Cochise College            Student Papers in Geology     
Geology Home Page                    physical geology  historical geology  planetary  gems

1. The word “fluorescence”, as used in fluorescent minerals, is named after the mineral fluorite (CaF₂), composed of calcium fluoride.
    

2. A luminescence found as an optical phenomenon within specific minerals. Fluorescence is created by the molecular absorption of a photon, in the ultraviolet frequency range, triggering the emission of another photon with a longer wavelength, emitted in the visible range. The energy shift between the absorbed and emitted photons produces the fluorescence we see in minerals.

 

                                    Courtesy: howstuffworks.com                                     

Back to Index, Click Here