Table of Contents
- Quantum States of the FMS: President’s Report by Philip S. Neuhoff 1–2
- Treasurer’s Report C.Y. 2023 by Andrew Silver 3
- Eye Candy from Jon Allred by Jon Allred; editor’s note by Howie Green 3–7
- From the Editor: The Membership Crisis—An Op-Ed by Howie Green 4–5
- The FMS Hall of Fame Committee Report by Doug Bank 5
- The Website Committee Report by Simone Conti 6
- Chris Clemens—The Newest Member of the FMS Board of Directors by Chris Clemens 8
- Chapter Reports: The FMS Chapters Concept by Chris Clemens 9–10
- Facebook Chapter Report: To Illuminate and Flourish—A Year in Review of Our Glowing Facebook Community by Sean Stimac 11–12
- Midwest Chapter Report: Introducing the New Chapter President by Nicholas Viltrakis 13–14
- Publication Committee Report by Howie Green 15
- Southwest Chapter Report: Collecting at the Rowley, Spectrum, Blue Cube and Prism Mines of Arizona by Pattie Rose 16–26
- Rocky Mountain Chapter of the FMS at the 2023 Denver Gem & Mineral Show by Brian Walko 27–29
- So-California Chapter Report: The Theft of the Mohave by David Stuck 30–34
- FMS Responds to the Mojave Trails National Monument Management Plan by Philip S. Neuhoff 34–36
- Elegant Crystals by — 36
Quantum States of the FMS: President’s Report
By Philip S. Neuhoff · pp. 1–2
The FMS’s recent progress and priorities include an updated website, improved member email communications, complete online archives of UV Waves, renewed plans for in-person events, and activity across social media and regional chapters. The report also highlights FMS advocacy concerning collecting access in Mojave Trails National Monument. It encourages members to volunteer, contribute publications and educational material, participate in chapters and committees, and help develop future programs and leadership.
Treasurer’s Report C.Y. 2023
By Andrew Silver · p. 3
The FMS received $12,656.72 and spent $4,737.59 during calendar year 2023. Membership dues were the organization’s primary income source, supplemented by donations, auctions, and publication sales. Expenses included website services, payment processing, chapter disbursements, administrative costs, and software for UV Waves. The report also notes donations to the Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence and the Franklin Mineral Museum, and funds reserved for education and outreach.
Eye Candy from Jon Allred
By Jon Allred; editor’s note by Howie Green · pp. 3–7
Photographs from Jon Allred’s collection showcase fluorescent specimens from several localities, including Franklin, New Jersey, Greenland, and the Foote Lithium Company Mine in North Carolina. Featured material includes roeblingite, margarosanite, prehnite, pectolite, sodalite, tugtupite, ussingite, eucryptite, and a suite of Franklin minerals. Captions identify mineral associations, provenance, specimen dimensions, and ultraviolet viewing conditions, with images emphasizing the varied colors and patterns visible in the specimens.
From the Editor: The Membership Crisis—An Op-Ed
By Howie Green · pp. 4–5
The FMS faces a gap between rising public interest in fluorescent minerals and stagnant Society membership. The essay considers the popularity of social media groups, inexpensive ultraviolet lights, and Yooperlite collecting, while questioning whether the FMS’s scientific and educational publications alone appeal to newcomers. It argues that personal connection, mentoring, social activities, and a welcoming sense of belonging are essential to turning casual interest into sustained participation.
The FMS Hall of Fame Committee Report
By Doug Bank · p. 5
The FMS Hall of Fame recognizes people and organizations whose lasting contributions advance understanding of mineral fluorescence and the collecting hobby through education, outreach, research, technology, or service to the Society. The report names recent inductees, including Don Newsome, the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society, and Bob Jones. Nominations are open to anyone, whether or not they belong to the FMS, and the report explains how to submit candidates for consideration.
The Website Committee Report
By Simone Conti · p. 6
The FMS website received technical improvements in 2023, including new reference material on fluorescent minerals and luminescence, continued updates to publication pages, and refinements to online membership and email communications. The UV Waves archive is complete, while work continues to digitize older Journal issues. The report also describes plans to review and potentially merge the FMS website with Nature’s Rainbows, recently donated to the Society, and invites member help with content and the photography gallery.
Chris Clemens—The Newest Member of the FMS Board of Directors
By Chris Clemens · p. 8
Research scientist and technical writer Chris Clemens introduces his background in mineral collecting, photography, and FMS activities. His years in Indiana included founding and leading the Midwest Chapter, which grew to more than 70 members, and deepened his interest in minerals from Midwestern localities. A contributor to mineral publications and Nature’s Rainbows, Clemens describes a goal for the FMS: more in-person meetings, field trips, shows, and museum visits that build community and encourage participation.
