I do know that Jerry Moon Beam Brown is a Burnin Man enthusiast.

TNX! Dusted off one of my books and found a good starting point in id'ing the mineral. On page 329 of the book pictured is a list of 49 minerals known to fluoresce. 15 fluoresce as orange. Now we're getting somewhere! Probably not caliche, too common a mineral... not beryl, too rare. I will go through the list then approach U of P. Tnx. (good book! replete with actual coordinates to collecting locations) TTC