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Unknown green gemstones, glow under blacklight

ItsJustAnt

ItsJustAnt

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 23, 2022
Messages
18
What kind of gemstone is greenish yellow, then glows BRIGHT green under LWUV?
Pictures included!20220623_123311.JPG20220623_123754.JPG20220623_123757.JPG
 
Hello again! So we have a lot of newbies who buy gem parcels on eBay or at estate sales, etc., and then ask us what the stones might be. But it's really impossible to venture a guess by photos alone. These guys could be anything, natural (like quartz) or synthetic (like spinel). So unless you have the education, knowledge, and equipment to test your finds, you'd need a professional to do so.
 
I know a decent amount about glass, thats usually why I go to these estate sales! Depression era Glass and Mineral Specimens are my main venture. I collect uranium glass actually, here's my sugar and creamer set from the early 30s: 20220622_202507_exported_9321.jpg. I have neodymium magnets, a cheap lighted microscope from Amazon, and a basic diamond tester, a LWUV light, and a scale. I apparently need to invest in a refractometer if I continue with any more gemstone purchases lol, any other suggested tools for a beginner?
I actually guessed a spinel to my fiance, but couldn't find anything about their UV reactiveness. Now that you've posted that one, that would definitely still be my guess also! Thank you!
 
Just to be clear, this is NOT a spinel - even synthetic spinel is a misnomer. In this instance, vaseline glass, uranium glass and synthetic spinel all mean the same thing. A synthetic stone would have all the properties of a natural stone, but it is made in a lab. An imitation or simulated stone is one that appears to resemble a natural material but is actually something else altogether, and also made in a lab or factory. I do not know why these types of stones have come to be called "synthetic spinel" when at best they are "simulated spinel." They can be most accurately described as glass. If you google synthetic uranium spinel, you will find lots of examples.
 
pokerface said:
Just to be clear, this is NOT a spinel - even synthetic spinel is a misnomer. A synthetic stone would have all the properties of a natural stone, but it is made in a lab. An imitation or simulated stone is one that appears to resemble a natural material but is actually something else altogether, and also made in a lab or factory. I do not know why these types of stones have come to be called "synthetic spinel" when at best they are "simulated spinel." They can be most accurately described as glass. If you google synthetic uranium spinel, you will find lots of examples.
Click to expand...

Very interesting, thank you!
 
ItsJustAnt said:
I know a decent amount about glass, thats usually why I go to these estate sales! Depression era Glass and Mineral Specimens are my main venture. I collect uranium glass actually, here's my sugar and creamer set from the early 30s: 20220622_202507_exported_9321.jpg. I have neodymium magnets, a cheap lighted microscope from Amazon, and a basic diamond tester, a LWUV light, and a scale. I apparently need to invest in a refractometer if I continue with any more gemstone purchases lol, any other suggested tools for a beginner?
I actually guessed a spinel to my fiance, but couldn't find anything about their UV reactiveness. Now that you've posted that one, that would definitely still be my guess also! Thank you!
Click to expand...

A quality loupe, LW & SW UV light (which you already have), refractometer, and gem microscope (at least 40x stereo) are a start. After that, you'd begin getting into heavy liquids to test specific gravity, and a spectroscope (which also requires a calibrated scale) to measure absorption spectrum. Then there is a polariscope, which determines birefringence and optic sign (but a refractometer can be used for this also), and a dichroscope, which separates colors in pleochroic gems. This gets very involved, scientific, and expensive. Plus, you really need the proper training and experience for using all but maybe the first 4 tools I mentioned. But even then, you'd need to know what you're looking for (like subtle differences in inclusion patterns and crystal growth, etc.). If you have the means for the equipment, it can be fun to play with your gems. But, IMO, buying stones and "testing" them yourself for investment purposes or to sell and make a profit is best left to the professionals.
 
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