Table of Contents

• From the (Former) Editor: Letting the ‘Children’ Wander by Conrad North 1–5
• The Crystal/Victory Mine Complex by Jamison K. Brizendine 6–15
• The FMS at Tucson 2022 by — 16
• The New and Improved UV Waves by Howie Green 17
• Dig We Must by Kelly McJilton 17
• Polman Minerals by George V. Polman 18
• Bonus Photos: Daylight Fluorescence of Rogerley Fluorite by Howie Green 18

From the (Former) Editor: Letting the ‘Children’ Wander

By Conrad North · pp. 1–5

Fluorescent mineral collections can educate and delight the public when collectors place specimens in well-designed museum displays. Conrad North recounts helping establish exhibits at the Buena Vista Heritage Museum, the Eureka! McConnell Science Museum, and the Western Museum of Mining & Industry, including improvements to dark rooms, cases, lights, and specimen labels. He reflects on donating and lending treasured specimens, and argues that sharing them with museum visitors offers a meaningful way to ensure the collection continues to inspire others.

The Crystal/Victory Mine Complex

By Jamison K. Brizendine · pp. 6–15

The Crystal and Victory mines formed a major fluorspar operation in the Cave-in-Rock District of Illinois’s Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. The article traces the mines’ development, wartime production, ownership changes, decline, and eventual connection into a large underground complex. It also examines the geology and mineral specimens, including zoned fluorite, baryte, calcite, sulfides, and hydrocarbons that contribute to some fluorite’s vivid ultraviolet response. Historical records, mine photographs, and specimens document the complex’s significance to regional mining and mineral collecting.

The FMS at Tucson 2022

p. 16

The Fluorescent Mineral Society’s February 10, 2022 annual meeting in Tucson is presented through a draft schedule and details for attendees. Planned activities include introductions, recognition of Hall of Fame inductees, a group photograph, information about fluorescent-mineral displays at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, a specimen auction, door prizes, and a swap-and-sell. The page also highlights presentations by Jeff Scovil and Smithsonian curator Jeff Post at the 2020 meeting, with brief background on their mineral photography and museum work.

The New and Improved UV Waves

By Howie Green · p. 17

UV Waves plans to move from a printed magazine to a digital format in 2022, reducing printing and postage costs while allowing more content and larger, higher-quality photographs. The editor explains that production will move in-house, with Kelly McJilton taking on layout responsibilities. The piece introduces McJilton’s engineering work, interests in technology and radiation-detection equipment, involvement with the FMS, and enthusiasm for fluorescent minerals, especially fluorite and radioactive specimens.

Dig We Must

By Kelly McJilton · p. 17

Two specimen photographs showcase fluorescent fluorite from the Diana Maria Mine at Rogerley Quarry in Weardale, England, and fluorite with petroleum inclusions from Denton Mine, Illinois. The captions identify the specimens’ localities and compare their appearance under white light with their response under long-wave and, for the Illinois specimen, short-wave ultraviolet illumination. Together, the images highlight the varied appearance of fluorite from two well-known collecting localities and the photographic work of Kelly McJilton.

Polman Minerals

By George V. Polman · p. 18

Polman Minerals advertises fluorescent mineral specimens for beginning and advanced collectors, along with ultraviolet lamps, protective glasses, educational kits, books, and display cases. The Phoenix-based business specializes in material from Arizona, Franklin and Sterling Hill, and other localities. George V. Polman announces the company’s return to mineral shows after a 13-year break, with plans to sell at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in January and February 2022 and bring a large, diverse stock of fluorescent specimens.

Bonus Photos: Daylight Fluorescence of Rogerley Fluorite

By Howie Green · p. 18

Photographs of a fluorite specimen from the Truffle Pig Pocket at the Diana Maria Mine, Rogerley Quarry, County Durham, England, demonstrate its daylight fluorescence. A comparison made with and without a filter blocking wavelengths below 400 nanometers shows that the daylight effect is produced by the sun’s ultraviolet A rather than visible violet light. A separate long-wave ultraviolet photograph provides another view of the specimen’s response. The specimen and photographs are credited to Howie Green.