[Rockhounds] REE, calcite, and lost and hidden secrets of the stones...

[Pmodreski at aol.com]

Sure, Terlingua is a "real" locality, whether or not material can currently  
be collected.
 

I consider Terlingua one of the Great Blank Spots in information  about 
mineral localities.  Because, I think, anyone who knew or knows the  least thing 
about where exactly (or even, generally) around Terlingua the  fluorescent & 
phosphorescent calcite is found, has kept their knowledge very  private, not 
wanting anyone else to jump them and collect it there, I don't  believe I have 
ever heard or read anything, about just where (what mines or  propsects, or 
whatever) and in exactly what mode of occurrence, this "classic"  calcite is from; 
nor have I ever read anything at all resembling first-hand  collecting stories 
about it.  Please, anyone, correct me if I am wrong, and  if such material 
has ever been written or shared!  I think there is less  known about the source 
of the Terlingua calcite, than there used to be  about things in "Darkest 
Africa"!  I've read about people visiting  Terlingua and collecting calcite, but 
it has been "common" calcite, not the  strongly fluorescent material.
 
In a message dated 7/8/2008 4:19:21 AM Mountain Daylight Time,  
axel.emmermann at pandora.be writes:


If I  remember correctly it 's cerium(/lead?) + manganese/lead that cause  the
pink fluorescence in long wave UV and cerium =>europium that are  responsible
for the blue phosphorescence in short  wave.




And, Axel, I think you are going beyond anything that is definitely known  
here.  Yes, it has been hypothesized that europium is "probably" the cause  of 
the blue fluorescence and phosphorescence, but that's about it I think, as  far 
as real knowledge.  Other minerals that fluoresce due to europium (such  as 
fluorite) fluoresce LW rather than short, and do not phosphoresce; and Mn/Pb  
produces the common red/orange fl. in calcite, but that's quite unlike the pink 
 LW of Terlingua-type calcite.  So I still think everybody is just guessing  
at this.  I know a few people have played around with some research on  this, 
but I don't think anything formal or conclusive has ever been  
published--again, I'd LOVE to know that I am wrong, and I would love it if  anyone could 
direct us to any actual published articles giving hard data about  this type of 
calcite!
 
keep on rockin' and glowin',
Pete
 



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