JH19298 Slow-To-Glow Hemimorphite Crystals, Skorpion Mine, Namibia

Description

Up for bid is an exceptional specimen of LW Resettable Slow-To-Glow Hemimorphite crystals from the Skorpion Mine in Namibia. This Hemimorphite fluoresces White under SW UV but not right away! You need to shine a UV light on the specimen for 10 to 15 seconds for it to reach full fluorescent intensity.
This specimen does not have a noticeable phosphorescence but it does seem to retain some energy. If you turn the UV light off for a few seconds and then turn it back on, the specimen will start to fluoresce much quicker. I have not measured how long it takes to get back to its original “Slow-to-Glow” state but it is probably on the order of 10 minutes or more. If you don’t have the patience for that, you can reset the specimen almost instantly with a Convoy High Intensity LW UV flashlight. This makes for a very impressive demonstration! You shine your SW UV light on a “fresh” specimen and nothing seems to happen. They over the next 10 to 15 seconds the Hemimorphite builds up to bright, uniform White fluorescence. While still under the SW light you briefly shine your convoy at the center of the specimen and a “black hole” appears in the fluorescence. This “black hole” will slowly disappear in 10 to 15 seconds.
The Skorpion Mine is the 8th largest Zinc mine in the world and is unique in several ways. It is one of the few Zinc deposits that is composed almost exclusively of Zinc Silicates like Sauconite (Formula: Na0.3Zn3(SiAl)4O10(OH)2·4H2O) and Hemimorphite (Formula: Zn4(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O) and Zinc Carbonates like Smithsonite (Formula: ZnCO3) and Hydrozincite (Formula: Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6). Most other Zinc deposits contain Zinc Sulfides like Sphalerite (Formula: (Zn, Fe)S).
The Skoprion mine is also the only zinc processing facility to use solvent extraction-electrowinning metallurgy to process and refine its zinc products (others use conventional smelting and roasting). The combination of Zinc Silicate and Zinc Carbonate ores and the extraction-electrowinning process allow Skorpion to sell a Special High Grade (SHG), ultra-pure zinc product, which is so low in impurities that it commands a premium price.
Description: Hemimorphite (FL White SW after 5 to 10 Sec charging time, Resettable with Convoy)
Location: Skorpion Mine, Rosh Pinah, Luderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
Size: 2.2" x 1.4" x 1.3"
Weight: 3 oz
Contact me if you have any questions. Be sure to check out my eBay store:
Jim's Obscure Stuff
for more fluorescent minerals and other unusual items.
Domestic Shipping
For domestic shipping I generally use Fed Exp Ground for heavier and more expensive items, and US Postal Service Priority Mail for lighter and less expensive items. Both services have door to door tracking and full insurance. If you have a shipping preference please let me know. If the shipping service I use costs less than eBay charges, I will refund any excess. I only charge actual shipping costs with no extra charges for packing or shipping materials and will gladly combine shipments. If the combined shipping doesn’t work for some reason, I will refund any excess shipping.
International Shipping
I use US Postal Service Priority mail for all international shipments. Please note that due to a lack of international flights, many overseas shipments are going by boat instead of air. This can add a month or more to delivery times. Purchase at your own risk.