Chapter Reports: The FMS Chapters Concept
By Chris Clemens · pp. 9–10
FMS chapters connect fluorescent-mineral enthusiasts across geographic regions and special interests through collecting trips, museum visits, shows, educational outreach, and social gatherings. The article outlines the Society’s existing regional and special-interest chapters and explains that participation is open even to people who are not FMS members or who live outside a chapter’s region. Drawing on the Midwest Chapter’s growth and activities, it discusses how chapters foster friendships, collaboration, recruitment, and possible expansion into unrepresented areas.
Facebook Chapter Report: To Illuminate and Flourish—A Year in Review of Our Glowing Facebook Community
By Sean Stimac · pp. 11–12
The FMS Fluorescent Minerals Facebook group grew to more than 14,400 members in 2023, with increased participation from visitors and collectors outside North America. Discussions range from specimen identification and UV lights to photography and show-and-tell. The report describes specialized photography and lighting groups, the influx of Yooperlite collectors, and the community’s demographic mix. It also calls for welcoming outreach and educational activity to help convert online interest into active FMS membership.
Midwest Chapter Report: Introducing the New Chapter President
By Nicholas Viltrakis · pp. 13–14
Nicholas Viltrakis recounts how a first encounter with fluorescent willemite and calcite led him from general rock collecting to photographing and cataloguing fluorescent specimens. His experience as a professional photographer informs plans to develop practical UV-photography guidance and accessible teaching materials. After taking over leadership of the Midwest Chapter, he aims to renew member involvement through digital communication, occasional in-person gatherings, and community outreach.
Publication Committee Report
By Howie Green · p. 15
The report reviews the roles of UV Waves and the Journal of the Fluorescent Mineral Society: an illustrated, educational magazine and a peer-reviewed publication for technical work and original research. Although members value both publications and the complete UV Waves archive is online, the Journal did not appear in 2023 because too little material was submitted. The committee invites ideas, questions, and draft topics on minerals, localities, luminescence, collecting, illumination, and photography, and offers editorial help to prospective contributors.
Southwest Chapter Report: Collecting at the Rowley, Spectrum, Blue Cube and Prism Mines of Arizona
By Pattie Rose · pp. 16–26
A two-day Southwest Chapter field trip brought 23 participants to central Arizona’s Rowley, Spectrum, Blue Cube, and Prism mines. Collectors found fluorescent barite, aragonite, mimetite, willemite, calcite, fluorite, and other material, alongside non-fluorescent specimens such as chrysocolla, wulfenite, and amethyst. The account describes collecting activities, mine geology and mineral associations, access arrangements, and the equipment and photography procedure used to document specimens under different UV wavelengths.
Rocky Mountain Chapter of the FMS at the 2023 Denver Gem & Mineral Show
By Brian Walko · pp. 27–29
The Rocky Mountain Chapter organized the fluorescent-mineral room at the 2023 Denver Gem & Mineral Show, continuing an effort it has supported for 11 years. The report covers planning and setup, the seven display cases and a UV-light and mineral dealer, and contributions from chapter members. FMS speakers also presented on a 2021 collecting trip in central New Mexico. The article notes plans for an expanded display room at the 2024 show.
So-California Chapter Report: The Theft of the Mohave
By David Stuck · pp. 30–34
This argument opposes restrictions on recreational rock collecting in California’s Mojave Desert as public lands are designated parks, monuments, and wilderness areas. It contends that closures limit access to historic collecting grounds, mining features, and mineral resources, and distinguishes low-impact hobby collecting from commercial mining. The report discusses the Mojave Trails National Monument, potential damage from mine-site restoration, and coordinated advocacy by mineral and land-access organizations seeking continued access to traditional collecting areas.
FMS Responds to the Mojave Trails National Monument Management Plan
By Philip S. Neuhoff · pp. 34–36
The FMS’s submission to the Bureau of Land Management argues that allowing casual mineral collecting in Mojave Trails National Monument is important for scientific stewardship. It explains that hobby collectors and academic researchers share specimens and findings, helping document mineral diversity and discoveries that limited government and university resources may not capture. The letter cites the monument’s known mineral diversity, distinctive calcite luminescence in the Cady Mountains, and the scientific value of historic mine dumps and prospects, and asks that collecting remain permitted.
Elegant Crystals
p. 36
Elegant Crystals advertises large natural quartz clusters, points, and spheres, along with sculptures, carvings, and mineral and gemstone rarities for collectors. The advertisement lists display locations in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Salinas, California, and invites readers to call or email to arrange a visit or personal tour. Contact information is provided for the business.