The Princess Pat Mine - SW Fluorescent Minerals
Feb 24, 2014 17:59:35 GMT -5
garock and gingerkid like this
Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 24, 2014 17:59:35 GMT -5
I’m still posting photos of my newly acquired glow in the dark rocks. In addition to the photos, I wanted to post a little background on the site as well. Like any other internet acquired knowledge, there are a few conflicting stories out there. I tried to average things out in an attempt to reach the near truth.
These amazing specimens are from the Princess Pat Mine in the Mojave Desert north of Adelanto, California. The age of the discovery is in dispute. Some sources indicate it started in the 1930’s. Other sources indicate it was the 1940’s. The latter story has a little more intrigue attached to it, so here goes …
Up to the 1940’s, the US relied heavily on China for tungsten ore. When the US was abruptly brought into WWII, its source of tungsten (China) had been cut off by Japan. The US immediately started prospecting for its own secure source of tungsten, and the Princess Pat Mine is the result of one of those early war time prospects. Either way, mining operations ceased in the 1950’s. However, the site remains a mecca for those interested in collecting fluorescent minerals.
If you recall from an earlier post, Scheelite was identified as one of the fluorescent minerals that glows bright bluish white to cream white under SW light. Scheelite (CaWO4) is a primary ore of tungsten. The symbol for tungsten on the periodic table is W, for Wolframite, another ore of tungsten. Confusing! Here are a few more photos of what all the fuss is about.
Who cares about tungsten anyways! Although less so now, the primary use of tungsten was once incandescent light bulb filaments. New energy efficient CFL’s and LED lights are pushing incandescent to the way side. However, tungsten is still important today. Its primary use is in cemented carbides. Tungsten monocarbide (WC) has a hardness approaching that of a diamond. I think I might know what the cabochon makers are thinking.
Darryl.
These amazing specimens are from the Princess Pat Mine in the Mojave Desert north of Adelanto, California. The age of the discovery is in dispute. Some sources indicate it started in the 1930’s. Other sources indicate it was the 1940’s. The latter story has a little more intrigue attached to it, so here goes …
Up to the 1940’s, the US relied heavily on China for tungsten ore. When the US was abruptly brought into WWII, its source of tungsten (China) had been cut off by Japan. The US immediately started prospecting for its own secure source of tungsten, and the Princess Pat Mine is the result of one of those early war time prospects. Either way, mining operations ceased in the 1950’s. However, the site remains a mecca for those interested in collecting fluorescent minerals.
If you recall from an earlier post, Scheelite was identified as one of the fluorescent minerals that glows bright bluish white to cream white under SW light. Scheelite (CaWO4) is a primary ore of tungsten. The symbol for tungsten on the periodic table is W, for Wolframite, another ore of tungsten. Confusing! Here are a few more photos of what all the fuss is about.
Who cares about tungsten anyways! Although less so now, the primary use of tungsten was once incandescent light bulb filaments. New energy efficient CFL’s and LED lights are pushing incandescent to the way side. However, tungsten is still important today. Its primary use is in cemented carbides. Tungsten monocarbide (WC) has a hardness approaching that of a diamond. I think I might know what the cabochon makers are thinking.
Darryl.