Synthetic Fluorescent Mineral: Bologna Stone "Bon-bons" - PHOS >UVc

 

FOV: 9" wide

 

Experiments in recreating the Bologna Stone, one of the first synthetically made phosphors made by heating barite from near Bologna, Italy. The Bologna Stone amazed the scientifically curious in the 17th century by being phosphorescent after exposure to sun light and lamp light. Because barite (or "heavy spar") is particularly dense, some alchemists believed that this "golden glow of the sun" indicated that Bolognian barite might be a good candidate for tranforming into gold. It is now believed that the Bologna Stone was actually barium sulfide with monovalent copper impurities.

 

These "Bon-bons" were made by combining BaSO4 with flour, sugar, some CuCl2*2H2O and water. The greenish mixture was put into foil cups and baked at 200 degF until hard. The cooked mixture was then heated/burned with a MAPP gas torch until it glowed bluish white.

 

Here is diplayed a collection of attempts at creating the Bologna Stone in front of some minerals which also show a strong fluorescence from blue light.

 

At the rear, from L-R:

Rockyard Calcite (heated with MAPP torch), Afghani Hackmanite and Swedish Sphalerite on Calcite

 

Front part contains:

Bologna Stone (FL+PHOS! Yellow Orange >blue,UVabc)

 

Shown in phosphorescent state after exposure to UVc light.

 

Key:

WL = White light (halogen + LED)

FL = Fluoresces

PHOS = Phosporescent

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

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

 

...\FL min Experiments\Group II Sulfides\BaSO4 with flour and sugar\BonBon group1

 

Series best viewed in Light Box mode using Right and Left arrows to navigate.

Photostream best viewed in Slideshow mode (in the dark).

 

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

Done