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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.

ALL ARTICLES

AUSTRALIA

COLLECTING MINERALS

DIY ARTICLES

FRANKLIN

FLUORESCENT LIGHTS

GREENLAND

MINERALS

MINERAL DISPLAYS

MINERAL OF THE MONTH

MINERAL PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOSPHORESCENCE

SWEDEN

TENEBRESCENCE

TRIP REPORTS

UV FLASHLIGHTS

MinerShop Blog / Greenland

sodalite from greenland displaying tenebrescence

"Red" Sodalite (Hackmanite) - Deeply Tenebrescent Greenland Mineral

Red sodalite is named for the color it takes on when exposed to sunlight; it is nicely tenebrescent under longwave UV. Under shortwave UV the color deepens, in seconds, to almost black in some areas. 
Posted on November 19, 2024
Tagged: Greenland, Minerals, Tenebrescent
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Apatite on Sodalite under Midwave UV

A Short Study on Rare Occurrences of Apatite from the Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland

Rarest of the rare from Greenland - apatite has only been observed in a handful of pieces over the decade+ we have been exploring Greenland. Blue apatite crystals fluorescing under UV.
Posted on November 14, 2024
Tagged: Greenland, Minerals
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fantasy rock from greenland with tugtupite chkalovite analcime polylithionite

Crack that Rock! (You never know what's inside)

Crack it! This has been our mantra for years, told to new folks we've guided into the mountains of Greenland. For ten years, we guided groups of 5 to 7 people into the mountains and put them on the best collecting spots in the Ilimaussaq Complex. 
Posted on November 12, 2024
Tagged: Collecting Minerals, Greenland, Minerals
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sodalite (hackmanite), tugtupite, chkalovite, analcime from greenland

Sodalite (Hackmanite), Tugtupite, Chkalovite, Analcime(?) - Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland

This material is striking. The sodalite appears as crystal blebs in matrix, with a few spots of tugtupite encircling a bright white chkalovite.
Posted on November 07, 2024
Tagged: Greenland, Minerals
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a piece of fluorescent sodalite hackmanite showing its tenebrescence

Greenland Sodalite Hackmanite - Quick Change Artist, Tenebrescent Champion

Tenebrescence of Greenland fluorescent sodalite is amazing. This is a piece of a deeply tenebrescent sodalite. Note how when the shortwave light is first turned on, the sodalite fluoresces a bright orange but almost immediately shifts to a burnt orange as the tenebrescence sets in.
Posted on October 21, 2024
Tagged: Greenland, Minerals, Tenebrescent
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An image of kangerlussaq shore

Kangerlussaq Minerals - The Fluorescent Minerals of Greenland – Part 5

The Kangerluarsuk Fjord forms the southeast boundary of the Ilimaussaq Complex.  Like Tunulliarfik, the fjord cuts right through the complex.  Steep cliffs rise from each side of the fjord.  A large, relatively flat, rock-strewn area is located at the end of the fjord and is one of the three most productive areas in the complex. 
Posted on September 08, 2023
Tagged: Greenland
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sodalite beach in greenland

Tunuliarfik Minerals - The Fluorescent Minerals of Greenland – Part 4

The Tunulliarfik Fjord cuts right through the middle of the Ilimaussaq Complex. Traveling by boat from Narsaq the sights are wondrous; the deep blue water of the fjords broken by massive white and blue icebergs contrasts remarkably to the rocky cliffs and sparse vegetation on either side of the fjord. Upon approaching the transition zone into the complex the appearance of the land changes abruptly. 
Posted on August 31, 2023
Tagged: Greenland
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tugtupite beryllite

Kvanefjeld Minerals - The Fluorescent Minerals of Greenland – Part 3

Atop Kvanefjeld one is greeted with a wonderful view of the valley below, Narsaq in the distance, and the iceberg dotted fjords. It is easy to spend the entire day exploring the relatively flat areas at the top, and digging through the years of tailings that the locals have amassed while searching for gem red tugtupite. 
Posted on August 18, 2023
Tagged: Greenland
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taseq slope

Taseq Slope Minerals - The Fluorescent Minerals of Greenland – Part 2

There are three areas of interest on the Taseq Slopes: the eastern slopes, middle slopes, and western slopes. Only the western slopes have been extensively surveyed (by H. Sorensen and others in the mid 60’s). This area is noted for the heavy concentrations of beryllium, and produces some fantastic specimens. The middle slopes and eastern slopes both produce great examples of sodalite and tugtupite, along with a myriad of unidentified species. 
Posted on August 12, 2023
Tagged: Greenland
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A photo of Greenland from plane

The Fluorescent Minerals of Greenland - An Overview

We will divide this blog into a 5 series post with a focus on the following areas:

  1. Overview of Greenland and the Fluorescent Minerals from this Locality
  2. Kvanefjeld Minerals
  3. Taseq Slope Minerals
  4. Tunuliarfik Minerals
  5. Kangerlussaq Minerals
Posted on August 04, 2023
Tagged: Greenland, Minerals
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A green aventurine quartz greenlandite cabochon

Mineral of the Month: Greenlandite, The Story of One of Earth’s Oldest Gemstones

A rare gemstone, greenlandite began its remarkable journey in the land of Greenland, where rugged landscapes and fascinating geology intertwined. Greenland was renowned for its geological diversity and bountiful array of minerals, but only some were as captivating as the precious stone known as "Greenlandite."
Posted on July 17, 2023
2 comments
Tagged: Greenland, Mineral of The Month, Minerals
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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.)
Posted on July 10, 2023
Tagged: Collecting Minerals, Greenland, Trip Reports
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19 results
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