Table of Contents

• What Has an Energy Density of 200Wh/kg and Flies? by Mark Cole 1–4
• Eye Candy: The Editor's Photographic Interlude by — 4
• FMS Midwest Chapter 2022 Annual Meeting Report by Chris Clemens 5–10
• FMS Trip Report – Terlingua, Texas by Bart Pickard 11–18
• Terlingua, “The Queen Mother of the Sport of Kings” by Patricia McQueen 14
• Shining a Light on Terlingua Calcite by Manuel Robbins 19–22
• Polman Minerals Tribute to Al Liebetrau by George V. Polman 22
• Thanks to Our Patrons by — 23

What Has an Energy Density of 200Wh/kg and Flies?

By Mark Cole · pp. 1–4

Lithium-ion battery safety is the focus of this guide for fluorescent-mineral collectors who use portable UV lights. It compares lead-acid, NiMH, and lithium-ion battery energy densities, explains the risks of damaged, overheated, or counterfeit cells, and summarizes practical precautions for charging, storage, and air travel. The article also discusses flashlight voltage and runtime, recommending authentic batteries, protective cases, careful charging, and carrying spare batteries safely.

Eye Candy: The Editor's Photographic Interlude

p. 4

A phosgenite specimen from Monteponi, Sardinia, Italy, is shown in visible light and under long-wave UV after a chance encounter at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The accompanying reflection notes the mineral's bright lead-activated response and the surprising possibility that another visitor in the crowded exhibit was also examining it with a UV flashlight. The photographs capture the specimen's contrasting appearance under the two lighting conditions.

FMS Midwest Chapter 2022 Annual Meeting Report

By Chris Clemens · pp. 5–10

The FMS Midwest Chapter's 2022 annual meeting returned to Marion, Kentucky, after a two-year pandemic postponement. Held alongside the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum's spring show, the gathering combined specimen displays and sales, museum tours, UV demonstrations, and a raffle, attracting members and new visitors. Highlights included Greenland tugtupite, Franklin and Sterling Hill specimens, Tennessee geodes, drill cores, fluorite, and demonstrations of multi-wavelength UV equipment. The report also notes changes to access at former collecting sites.

FMS Trip Report – Terlingua, Texas

By Bart Pickard · pp. 11–18

A collecting visit to Terlingua, Texas, follows the search for classic Terlingua calcite at the Little 38 Mine area and in the extensive rock yard of local collector Fred Gossien. The account recounts selecting, weighing, packing, and later cleaning hundreds of pounds of specimens, while also describing a trip to Needle Peak for fluorescent chalcedony and petrified wood. Photographs document the locality, the collecting experience, and calcite specimens under visible and multiple UV wavelengths.

Terlingua, “The Queen Mother of the Sport of Kings”

By Patricia McQueen · p. 14

The name Terlingua prompts a short note about the thoroughbred racehorse of that name, daughter of Secretariat. It recounts Secretariat's exceptional racing performance and the proposed X-factor, a heart-related genetic trait linked to the X chromosome, then notes that Terlingua inherited the mutation and became both a successful racer and broodmare. The piece clarifies that the horse was not named for Terlingua calcite, despite sharing the place-name associated with the Texas mineral locality.

Shining a Light on Terlingua Calcite

By Manuel Robbins · pp. 19–22

Terlingua-type calcite's changing colors, fluorescence, and daylight coloration are examined through the history of efforts to identify their cause. The account recounts spectral studies, failed attempts to produce europium-bearing calcite, and research that found no evidence for rare-earth activators, supporting radiation-induced F-centers instead. It also describes how sunlight changed a green Mexican calcite rhomb to orange-pink in about twenty minutes, illustrating the relationship between visible color and the mineral's underlying optical behavior.

Polman Minerals Tribute to Al Liebetrau

By George V. Polman · p. 22

This tribute remembers fluorescent-mineral collector and former FMS president Al Liebetrau, emphasizing his meticulous specimen and locality records and long-standing dedication to the mineral community. It recounts his three-year effort to organize the FMS's 50th-anniversary exhibit at the 2022 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, a project that succeeded despite substantial challenges. The tribute also notes his continued enthusiasm for the hobby during hospice care and offers condolences to his wife, Sue, and family.

Thanks to Our Patrons

p. 23

This acknowledgment lists patrons whose additional contributions support the Fluorescent Mineral Society's website, UV Waves, and other society activities. The names include collectors and researchers, with membership numbers provided for many contributors. The page recognizes their financial support and directs readers to the FMS website for further acknowledgment. It is distinct from the adjacent sustaining-member and new-member listings, which are recurring administrative sections.