News - The Fluorescent Mineral Society

UV Waves vol. 54 num. 4

October 18th, 2024

Gentle Readers,

Warm off the presses! The next issue of UV Waves is ready for your enlightenment.

As always, we are proud of the quality of the content in this issue. Many thanks to our authors! Also as always, we can use more content for the future. Anything of interest, including questions for The Query Quarry, and photos and backstory for Every Fluoro Tells a Story, can be e-mailed to uvwaves@uvminerals.org

Upcoming topics on the drawing board include fluorescent minerals from OTHER NJ locations, worldwide sodalite or leucophanite, fluorescent minerals from Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, and some watermelon calcite for dessert. (Attached are some photos of Side A and Side B of an unusual specimen from Nebraska.) Please submit ANY & ALL ideas, text, photos or personal experiences about any of the above topics. It may very well be Just my imagination Runnin’ away with me, but your imagination is really the only limiting factor.

This issue features Displays. Some art, some carpentry, some clever engineering, some psychology, and some enthusiastic response from our FMS Fluorescent Minerals Facebook Group. But mostly great ideas about how to show off great fluorescent rocks.

We also honor FMS HoF 2024 inductees Al and Sue Liebetrau.

Good reading!

Cheers,

Howie Green, Editor UV Waves
Andy Silver, UV Waves Production Executive
Pat Hintz, Proofreader Deluxe and Head of the UV Waves Complaint Department

UV Waves vol. 54 num. 3

August 7th, 2024

Gentle Readers,

Hot off the presses! The next issue of UV Waves is ready for your enlightenment.

As always, we are proud of the quality of the content of this issue. Many thanks to our authors! Also as always, we can use more content for the future. Anything of interest, including questions for The Query Quarry, and photos and backstory for Every Fluoro Tells a Story, can be e-mailed to uvwaves@uvminerals.org

In this issue’s Feature Article, Stephen Tapsak documents his extended field collecting trip in Southern California. I don’t really know much about that part of the State, but I’ve heard there’s a little cafe down San Diego way where they play guitars all night and all day, and you can hear them in the back room strummin’.

Never having been out there, anything from there in my own collection was obtained by trade or using the silver pick. Like the wonderful specimen presented here. While scouting around at the Springfield show last summer, I came across this white light wonder, labeled tourmaline and beryl, from the Tourmaline King mine on Tourmaline Queen Mountain, near Pala, in San Diego County. Sometimes tourmaline fluoresces an ethereal light blue, so I went “under the hood” to investigate. And although the tourmaline in this much more complicated specimen is between mostly-dead and dead under UV, there was also a great surprise.

Hundreds of quartz crystals glow orange in SW (there’s a bonus little beryl crystal in the upper left) and especially MW! I haven’t gotten the chance to investigate why, but I’ll certainly report back at that point. In the meanwhile, enjoy this unusual and beautiful specimen.

Cheers (the standard mineralogical valediction),

Howie Green, Editor UV Waves
Andy Silver, UV Waves Production Executive
Pat Hintz, Proofreader Deluxe and Head of the UV Waves Complaint Department

UV Waves vol. 54 num. 2

June 15th, 2024

Gentle Readers,

Hot off the presses! Your next issue of UV Waves is ready.

But first, a little quiz. Look at the four photos. Which beautiful example of celestine doesn’t belong and why? Here’s a hint; the fourth one doesn’t belong.

Interlude; as always, we can use more content for the future. Anything of interest, including questions for The Query Quarry, and photos and backstory for Every Fluoro Tells a Story, can be e-mailed to uvwaves@uvminerals.org.

And as for why the fourth specimen doesn’t belong, it’s the only one in which the celestine is fluorescent, and so is the only one included in this issue of UV Waves. But cheer up. At least the other three actually belong, have each other, and made it into the delivery e-mail.

