Fluorescent Minerals
Franklin, NJ
Amazon Stone / Microcline, purple
Franklin conglomerate (Calcite, orange; Willemite, green; Franklinite, black;)
Chlorophane, turquoise
Calcite, pink
Calcite, pink
Franklin conglomerate (calcite, orange; Willemite, green; Franklinite, black;)
Franklin conglomerate (calcite, orange; Willemite, green; Franklinite, black;)
An explanation of fluorescence:
When an ultraviolet light is shone on
a fluorescent mineral, the mineral absorbs the incoming light wave
raising some of its electrons to a higher orbit. However, because
molecules and atoms always want to return to their lowest energy state
the electrons fall back into their original orbit. To return to their
original orbit the molecule must release energy, so it emits a photon
and falls back to its original orbit. The energy released is always
less than the energy absorbed, thus if UV light is absorbed UV light
will not be released, instead visible light will most likely be
released. In the examples above, short wave UV light was shone on the
minerals and they released the light back at different wavelengths
(orange, green, turquoise, and pink). The color released depends mostly
on activators special to the mineral. This is why calcite from one
place in the Trotter dump of Franklin can fluoresce pink and calcite
from another location in Trotter can fluoresce orange. Franklin, New
Jersey is the Fluorescent Capital of the World with about 40 different
fluorescent minerals.