ÿþ<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 97"> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Mozilla/4.7 [en] (Win98; I) [Netscape]"> <title>THE SPHERICAL WORLD</title> </head> <body text="#FFFF00" link="#000FFF" vlink="#FF0000" background="blckmrbl.jpg" <B> <center><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+4>THE SPHERICAL WORLD</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00">A Publication of ATMOSPHERE</font> <br><font color="#FFFF00">THE SOCIETY FOR THE APPRECIATION OF MINERAL SPHERES</font> <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+3>&nbsp; MINERALS OF MADAGASCAR</font></font></center> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>There is no more fascinating a locale for mineral enthusiasts than Madagascar--a virtual "goldmine" of some of the world's finest mineral specimens--especially for sphering.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>This tiny island, with its volcanic origins, is constantly increasing its treasure trove of available sphered material. This year the marketplace saw the introduction of&nbsp; polychrome jasper-- highly polished mixes of gray, beige and rust in large patterns-- and the very fragile celestite, stunning geode spheres with baby blue crystals.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Madagascar is probably best know for its excellent quality labradorite and fine star rose quartz, with superb asterism.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>The nation shares with Brazil a reputation for producing some of the best quartz specimens in the world of all grades. The varieties include crystal quartz, smokey quartz, rose quartz, yellow-tinged quartz, lavender quartz and hematoid quartz. Hematoid is a lovely peach-colored quartz whose color is influenced by the inclusion of hematite in its mineral make-up.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Other materials that predominate in the region are large, bright orange carnelian spheres, sky blue calcite, orange and yellow calcites with black spots, unusual jaspers in intriguing colors (pink, yellow, etc.) and petrified woods, as well as both blue and green apatite. The most beautiful blue apatite has generally been irradiated from a naturally green apatite. However, plain olive green apatite can be interesting and pretty.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Madgascar also produces an interesting "blue opal," also known as girasol or durasol. It is a milky sphere with a certain subtle glassy irridescence, reminiscent of moonstone.But a few other more rare species also grab our attention: the gorgeous golden gemmy ammonites, the black/white gabbro, the spotted illmenite, and the lovely lavender anhydrite.</font></font> <p><b><u><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>SPOTLIGHT ON:</font></font></font></u></b> <br><b><u><font face="Arial,Helvetica"><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>FLOURESCENT SPHERES</font></font></font></u></b> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Quiz: What spheres would the average collector disregard during a shopping spree seeking striking new sphere specimens?</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Answer: Fluorescent Spheres& the reason is that like the frog prince, these mostly unattractive spheres transform when kissed--by ultraviolet light.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Fluorescence is an effect of photoluminescence where</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>a mineral emits visible light when illuminated with higher-energy ultraviolet light. This phenomenon is further defined by the distinction between a fluorescent sphere, for which the special properties are only apparent when lit, and a phosphorescent sphere, which continues to glow for some time after the light source is taken away.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>What causes this unique property are "activators," impurities which respond by giving off bright colored light under U.V. conditions. Some minerals respond best to short wave light and others to long wave.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Some minerals will always fluoresce. Others only when they possess the activators which trigger the phenomenon. For example, willemite is generally not fluorescent unless it comes from Franklin, New Jersey where the deposit contains manganese.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Certain regions of the world are globally famous for their rich deposits of fluorescent minerals. Perhaps the best known are Franklin/Sterling Hill NJ. Franklin is the pinnacle of fluorescent mineral localities. Nearly one out of every four minerals at this site fluoresceses. It is most famous for its Calcite/Willemite combination, which gives off startling red/green contrasts.</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Other Franklin contributions are hardystonite, clinohedrite and esperite.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>The Mount St. Hilaire &amp; Bancroft regions in Canada. offer some great specimens. Among the striking fluorescent minerals that come from these territories are Hackmanite/ Sodalite (violet/ pink shades) and Wernerite (yellow and purple). Another key Canadian import is Agrellite from the Kipawa Complex (bright pink).</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Certainly fluorescent minerals are not confined to these regions. Arizona and New Mexico offer scheelite and chalcedony, New England produces fluorescent fluorapatite, Parker Mountain New Hampshire mines&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; deep red eucryptite, Peru, the remarkable shocking pink mangano calcite. From South America recently have emerged stunning condor and crater agates--not inexpensive, but beautiful in either white or fluorescent light. Some other mineral spheres which fluorecese include fluorite, calcite, aragonite, ulexite, wollastonite and zincite.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>How does one become initiated into fluorescent spheres? One way is to join the Fluorescent Mineral Society. Founded in 1971, this&nbsp; international organization provides a unique source of information exchange for everyone from the expert to the novice. The FMS publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, U.V. Waves. Dues are under $20, and some regions offer regular meetings of members. You can either email Doug Mitchell at DMitchell@compuserve.com or write Dr. Rodney K. Burroughs, President, P.O. Box 572694, Tarzana, CA 91357. Phone: (818) 343-6637. The website is www.uvminerals.org.