Howie Green, Editor UV Waves
Andy Silver, UV Waves Production Executive
Pat Hintz, Proofreader Deluxe and Head of the UV Waves Complaint Department

UV Waves vol. 54 num. 1

April 3rd, 2024

Gentle Readers,

It’s that time again – UV Waves volume 54, number 1 is ready for your enjoyment! This issue has an eclectic feel, mirroring the article pool we have in the Waves pipeline.

Coming attractions; get ready to submit photos of your best specimens of celestine, leucophanite, and hackmanite to accompany articles already in progress. In addition, there’s been a call for an article about fluorescent pectolite. Volunteers?

As is always the case with Waves, we can use additional content for the future. Anything of interest, including questions for The Query Quarry, and photos and backstory for Every Fluoro Tells a Story, can be emailed to uvwaves@uvminerals.org.

Howie Green, Editor UV Waves
Andy Silver, UV Waves Production Executive
Pat Hintz, Proofreader Deluxe and Head of the UV Waves Complaint Department

UV Waves vol. 53 num. 6

February 18th, 2024

Gentle Readers,

It’s (past) time for us to make UV Waves volume 53, number 6 available. We decided that the last issue of 2023 be an opportunity for readers to catch up with how the FMS Board of Directors and Chapter Heads think things went last year. And their plans and aspirations for next year. Turns out that mostly everyone had a lot to convey. But to sum it up, your FMS leadership is offering you, our beloved members, the opportunity of a lifetime; a chance to share in the fun of making the FMS run. In other words, WE NEED YOU!

Regarding Waves itself, we can always use more content for the future. Anything of interest, including questions for The Query Quarry, and photos and backstory for Every Fluoro Tells a Story, can be emailed to uvwaves@uvminerals.org.

Howie Green, Editor UV Waves
Andy Silver, UV Waves Production Executive
Pat Hintz, Proofreader Deluxe and Head of the UV Waves Complaint Department

UV Waves vol. 53 num. 5

January 2nd, 2024

Gentle Readers,

You can all take a break from enforcing your resolutions. When it comes to bad habits, most are grounded in the unconscious, so, “Resistance is futile.” Fortunately, the latest UV Waves, volume 53, number 5, is ready and awaiting your attention.
Highlights include:

Remembering Tom Warren, the true Father of our fluorescent mineral hobby, in his own words. Introduced by Corby Waste.
Stephen Tapsak reports on his collecting trip to the Madison Lead Mine in New Hampshire.
Brendan Dunn alerts us to the mid-wave fluorescence of scheelite from the Ophir Mine, with an assist from Steve Scott.
Bambi and Brad Harmon invite us into their Fluorescent Closet.
Kat Schaeffer and Howie Green explain the collecting techniques and the fluorescence of barite from the Book Cliffs area in western Colorado.

Of course, we can always use more content for the future. Anything of interest, including questions for The Query Quarry, and photos and backstory for Every Fluoro Tells a Story, can be emailed to uvwaves@uvminerals.org.

Howie Green, Editor
Andrew Silver, Production Executive
FMS UV Waves

FMS Annual Meeting – Saturday, January 27, 2024

November 19th, 2023

Dear FMS Members,

On behalf of the Fluorescent Mineral Society Board and officers, I write to you today to first thank you for your support and participation in the FMS and to provide some initial details about our upcoming Annual Meeting. We will once again hold the Annual Meeting in Tucson, AZ around the time of the gem shows, but the timing and venue have changed. Please see below for further details:

Date: The meeting will be on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Please note that this is earlier in the gem show calendar than prior meetings. As FMS member attendance as the TGMS show has dwindled, we have not been able to find people to run the Annual Meeting in conjunction with the timing of that show. The January date was chosen to coincide with the early portion of the gem show calendar when FMS has other events planned (e.g., the Facebook Group meetup) and more of our members are in Tucson.
Venue: This is another change from past years. We will not be holding a meeting at the Church of the Painted Hills as in years past. The new venue is the Armory Park Center, 220 S 5th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701. FMS has reserved a room in this facility from 9 AM to 4 PM MST to accommodate other potential FMS events and to provide a place for people to gather.
Time: The exact time of the meeting is still being finalized, but it will most likely be mid-afternoon to allow for people to shop early but also facilitate being out of the facility by 4 PM as required.
Meeting agenda: The meeting agenda is still a work in progress, but we have secured an excellent speaker who will be announced soon.
Hybrid meeting: We plan on having a virtual attendance option for those who can not be in Tucson.

