Fluorescent Minerals
Closeup view of the "steps." FOV ~2.5"
Same view as above, under angled white light to emphasize the detail.
I recently bought this piece at a rock shop while traveling - a beautiful hunk of amber yellow fluorite crystal from Cave-in-Rock mining area, Hardin Co, Illinois. The leading edge of the crystal measures 4" and the base measures 3"x3"x4". This piece was being sold as a white light specimen, and was a pretty good deal.
Especially so, considering that exposure to long wave UV reveals violet-blue fluorescence that grades into lavender with bright glowing white towards the bottom. The white fluorescence comes from what looks like a layer of calcite within the fluorite along the base.
The base is covered with stepped cubic fluorite, shown here under short wave UV.
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