Irradiated fluorescent minerals

Abstract

The following tables summarize the results of the irradiation of fluorescent minerals which the Fluorescent Mineral Society provided. Both 45 krad and 12 Mrad represent high radiation doses (lethal) from the human point of view. The glow columns refer to radiation-induced phosphorescence (no ultraviolet excitation). Under the high dose summary, the 36 hour column was taken by dark-adapted observers, whereas the Immediately-After column was not. The major effect upon the ultraviolet fluorescence was to diminish or destroy the fluorescence of several minerals. The more interesting effects were the large increase in wernerite long wave phosphorescence after high doses and the rise in Washington fluorite (23) phosphorescence after low doses. Color changes were expected and observed in the calcites, fluorites and halite. The Yuma fluorite was interesting in this respect as was the Ontario hackmanite. The more spectacular effects are underlined on the lists.