[Rockhounds] Black Lights Turn This North Carolina Mine Into a Psychedelic Wonderland

[pmodreski at aol.com]

That's pretty cool, Paul, thanks for sharing.
All correct, of course, about the hyalite being fluorescent because of the uranium.  Though it doesn't take much uranium to make it brightly fluorescent, but there are often other uranium minerals present too (like autunite) along with the hyalite.  If the mine is decently ventilated, the radon shouldn't (I would think) be much of a problem.  And visitors only spend one hour-or-two visit there.
Aside from saying "black light"--oh, heck, it's a common expression, everyone knows what that means.
Pete


-----Original Message-----
From: Paul <etchplain at att.net>
To: Rockhound List <rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
Sent: Wed, Apr 13, 2022 6:30 pm
Subject: [Rockhounds] Black Lights Turn This North Carolina Mine Into a Psychedelic Wonderland

Black Lights Turn This North Carolina Mine

Into a Psychedelic Wonderland. The Bon Ami

Mine’s deposits of the mineral hyalite glow

fluorescent green under ultraviolet light

by Jennifer Nalewicki, Smithsonian Magazine, April 12, 2022

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/black-lights-turn-this-north-carolina-mine-into-a-psychedelic-wonderland-180979899/


Yours,


Paul H.
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