TRUE KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLORS IN A FLUORESCENT & PHOSPHORESCENT PUTTAPA MINE PIECE

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In the past few weeks, rock collectors have come to realize that the supplies of Puttapa and Aroona Mine specimens from Australia are not endless. The original collector of these rocks, Graham Fraser, recently completed a field trip and stated that there are no more collectible rocks at either of these places. The tailings have been worked and reworked and are now bare.What this means for collectors is that they will have to pretty much purchase their Puttapa and Aroona material from one of four sellers. Three are actively selling. The fourth evidently has some very expensive material and has stated that he will sell soon. Frankly, I look forward to that because the prices his material will bring will increase awareness, and from my perspective, hopefully prices as well. Something like a rising tide raises all boats. Obviously, I am one of the sellers with a supply of this Australian material. I have sold more than 4 dozen pieces in 2016 so far. Three that I listed last weekend sold within hours.The Puttapa Zinc Mine is in central Australia in the Outback, and as I understand it, not close to anything. It is rather rugged country. Mining ceased in 2007 when the deposit was exhausted and all of the ore has been crushed and exported.In daylight it has the classic brown tan and gray Puttapa look. There is a fair amount of visible veining. Pictures 1-5 were taken under shortwave ultraviolet light; 7 under longwave; 8 under midwave.The primary minerals found in this deposit, and their fluorescent colors are:calcite: red - orangewillemite: greensmithsonite: light blue - violethedyphane: dark blueorthoclase [lead rich] - whiteunknown: red - yellow -pink - peachThe shortwave fluorescence is quite colorful in that just about every color that I've seen in Puttapa fluorescence is present.When the SW lamp is removed, there is a brief green phosphorescence [picture 6].LW fluorescence consists of a bit of lamp reflection and some slight yellow. MW fluorescence consists of some subdued colors and some yellow.As with any fluorescent mineral, the more powerful the illuminating lamp, the brighter the fluorescent response.It weighs 112 grams and measures approximately 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 1 inches.Shipping will be free via first class mail. I am happy to combine purchases to reduce shipping costs. International purchasers please contact me for shipping rates.Please check out my other fluorescent mineral listings at: SOUTHERNSHRIKE and ASD098LKJ. EBay no longer permits sellers to combine shipping for purchases made from more than one seller ID.PLEASE READ1. Owing to recent changes at EBay, it is now necessary for me to ship purchases within one business day of receiving payment. I will often do it the same day if payment is made sufficiently early. Please, if you want to combine shipping with subsequent purchases, do not pay until I invoice you with the correct discounted combined shipping. Just let me know when you are ready for the invoice. If you pay, I have no choice but to ship.2. International shipping is not cheap and PayPal adds to the problem by charging a higher percentage for international transactions. EBay also charges a commission on the shipping paid for both international and domestic purchases. I charge you what it costs me - I do not profit from shipping. Once I mail or ship a package, the time in route is out of my control.3. The more powerful the ultraviolet lamp, the brighter the fluorescent response. Flashlights and ultraviolet lamps that purport to provide shortwave and longwave lighting plus a flashlight [and maybe even a can opener] and cost $39.99 will not adequately fluoresce most minerals. Neither will very low wattage shortwave lamps. The filter is the most expensive component of a lamp and for that price it will not be a quality filter - it will either permit too much visible light to pass through or not enough ultraviolet light. Either way you lose.4. ... read more

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