Yooperlite is a type of syenite rock rich in fluorescent sodalite, which glows bright orange or yellow under ultraviolet (UV) light. Discovered along the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan, Yooperlites appear like ordinary gray stones in daylight but reveal their hidden fluorescent patterns under UV exposure.
Features:
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Composition: Yooperlite is primarily composed of syenite, an igneous rock similar to granite, containing sodalite as the fluorescent mineral.
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Fluorescence: Under long-wave UV light, sodalite emits a bright orange or yellow glow due to its response to UV energy—a physical property called fluorescence.
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Formation: Sodalite-rich syenite forms deep underground from slowly cooled magma and was transported to the Lake Superior region by glaciers during the last Ice Age.
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Scientific Use: Excellent for illustrating fluorescence in minerals, igneous rock formation, and glacial transport of geologic materials.
This specimen offers a striking example of how certain minerals react to UV light and is ideal for teaching, collecting, or display with a UV lamp.
