Mineral Fluorescence "Glow Rocks"

Speaker: Nicholas Viltrakis – President, Midwest Chapter, Fluorescent Mineral Society

Topic: Mineral Fluorescence

White light mineral displays are always well lit with bright lights, offering a beautiful range of colors that makes them attractive to collectors. But some minerals have a unique property - a hidden rainbow of color that is only revealed using special ultraviolet lights. Though UV light is invisible to the human eye, these special minerals react to the UV light by releasing visible light and glow in every color of the rainbow. This property is known as fluorescence (also called luminescence). Fluorescent minerals are often called "Glow Rocks". They glow, or fluoresce, under ultraviolet light radiation and emit longer wavelength visible light.

Nicholas Viltrakis has been a professional photographer since 2007, photographing thousands of people, places, and events. His hobby interests have involved him with mineral fluorescence, a phenomenon that most of us have experienced when otherwise drab minerals glow under ultraviolet lamps. Nicholas will provide sone insight and show examples of common fluorescent minerals, describe localities where they may be found, and cover factors that promote and/or quench mineral fluorescence. Lamp options and safety will also be covered.

Certainly, Nicholas’ photographic skills will be evident for this presentation, and a hands-on suite of fluorescent minerals will be available.

The program is fit for every age, and guests are welcome at our meetings.