April 2014 Program


Program by Mary Loose DeViney: “Fluorescent Minerals of Virginia”.

Mary started with a brief definition of fluorescence (visible light produced by certain minerals and fossils when these objects are illuminated by light rays of a UV light source (black light).

Mary emphasized what can be collected in Virginia, with numerous slides of locally collected minerals.

She also discussed how to photograph fluorescent minerals and the difference between safe UV (long-wave) and short wave portions of the light spectrum.

Several folks went home with the idea of checking their collections for fluorescence and investing in a black light.

Thanks, Mary!