Further details (including the time of the meeting, meeting agenda, and virtual attendance instructions) will be sent via email as soon as they are available. We hope that as many of you as possible can join us, either in person or virtually.

Sincerely,
Phil Neuhoff
FMS President

UV Waves vol. 53 num. 4

October 30th, 2023

Gentle Readers,
You can all resume breathing. The latest UV Waves, volume 53, number 4, is ready and awaiting your attention.
Highlights include:

An article by Glenn Waychunas explaining the luminescence of deep-red fluorescent fluorite
“Crystal Bill” Kaunitz contributed a wonderfully illustrated article featuring quartz crystals with green fluorescent inclusions, from Mt. Antero, Colorado.
A 9-page collection submitted by FMS members, stuffed with photos of red fluorescing fluorite specimens from around the world

UV Waves vol. 53 num. 3

October 5th, 2023

Gentle Readers,
Hot off the presses, the latest UV Waves; volume 53, number 3.
Highlights include:

An article about fluorescent petroglyphs in southern Arizona, by Dan Moore and Lorena Moore;
A wonderfully illustrated article featuring Landelies calcite by Raph Mydlak Spéléo Insomniaque;
An informative article by Simone Conti about some mysterious witherite from Alaska;
A photo-essay featuring witherite specimens from the Minerva #1 mine in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois and from the Rampgill mine in the UK. These are nice quality specimens submitted by FMS members from the Facebook Group;
And a word from one of our sponsors.

Of course we can always use more content for the future. Most urgently, photos of your red-fluorescing fluorite specimens (include location, size, and wavelength of illumination, any particular points of interest you’d like to share, and your FMS ID#).
Also, any content of interest, questions for the Query Quarry, and photos and backstory for Every Fluoro Tells a Story. Email to uvwaves@uvminerals.org.
Howie Green, Editor
Andrew Silver, Production Executive
FMS UV Waves

UV Waves vol. 53 num. 2

August 28th, 2023

Gentle Readers,
Enjoy the attached issue of UV Waves, Volume 53, number 2. It’s a grand photo essay of apatite specimens submitted by members, and a follow-up to Volume 52, number 3.
For future issues, we need readers to submit photos of spectacular examples of witherite, and of fluorite which fluoresces red in LW UV, followed by bleaching of the red response and recharging by SW illumination. (With your FMS member #, specimen size, location, wavelengths of illumination please.) Submit to uvwaves@uvminerals.org
From now going forward, readers will not be able to read UV Waves unless you’ve established an account on the FMS Website. This enables UV Waves to be published independent of length and quality of photo constraints. In addition, all issues of UV Waves dating back to 1970 will be available.
It then becomes obvious that EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY’VE RENEWED THEIR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2023 (https://www.uvminerals.org/membership) AND OBTAINED LOGIN CAPABILITY TO THE NEW WEBSITE.
To create an account on the website, pay your dues, and have access to UV Waves, first, create an account. Then make your contribution. We will manually update your account with your old FMS number. It may take a few days. If you have a problem, please contact the FMS webmaster at webmaster@uvminerals.org
You’re always invited to submit articles to UV Waves about fluorescent minerals, collecting trips, illumination hardware, photography, etc. In the “Query Quarry” section, our experts will answer technical questions. Or, just submit photos of a great rock with an interesting backstory to “Every Fluorescent Tells a Story”.
Sustaining members, please check your listing in UV Waves and holler if update is necessary. Also, update your bio on the website. Patrons, please make sure we list you correctly in Waves.
Contact us at uvwaves@uvminerals.org
Join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fluorescentminerals/
Cheers!
Howie Green, Editor
Andrew Silver, Production Executive
FMS UV Waves

