Synthetic Fluorescent Mineral Experiment: "Hydro-glauberite"? - UVc


FOV: 6" wide.

This experiment demonstrates the shift in color from yellow-green to blue-green of minerals containing the uranyl ion in conjunction with carbonates.

Uranyl nitrate was combined with NaCl and recrystallized on a glass rod. (see previous expt.) This salt was recovered and dissolved in water. To this a solution of sodium carbonate was added. Water was added to increase the solution's volume to 60mL. This was used to rehydrate 45mL of DAP Plaster of Paris mix and the slurry was poured into a heart shaped mold.

The result displayed the blue-green fluorescent color common with uranyl minerals containing carbonate. Interestingly, the sample displayed much more phosphorescence than andersonite or "pseudo shrockingerite" both of which contain no sodium. Hydro-glauberite, on the other hand, is reported to phosphoresce green. The formula for hydro-glauberite is Na10Ca3(SO4)8*6H2O.

The result is shown next to some common opal containing the uranyl ion.

See:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonite
rruff.info/uploads/CM31_167.pdf

Contains:
"Hydro-glauberite"? (FL+PHOS Blue-green >BL/UVabc)
Opal (FL Yellow-green >BL/UVabc)

Shown under UVc light.

Key:
WL = White light (halogen + LED)
FL = Fluoresces
PHOS = Phosphorescent
Blue = 450nm,
UVa = 368nm (LW), UVb = 311nm (MW), UVc = 254nm (SW)
'>' = "stimulated by:", '!' = "bright", '~' = "dim"

"Hydro-glauberite"?
6Nov2015

Much appreciation to Gordon Czop for the uranyl nitrate.

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