Two pieces of fluorite under UV light.

Fluorite (CaF 2 ) is naturally occurring mineral, it is the far most common and well-known fluorine containing mineral found on earth. When pure, it is completely colorless and transmits light from 200 nm what means it lets through UVA, UVB and some of the UVC photons.

But when it is contaminated with other elements, usually with yttrium, cerium, iron, sodium, barium, aluminium, ect. it could change the color of the mineal and could also cause a fluorescence under UV light, just as in this case. Originally the fluorite on the right had a green color, but it emits strong blue light under UVB.

I know, that this is not strictly chemistry, but is there anyone who would like to see some mineral related posts on the blog in the future?

9:30 pm • 26 April 2014 • 123 notes • View comments