UV Waves vol. 53 num. 1

July 13th, 2023

Gentle Readers,
Enjoy the attached issue of UV Waves, Volume 53, Number 1. Volume 53 Number 2 is almost in the can, and features a grand photo essay of apatite specimens submitted by members.
As a follow-up to this issue, please send us photos of unusual specimens of Terlingua or Terlingua-type calcite (your FMS member #, specimen size, location, wavelengths of illumination) for future publication.
We also need photos of spectacular examples of witherite, and of fluorite which fluoresces red in LW UV, followed by bleaching of the red response and recharging by SW illumination. (With your FMS member #, specimen size, location, wavelengths of illumination please.)
In the near future, we’ll be discontinuing email delivery of the UV Waves as a pdf, instead providing a link to each current issue, archived on the FMS website. For example, https://uvminerals.org/publications/uv-waves/uvwaves-v53n1-2023/. This enables UV Waves to be published independent of length and quality of photo constraints. In addition, you’ll be directed to the archive of all issues of UV Waves dating back to 1970. So, it’s obvious that everyone should make sure they’ve renewed their membership for 2023 and obtained login capability to the new website.
You’re always invited to submit articles to UV Waves about fluorescent minerals, collecting trips, illumination hardware, photography, etc. In the “Query Quarry” section, our experts will answer technical questions. Or, just submit photos of a great rock with an interesting backstory to “Every Fluorescent Tells a Story”.
Sustaining members, please check your listing in UV Waves and holler if update is necessary. Also, update your bio on the website. Patrons, please make sure we list you correctly in Waves.
After putting this issue in the can, the death of John B. Goodenough, age 100, was reported. Dr Goodenough was a towering figure in the worlds of material science and solid-state physics. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for the identification and development of the lithium-ion battery. That this issue of UV Waves features an article about lithium-ion batteries is coincidental. Another coincidence; Dr. Goodenough was known to be dyslexic, a fact alluded to by Chuck Berry in his famous lyric, “he never ever learned to read and write so well, but he knew batteries just a-like ringin’ a bell.” Johnny B. Goode tonight.
Find us at uvwaves@uvminerals.org. And join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fluorescentminerals/
Cheers!
Howie Green,
Editor
FMS UV Waves
(A special bonus will be awarded to any reader who submits a valid explanation of why the mineral world uses “Cheers” as its most common valediction.)

UV Waves vol. 52 num. 6

May 31st, 2023

Gentle Readers,
As you’ve noticed, there’s been a gap in the delivery of UV Waves. This has been the result of technical issues, not a shortage of content. Waves has a very healthy inventory of content (although we’re always begging for more, as you may have noticed). We’ve overcome our issues and will bring the delivery of Waves up to date in the next month or so. In the meantime, enjoy UV Waves Volume 52, Number 6.
In the near future we’ll be discontinuing email delivery of the UV Waves as a pdf, instead providing a link to each current issue, archived on the FMS website. For example, https://uvminerals.org/publications/uv-waves/uvwaves-v52n6-2022/. This enables UV Waves to be published independent of length and quality of photo constraints. In addition, you’ll be directed to the archive of all issues of UV Waves dating back to 1970. So, it should become obvious that everyone should make sure they’ve renewed their membership for 2023 and obtained login capability to the new website.
And, you’re always invited to submit articles about fluorescent minerals, collecting trips, illumination hardware, photography, etc. to UV Waves. In the “Query Quarry” section our experts will answer technical questions. Or, just submit photos of a great rock with an interesting backstory to “Every Fluorescent Tells a Story”.
Finally, bench strength is important. If you have desktop publishing experience, including expertise using InDesign, please shout. We need advisory support only.
Find us at uvwaves@uvminerals.org. And join our Facebook Group.
Cheers!
Howie Green
Editor
FMS UV Waves

Fluorescent Mineral Society GET OUT THE VOTE

May 23rd, 2023

Hello to all active and former members of FMS.
We have attached a ballot sheet and a separate file that includes the biographies of the prospective officers and directors.
We are also respectfully requesting that if your membership has lapsed, to please remit dues.
It’s easy -you can now opt to pay dues on-line through our website!!
We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

UV Waves vol. 52 num. 5

January 9th, 2023

Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, Season’s greeting from everyone at UV Waves.
Second, attached is your next issue of UV Waves. Note, this is a two part issue. I think you’ll find it fun and informative. We have to send it as a two-parter because it’s packed with so much good stuff. In the near future you’ll be able to log on to the FMS website and download UV Waves directly. But, there’s more good news. FMS members can log on to the website and access the entire Waves archives going back decades. This is a very big deal!!!
Thanks to all the members who submitted photos of apatite specimens for publication in Waves. Your response was so overwhelming that it requires publication in an upcoming issue.
As always, we need content to keep up the quality of UV Waves. This can be a collecting trip report, a specimen that’s unusual or special, a scientific topic about a mineral, lamping technology, photography, etc. Just reach out to Howie (howie@uvminerals.org) to discuss that gleam in your eyes. We hope to see each of you in Tucson. REMEMBER, EVERYONE TAKE PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING FOR UV WAVES.
Third, and as Hitchcock used to say at the end of the introduction of his TV show, “and now, a word from our sponsor”. If you have not as yet renewed your FMS membership for 2023, please consider doing so. It’s easy, just go to www.uvminerals.org and follow the instructions. Yes, it’s a new website and there have been some glitches, so if that happens, e-mail our webmaster, Simone Conti, simone@uvminerals.org, and he can quickly sort things out for you. If you prefer, you can still write a check. Just mail it to FMS, PO Box 656611, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365.
Finally, thank you all for your patience and support.

UV Waves vol. 52 num. 4

November 23rd, 2022

Ladies and Gentlemen,
For your reading enjoyment as you kick back and begin the holiday season. Take a break from all the shopping, cooking and entertaining, pick up this issue and learn more about the backstory of prepping for Tucson 2022, the background of our two newest Hall of Fame members, and enjoy the fabulous photos of more of the displays from Tucson 2022. When you’re done take a moment and renew your membership for 2023. It’s easy, log on to uvminerals.org and follow the instructions. With the new website you can even register to have your membership automatically renewed if you choose.
I hope you all enjoy this issue and have a safe and relaxing holiday season.
Pat
FMS Secretary

UV Waves vol. 52 num. 3

October 3rd, 2022

Gentle Readers,
Attached is the second of three planned issues of UV Waves celebrating the FMS’ 50th Anniversary in Tucson last February. The content touches on the connection between the two Show themes; Fluorescence in Minerals, and the Apatite Supergroup of Minerals. Special thanks to Kelly McJilton, UV Waves Production Executive, who cranked out this beautiful issue in record time.
I’ve asked our FMS Fluorescent Mineral Facebook Group members and now I’m asking the readers of UV Waves to SEND ME PHOTOS OF APATITE SUPERGROUP MINERALS OF WHICH YOU’RE PROUD, and we’ll try to feature fabulous submissions in the next issue or two. Include your FMS ID#, mineral name(s), location, illumination wavelength, UV and white light photos, size, and any other info of interest. Make captions as long as you’d like to tell the story of the photos. Send to howie@uvminerals.org.
More great news. The entire Archives of UV Waves is now available to FMS members on the website, uvminerals.org.
Suggestions and feedback are always welcome.
Howie Green
Editor
FMS UV Waves

