Synthetic Fluorescent Mineral Experiment: "Hyalite Opal" - WL

FOV: 2.75" wide.

 

Uranyl nitrate and sodium chloride from a previous experiment was dissolved in water. Approx. 6mL of this solution was added to ~5mL of dry sodium metasilicate along with water in a small watch glass. This was rehydrated every few days for about two weeks as the sodium silicate would crystallize and then dissolve again. At the end of the two weeks it was dried under a small electric light bulb resulting in a clear glassy substance with a tinge of green color. On the surface formed large crystalline layer. Before the substance dried it was not very fluorescent. After drying and crystallizing, it became very fluorescent yellow-green under all UV wavelengths.

 

Because of the crystalline nature of the substance, I don't think I succeeded in creating hyalite opal which is amorphous and not crystalline.

 

Contains:

Pseudo "Hyalite" (FL Yellow-green >BL/UVabc)

 

Shown under white light.

 

Key:

WL = White light (halogen + LED)

FL = Fluoresces

PHOS = Phosphorescent

Blue = 450nm,

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

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

 

"Hyalite Opal"

19Nov2015

 

Much appreciation to Gordon Czop for the uranyl nitrate.

 

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

Done