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What Does “Legal” Mean?
Additionally, when the question of an activity’s “legality” and whether that activity is “legal” is raised, it sometimes creates confusion. Colloquially, when people ask whether something is “legal” or “illegal,” in most cases, they are really asking “can I do it without getting into trouble?” It’s certainly a fair question, but it’s a question with…
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Some Basic Ground Rules
(No Pun Intended)Rock, mineral, and fossil collecting is a popular hobby around the world and is not limited to any particular country or region. Indeed, many highly-sought specimens are available only in locales considered exotic or far-flung. Importantly, however, each area has a specific legal system applicable to that area; there is no single, uniform body of laws…
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Legal Aspects of Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Collecting
Part 1: Introduction While fishing in a mountain stream, you find a small gold nugget. Is it yours to keep? Imagine digging in your backyard to install a new deck and unearthing several fossils. Do you own them? As you hike with your family in a national park on vacation, your children happen upon several…
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Practical Uses for Triboluminescence
Triboluminescent materials can be used to detect structural damage. If triboluminescent materials are embedded in a composite, they will generate light if the composite begins to experience structural failure. A sensor will detect the light and report that failure has occurred. This monitoring can detect failure in its early stages because many composite materials begin…
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Why is Light Produced?
The phenomenon of triboluminescence is poorly understood. Some researchers believe that scratching or hitting materials together provides an input of energy that excites electrons within the materials. When the electrons fall from their excited state, a flash of light is produced [2]. Others believe that triboluminescence is similar to lightning and caused by an electrical current generated…
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Triboluminescence in Minerals
Triboluminescence is present in quartz; however, the strength of the phenomenon varies from specimen to specimen. Triboluminescence is well known in sphalerite, fluorite, calcite, muscovite, and many feldspar minerals. Some specimens of common opal produce a bright orange flash. Test a few specimens yourself. Don’t forget to wear safety glasses, and be aware that this test will scratch your specimens. You will probably…
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What is Triboluminescence?
Triboluminescence is a flash of light produced when a material is subjected to friction, impact or breakage. The phenomenon is also known as fractoluminescence and mechanoluminescence. Triboluminescence is common in minerals. About 50% of crystalline materials are thought to exhibit the property. It is also observed in many noncrystalline materials [1]. How to Demonstrate Triboluminescence ****…
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What Is Sugilite?
Sugilite is a rare mineral and a gemstone best known for its vibrant pink to purple colors. High-quality specimens are sought after by mineral collectors and lapidarists (people who cut and polish gems). Sugilite is a sodium potassium lithium silicate mineral. Small amounts of manganese produce the pink to purple color displayed by some specimens of sugilite. Its chemical composition is as…
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Other Uses of Corundum
Corundum has many other uses. It is chemically inert and resistant to heat. These properties make it a perfect material for making refractory products such as fire brick, kiln liners, and kiln furniture. Today, these products are usually made with synthetic corundum. Pure corundum is colorless, transparent, durable, and scratch resistant. Large crystals of clear…
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Ruby Lasers
Synthetic corundum is an essential part of many lasers. In fact, the first working laser was a “ruby laser,” made by Theodore Maiman at Hughes Research Labs in 1960. It employed a synthetic ruby crystal as the “gain medium.” The gain medium is a material in the laser that is the target of an intense…