- What is fluorescence?
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- Fluorescence is the result of activity at the atomic level and involves a change in energy state and electons. Basically it is the result of an external excitation (ultraviolet light) of impurities within a mineral's crystal structure that take electrons from one energy level to a higher level. The reason that we can see colors when the external excitation is present is that the transfer of the electron from a low energy state to a higher energy state is that it is unstable and electrons which were once excited to the higher energy state lose energy and fall down to the lower state. During this drop energy is expended as light. As soon as the external excitation is eliminated the phenomenon ceases.
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- What is phosphorescence?
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- Phosphorescence is similar to fluorescence with the exception that the energy states are more stable and the duration of the excitation lasts longer even after the source of excitation is removed. Some rokcs can phosphoresce for several minutes after exposure to a source (ultraviolet light).
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- Some interesting links with fluorescent and phosphorescent minerals......
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