Man discovers glowing rocks at Lake Superior beach

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Cheryl Santa Maria

Digital Reporter

Monday, September 10, 2018, 4:37 PM - Michigan Tech University and the University of Saskatchewan have confirmed the existence of a new, glowing rock along Lake Superior Beach.

The discovery was made by Erik Rintamaki last summer while he was searching for rocks on a Michigan beach, CBS News reports.

Rintamaki told CBS he often goes out rock hunting, but he was shocked when he first came across something glowing among the pebbles one night last June.

He later named the discovery "Yooperlite".









Rintamaki sent samples to Michigan Tech University and the University of Saskatchewan where they were analyzed for months. The confirmation that a new type of rock had been classified was announced in May.

Michigan Tech identifies them as syenite clasts containing fluorescent sodalite.

While Rintamaki isn't the first person to find them, he is the first to have them verified.

He's been back to the beach most nights since, armed with a black light to help illuminate the Yooperlites.









"I was blown away," he told CBS.

"It's insane how many are on the beaches up here."

He now takes tour groups out to the location to hunt for the rocks.

"I've never had anyone not find stones," he told CBS.

He says his tours are booked through 2019.

VIDEO: INCREDIBLE LOW CLOUD FORMS OVER LAKE SUPERIOR







