CompuServe Messages

Hi, John– Welcome to the forum! Benitoite is of substantial interest to us fluorescent mineral collectors. It characteristically fluoresces a bright blue under shortwave UV (I think it is self-activated, needing no impurities for fluorescence, which is fairly unusual), and some specimens show a pink fluorescence under longwave UV. I have a specimen of benitoite (w/neptunite and ?joaquinite? on natrolite), chosen more for its fluorescence than its well-formed crystals, but I have none of its close relatives bazirite, pabstite, and fresnoite, which all show this blue fluorescence as well. I am a Californian also, born in the bay area, but lived most of my life in greater L.A.; but now my job has had me on a long term assignment in Oklahoma. Is Trinity county up near Mt. Shasta? –Doug