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Another excellent source of information is the Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, which the FMS published in 1989, and is regularly updated with new finds.Gerhard Henkel was&nbsp; a German collector with a degree in chemistry and physics, who upon searching fruitlessly for a source of information on fluorescent species, created his own. It is an exhaustive list of minerals, denoting their chemical composition, the color that they fluorescese and whether they respond under short or long wave.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Your local library may also&nbsp; offer some of the more than dozen excellent volumes on fluorescent minerals.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Viewing and buying fluorescent spheres may be a bit more challenging. There are a number of companies that offer small compact 4-inch long hand-held U.V. lights that can alternate short or long wave, though these are not terribly powerful.</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Read our monthly column on spheres in the Eclectic Lapidary online magazine!</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>There are also a few portable larger short wave units with handles on the market, which are very powerful. However, if the dealer does not have a dark room or curtained area where you can see the sphere solely lit by U.V. light, it may be difficult to judge its character. At the very least, see if the dealer will let you take the sphere into a darkened bathroom.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Lighting a display at home is also a complicated affair. Lights need to be mounted on a frame, track system or other device immediately above the specimens. You'll need to either separate your short wave from your long wave spheres and create separate space for each, or build a display where you can have both a long and a short wave source mounted side-by-side above the collection.</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><u><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Light Companies</font></font></u><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Here are some of the companies which offer U.V. lighting for mineral collectors:</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Raytech (Middletown CT)</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Spectronics (Westbury CT)</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>UVP (Upland, California)</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>UV Systems (Renton, Washington)</font></font><font size=+1></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Enjoy the mystery of fluorescent spheres and the transformation they undertake in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum!</font></font> <br><font size=+1></font>&nbsp; <p><i><u><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Today's Tip</font></font></u></i> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&nbsp;Ever broken a quartz crystal, only to have white crystaline residue left over?</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&nbsp;Reader Vince Nelson of Utah tells us that dabbing on Future Floor Wax with a Q-tip will eliminate the white residue.</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1></font></font>&nbsp;<font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1></font></font> <p><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&nbsp;</font><u><font size=+2>Bob's Rock Shop</font></u></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&nbsp;If you're just getting online and want to get a great overall view of what's on the web pertaining to minerals, there is no better place to go than Bob's Rock Shop at www.rockhounds.com</font></font> <p><b><u><font color="#FFFF00">THANKS!!!</font></u></b> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Some of our readers send us letters to share with us their knowledge and to express appreciation. We also take submissions for the newsletter.&nbsp; We really appreciate you! Thanks also to those who send donations&nbsp; to help offset the cost of production and mailing. Thanks ever so much!</font></font> <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br> <center> <p><b><i><u><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+2>TUCSON REPORT</font></font></u></i></b></center> <font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Tucson and Quartzsite held a wealth of surprises this year. Just when we think we've seen it all& there is something new under the sun!</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>Consider the following:</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Abalone Shell composite spheres</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Peach-tinged Russian Moonstone</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Fuchsia jade and purple chalcedony from Turkey</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Green buddstone, purple stictite, and blue tiger eye from South Africa</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Rich cherry red rhodocrosite from Argentina and chrysocolla from Arizona, both originating from stalagtites.</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Psilomene from Arizona with its concentric wavy metallic patterns</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Gemmy green diospite from Brazil</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; White cat's eye selenite and caramel onyx from Morocco</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Real turquoise from Arizona</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Spectacular pyrite geodes from Peru</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Agua Nueva and Laguna Agate from Mexico</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Very sweet tiny starred chaistalite from China, as well as crinoid limestone</font></font> <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1>&middot; Oolite from Kansas, reputed to be fossilized fish eggs!</font></font> <br><font size=+1></font>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br><font color="#FFFF00"><font size=+1></font></font>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <ul>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp;</ul> <font color="#FFFF00">.</font> <br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; </body> </html>