UV Waves vol. 52 num. 2

August 11th, 2022

Gentle Readers,
First, let us apologize for the hiatus in issues of UV Waves. Mostly problems beyond our control on this end. We do plan on publishing all issues, albeit it will take a bit before we catch up. But for now, the March/April issue is available for download.
As I hope is obvious, UV Waves has moved on from being a Club “newsletter”. Our mission is to print what’s informative, entertaining and educational. In other word, UV Waves is now the bimothhly e-Magazine of the Fluorescent Mineral Society. A newsletter can’t really be a bimonthly publication. Hopefully, this function will be fulfilled by the FMS Website, the FMS Fluorescent Minerals Facebook Group, intra-Chapter communication, and direct-to-membership email from FMS Central.
I get occasional feedback expressing opinions about the content of UV Waves. “Too technical”, “too impersonal”, “too broad based”, “too desultory” (okey, I made that one up), etc., but the fact is that I try to actively solicit / beg / pester anyone I know who might have something to say. And while not everything submitted is appropriate, nothing gets rejected and instead we offer suggestions to make it Waves-specific.
Naturally, mostly everything ultimately published is interesting to me personally. That’s good because I’m interested in practically everything, but it’s incorrect to say that Waves content is my choice. “The tree doesn’t pick the bird, rather the bird picks the tree”. In other words, send me comments, ideas, offers, suggestions, articles, EFTAS (Every Fluoro Tells A Story – a nice photo of a quality fluorescent mineral with an interesting back story), QQ ( Query Quarry – burning questions for the experts).
Sincerely (and Cheers, the apparently obligatory valediction of mineralogy),
Howie Green
Editor
FMS UV Waves

UV Waves vol. 52 num. 1

March 22nd, 2022

And away we go!
The January/February issue of UV Waves (volume 52 number 1) is out! Download it now!

Ballots for the 2022 Election

January 16th, 2022

Attached is the Ballot for the 2022 annual election of FMS Officers and Directors. You were each sent Bios of all candidates in early December, 2021. Please take the time to mark your ballot and return to secretary at uvminerals dot org no later than February 1st, 2022. If you prefer, your ballot can be sent by US mail to FMS, PO Box 656611, Fresh Meadow, NY 11365, but it must be postmarked no later than February 1st, 2022 to be counted. The votes will be counted and results announced at the FMS annual meeting to be held February 10th, 2022 at the Church of the Painted Hills in Tucson. If you are in Tucson you can of course attend, but if not, you were recently sent Zoom instructions to attend the meeting remotely and can do so if you choose.

You may be asking yourself, why vote since the candidates are all running unopposed? Well, number one, to support the volunteers who agreed to serve. FMS elections frequently have more than one candidate to choose from per office, but the last couple of years it has been difficult finding volunteers between Covid interruption to all of our daily lives, the cancellation of most routine mineral shows / collecting opportunities and personal issues of some of our previous Officers and Directors. The Board is attempting to regain normal operation, and is focused on the upcoming Tucson Show with the large fluorescent displays. As we go through the next year, please consider volunteering for positions that will become available next year as well non-elected positions in the FMS. You can reach out to any member of the Board to express your interest.

And, thank you all for your support. The FMS is what we all make of it.

Bios of Officers and Directors for the 2022 Election

December 1st, 2021

Attached are bios for all Officers and Directors who will stand for election in 2022. Ballots will be sent to each of you in mid January, 2022. Our Constitution provides for annual elections with each of the four Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) running for two year terms every other year, (i.e. President and Secretary one year, Vice President and Treasurer the next) to provide continuity. Each Officer is limited to two consecutive terms. The six Directors each run for three year terms, two Directors per year. We did not hold an election last year due to organizational issues brought on by Covid and a number of resignations. This year we are attempting to put the terms of the Officers and Directors back in compliance with our Constitution. Thus some Officer and Director candidates have agreed to run for shortened terms.

All members are eligible for election and can be nominated by our Nominating Committee (who is charged with searching for candidates) or any member if the candidate has agreed they are willing to serve. Typically, we have more than one candidate for a number of the positions. This year we only have one candidate per position, but still must hold an election. We would urge each of you to consider running for election and serving in the future as well as considering serving on non-electable Committees such as the Nominating, Audit, Membership, and/or Publications Committees. If you have an interest, please contact any of the Officers and/or Directors.

Changes in FMS publications and membership dues

November 19th, 2021

Please read the attached letter which contains important information regarding changes to the publications, membership levels and dues for the FMS, effective January 1, 2022.