Yooperlite from up in da UP

[Squirrel322]

Just got home from our trip into the upper peninsula of Michigan. We stayed in a Lake Superior coastal town named Grand Marais. While there I was fortunate enough to find several Yooperlites. Yooperlites are rather plain looking Syenite rocks that contain fluorescent Sodalite. Under UV light these rocks glow bright orange.

Hunting theses rocks at night by the light of a VU flashlight on the shores of Lake Superior was a blast. Every night several out-of-towners descended onto the rock-laden public beach with their VU flashlights in hopes of finding a Yooperlite. It was tough competition at a heavily hunted site. My third night out made the trip. After the previous two nights experience I developed a strategy and in a twist of fate I lucked out with some favorable conditions. That night I found more than I would the rest of the nights combined.

Not bad for a Yooperlite noob.

 

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[Digger RJ]

Cool!!! Congrats!!!

 

[BC1969]

A Squirrel ehh ?
Got any wingsuits ?

Cool rocks.
Thanks for reminding me to get a decent UV flashlight.

 

[Squirrel322]

A filtered 365nm UV flashlight is recommended for hunting Yooperlites. I used the uvBeast @ $80 and a more affordable Kobra flashlight for $20. In comparison the uvBeast is the clear winner.

 

[BC1969]

Thanks.
You are Central Michigan..got a backhoe ?
Lol.

 

[Squirrel322]

No backhoe

 

[BC1969]

Bummer.
I need one.

Sorry I get kinda off the wall at night.

 

[Sue_Doanim]

Fun!!!

 

[CRUSADER]

Interesting, new one on me, learn everyday...

 

[pepperj]

Well done on the collecting of the Yooperlite.
Looking on sites it seems to be going for on an average of $9-10 an once.
But I have no idea on what grading a high value piece would involve-just the amount of that glows?

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Never heard of these rocks - very cool - congrats !

 

[Squirrel322]

Well done on the collecting of the Yooperlite.
Looking on sites it seems to be going for on an average of $9-10 an once.
But I have no idea on what grading a high value piece would involve-just the amount of that glows?

Yeah, I don’t really know either but I suspect you are correct. Some of the rocks aren’t evenly covered by the glow or might just have a little of it. There are also distinct patterns of glow, some of which might be rarer than others.

 

[Bubba65]

Wow they are really cool. Nice finds !!

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

Great haul! We are headed up to painted rocks in a couple weeks. We hope to go night hounding. Fingers crossed well snag a few.

 

[against the wind]

Next time I'm in the Upper Peninsula I'm gonna find me some YooperGold,,,
Congratulations

 

[scruggs]

That's really neat! Never heard about those. Thanks for all the info about them!

 

[Squirrel322]

Great haul! We are headed up to painted rocks in a couple weeks. We hope to go night hounding. Fingers crossed well snag a few.

Hope for stormy weather. The Painted Rocks boat-tour was canceled due to conditions the day I did the best. It makes sense that the bigger the waves are the more the rocks will be churned on the beach. Get out there before dark and then as soon as it?s dark enough hunt the wet rocks along the water line.

Good Luck!

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

Thanks for the info!! I’ll give it a shot.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Cool rocks!Very pretty too.Did you see the Turdy Point Buck?I,m told he lives in the yoop.