Hobbies And Interests
Fluorite
Fluorite, known in chemistry as calcium fluoride, is a crystal rock mineral that comes in several colors and is known for its glass-like appearance. Fluorite is commonly purple or blue, but it can range in color from black to orange to clear. When fluorite is placed under UV light, it will glow. Under longwave UV light (such as black light), fluorite typically glows blue, but can also appear green, yellow, white, purple or red. Under shortwave UV light, the rock may appear a different color than it does under black light. The word "fluorescent" is derived from fluorite, because the mineral was one of the first glowing rock specimens studied.
Calcite
Calcite, known in chemistry as calcium carbonate, is one of the most common rock minerals in the world. It makes up about 4 percent of the weight of the earth's crust. Calcite comes in many varieties and colors, but specimens are commonly white or clear with shades of another color. Calcite can fluoresce different colors, depending on where the rock originated and what elements, such as manganese, it contains. Typical fluorescent colors include red, yellow, pink and blue.
Scapolite
Scapolite is a gemstone and mineral specimen typically found in short and long prismatic crystals. Scapolite colors are generally yellow to orange, or pink to violet. Scapolite can fluoresce under longwave UV light, such as black light. It commonly glows orange or yellow and, in rare instances, red.
Autunite
Autunite, known in chemistry as hydrated calcium uranyl phosphate, is a radioactive mineral. It contains uranium, which causes the radioactivity. Autunite is popular among rock and mineral collectors. Under natural light, it is a yellow-green color and appears to glow. Under longwave UV light, such as black light, the rock fluoresces a bright green or yellow. Because autunite is radioactive, human exposure should be limited, and it should be stored away from other minerals that are effected by radioactivity.