Synthetic Fluorescent Mineral Experiment: Counterfeit Calcite - WL

 

FOV: 5" wide.

 

Calcium carbonate was combined with calcium sulfate dihydrate and the mixture was calcined (heated) at 300 degF for about an hour to convert the calcium sulfate to a hemihydrate. When combined with water, the calcium sulfate becomes a dihydrate again and the mixture hardens - a.k.a "Plaster of Paris". The calcium carbonate was doped with manganese and lead so that it would fluoresce under UVc.

 

The sample in the upper left was made with hardware store plaster of paris mix (also contained CaCO3 and SiO2). The upper right sample was made using hardware store garden gypsum which had to be rinsed to remove additives. The lower left sample was made using home made calcium sulfate by combining solutions of calcium chloride and sodium sulfate. The lower right sample was made using 15ml of the hardware store plaster of paris mix and approx. 30 mmol of CaCO3:Mn(3%),Pb(1%).

 

Contains:

Calcite (FL Red,Orange >UVc)

 

Shown under white light.

 

Key:

WL = White light (halogen + LED)

FL = Fluoresces

PHOS = Phosphorescent

BL = 450nm (blue),

UVa = 368nm (LW), UVb = 311nm (MW), UVc = 254nm (SW)

'>' = "stimulated by:", '!' = "bright", '~' = "dim"

 

2Nov2015

 

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18 Watt Triple Output UV lamp from Polman Minerals - Way Too Cool UV lamps

Done