Fluorite with masking tape

Images taken in a controlled environment or with a posed subject. All subject types.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

bralex
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:34 am
Location: New Mexico, USA

Fluorite with masking tape

Post by bralex »

Ok, it's not really masking tape, but that's what it makes me think of. Selective growth of an unknown mineral on the edges of fluorite cubes.
Attachments
Red Cloud Fluorite small.jpg

leonardturner
Posts: 713
Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:40 am
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by leonardturner »

Nice image of a very interesting phenomenon.

Leonard

jnh
Posts: 160
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2015 7:34 am
Location: US East Coast

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by jnh »

Fascinating, never seen this before. Thanks for posting.

rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Posts: 23561
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
Contact:

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by rjlittlefield »

Lovely!

I have never seen this before either.

But I was reading recently about kintsugi, a Japanese method of repairing ceramics in which the repaired seam is deliberately highlighted in gold. This image reminded me instantly of that idea.

--Rik

bralex
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:34 am
Location: New Mexico, USA

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by bralex »

rjlittlefield wrote:
Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:32 am
Lovely!

I have never seen this before either.

But I was reading recently about kintsugi, a Japanese method of repairing ceramics in which the repaired seam is deliberately highlighted in gold. This image reminded me instantly of that idea.

--Rik
I saw that too! I love the idea of balancing preserving the original with the added beauty of the repairs.

On one of the fluorite crystals you can see that it's following a crack!

Geopressure
Posts: 85
Joined: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:18 pm
Location: Tennessee
Contact:

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by Geopressure »

Nice image..and quite unusual!
Brad

Bob-O-Rama
Posts: 200
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:46 am
Location: Allentown, PA, USA, Earth, etc.
Contact:

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by Bob-O-Rama »

These are gorgeous, and nicely shot. There is some 50 cent word for this appearance, which like most terms is probably latin for "masking tape" LOL. I wonder how they look under UV.

-- Bob

ChrisR
Site Admin
Posts: 8668
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:58 am
Location: Near London, UK

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by ChrisR »

Interesting, and well taken. I imagine heat, or something may have diffused into the more active sites on the structure, during or after its browth, but I have no idea what. It doesn't seem to be common? UV result may reveal something because it's the impurities which fluoresce. Pure CaF2 doesn't.
Looking around for causes of colours in crystals, sends one down many rabbit holes.. Characteristic crystals colours are often caused by missing anions, or extra electrons, in the structure.
Chris R

bralex
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:34 am
Location: New Mexico, USA

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by bralex »

No longwave response at all, I'm currently charging my shortwave light to check, but I don't expect anything.

Thanks for the kind words!

ETA: nothing for shortwave either. Fluorite is hit-or-miss in any case, and, if it's goethite, that wouldn't do anything.

bralex
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:34 am
Location: New Mexico, USA

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by bralex »

I ended up taking another shot here, a different spot in the same area. This is relatively deep in a vug so a bit harder to light and shoot. The orange/red specks are really there - not removed by washing or blowing. I'm guessing an iron oxide of some sort.
Attachments
Red Cloud copy small.jpg

rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Posts: 23561
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
Contact:

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by rjlittlefield »

Interesting -- and it's not every day I learn a new word with only three letters!

--Rik

bralex
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:34 am
Location: New Mexico, USA

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by bralex »

A new scrabble word!

RoxnDox
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 4:17 pm
Location: Somewhere near Seattle

Re: Fluorite with masking tape

Post by RoxnDox »

VERY cool images and mineralogy!
I go by "Jim" in real life, "RoxnDox" on here...

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic