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Post by koolaid on Dec 9, 2007 10:48:00 GMT -5
Here is a nice chunk of Torbernite given to me by Colorado from the Spruce Pine area. It glows a nice green under short wave but my picture did not turn out well so here it is in natural light.  Dennis |
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Post by pegmatite on Dec 9, 2007 14:09:30 GMT -5
Awesome torbernite specimen! Any chance there could be hyalite opal associated with the torbernite that is actually fluorescing? I have never heard of torbernite showing fluorescence. Bet some of those crystal groups would look incredible under a microscope.
Steve
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Post by koolaid on Dec 9, 2007 19:54:33 GMT -5
After looking up additional info on this rocks ID you are right. It is not supposed to be fluorescent so it most likely is autunite since it has a green glow under short wave.
Doesn't seem to be any hyalite on this specimen only the green areas glow. The glow is not extreamly bright and my digital camera does not pick up low light levels well so I can post a picture.
Dennis
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Post by pcktfullofokenite on Dec 14, 2007 16:55:03 GMT -5
Lick it to get the full effect LOL. Torbernite never fluoresces, if it is fluorescing it must be autunite or another similar mineral. You got a geiger meter to test on it?
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Post by downeast on Dec 23, 2007 10:54:16 GMT -5
Since you don't have pics of the fluorescence, it is difficult to say. But the pic you did post is Torbernite or Meta-torbernite and not Autunite. Torbernite is more green and Autunite is more yellow. There may be some Hyalite in there somewhere (fluoresces green). I would like to see some UV pis though. Nice sample.
Downeast
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Post by koolaid on Dec 23, 2007 11:39:49 GMT -5
 Finally got a fair picture.  Dennis |
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Post by lauriesrocks on Jan 18, 2008 20:03:20 GMT -5
Many of the torbernite specimens from the Spruce Pine area, especially ones from Chalk Mountain, have trace amounts of uranium salts incorporated into the lattice structure of the torbernite crystals, accounting for the fluorescence. I have some specimens where autunite has partially replaced the torbernite in the same crystal, in an epitaxial arrangement, a green crystal with a yellow frame. These same uranium salts also color the hyalite green and blue.
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