MinerShop Blog

Welcome to the MinerShop blog. We write about pretty much anything that sparks our interest. We've sorted our articles into the categories below.

calcite, hydrozincite, aragonite, diopside specimen under UV light

Long Lake Zinc Mine - Ontario Canada

The sun was slowly setting so we made dinner and relaxed a while (amazing how slowly the sun sets when you're waiting for it). Once it got dark collected started in earnest. The first thing you notice is the bright blue hydrozincite everywhere on red calcite. All of the small rocks glow. We proceeded to check out the large boulders laying around on the surface and quickly determined that dozens of prior collectors had done the same. That's why they're still lying around.
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Hydrozincite sphalerite calcite from columbia mine kentucky

The Columbia Mine - Kentucky

Located in southwest Kentucky, the Columbia Mine was opened by Andrew Jackson in the early 1800's. It is situated in the famous Illinois-Kentucky fluorospar belt and is but one of hundreds of little mines that have operated in this area from 1800 to the late 20th century. Nearby are several other mines (Eureka and others) but the Columbia so far has been the only one to produce significant fluorescent specimens.
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fluorescent leucophanite

Rocks and Lox in Norway

The list of fluorescents includes leucophanite and closely related meliphanite, feldspar, sodalite, rosenbuschite, helvite, apatite and zircon. Our original plan was based on the fact that despite the variety of fluorescents available, collecting at Langesundsfjord has always been done without the benefit of UV lamps. This same situation has led to the amazing and continuing underestimation of Ilimaussaq as a fluorescent collecting paradise. 
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Fluorescent Mineral Collecting In and Around Langban, Sweden (2010)

Fluorescent Mineral Collecting In and Around Langban, Sweden (2010)

The approximately five-hour drive to Filipstad, in the State of Värmland, Sweden meandered through beautiful Norwegian rural areas (we kept hearing this voice say "recalculating"), before reaching a major highway in Sweden. 
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Icebergs at dusk in Greenland

Howie and His White Whale - An Old Greenland Trip Report

"Howie and His White Whale" is a combined report of one man's initial trip and how it turned into a subsequent quest for "Ahab's white whale" of fluorescent minerals - and became an obsession.   (Howie has visited the complex with us every year except for the first.)
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The Puttapa Zinc Mine in Australia

The Puttapa Zinc Mine in Australia

A relatively unknown and obscure zinc deposit in the remote area of the Australian Outback has become famous for producing dramatic fluorescent specimens of willemite mixed with several other minerals.
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Calcite, fluorite, hydrozincite

Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Illinois

The Minerva mine was located in Illinois. Discovered in 1940 it was mined off and on until 1996. Many spectacular specimens have come from this mine over the years - including fluorescent species such as fluorite, sphalerite, calcite, dolomite, strontianite, and witherite.
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Fluorescent Mineral Show

Ultraviolation 2017 Show Report

As a short digression to provide background, Ultraviolation is a unique rock and mineral show in that only fluorescent minerals are sold.
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Helvetia Mine in Arizona

Helvetia Trip Report

Helvetia. Just the name conjures up all sorts of thoughts, images and expectations. Goddesses, Switzerland, and perhaps even hell itself. Who knew what awaited us in the heart of the Arizona desert?
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2017 FMS Midwest Chapter Annual Meeting

2017 FMS Midwest Chapter Annual Meeting

The Midwest Chapter of the Fluorescent Mineral Society (FMS) held its first annual meeting at the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum in Marion, Kentucky, on Saturday, September 16th.
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Quartz, Calcite, Dolomite

Fluorescent Mineral Collecting Field Trip to the Midwest

I cancelled my plans to take the grandchildren to the fall Franklin Mineral Show. As a Plan B, I decided to go to the Midwest Chapter of the Fluorescent Mineral Society (FMS) meeting and fieldtrips near Cave-in Rock, IL
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Fluorescent Mineral Collecting

Fluorescent Mineral Collecting in Middle Tennessee (The Dry Creek Prospects)

It was officially spring and time to get out to collect fluorescent minerals.
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