UV reactive

This tag covers our collection of fluorescent minerals and materials – those which react under various wavelengths of UV light.

In mineralogy, we typically use three wavelengths of UV light for the best results.

These are:

Shortwave/SW light or UV-C – 254-280nm.

UV-C lights are the most dangerous form of UV light, and we highly recommend anyone using them wears protective glasses and minimises exposure to their skin and eyes. The wavelength typically used in mineral collecting is 255nm.

Midwave/MW or UV-B – 280-320nm

The wavelength typically used in mineral collecting is 310nm.

Longwave/LW or UV-A – between 320-400nm.

This is the most common and safest form of UV light used, and the one we recommend for beginner collectors. There are several reasons for this, with the first, of course, being that LW lights are inherently less risky to use than SW.

A great many minerals react to LW light, including calcites, hyalite, fluorite, ruby, hackmanite, zircons, etc – the two most common there being calcite and fluorite, which will likely form the majority of UV mineral collections in one form or another.

Longwave lights are also typically cheaper and are available in higher power forms than SW and MW lights – even the torches are significantly more powerful.

The most common wavelength for mineral collectors is 365nm – it is important to note that many cheap UV lights are 395nm, which are of no use for minerals (but may appeal to collectors of uranium or manganese glass).

 

 

Some minerals glow different colours, or entirely differently under different lights.

What glows under 255nm may not glow under 365nm, and vice versa.