igneous
Yooperlite
Syenite-rich rock containing sodalite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, grey to brownish-gray color, vitreous luster, exhibits bright orange-yellow fluorescence under UV light due to rich sodalite content.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, grey to brownish-gray color, vitreous luster, exhibits bright orange-yellow fluorescence under UV light due to rich sodalite content.
Formation & geological history
Formed in glacial erratic boulders originating from the Kola Peninsula in Russia, transported to the Great Lakes region of North America by glacial action.
Uses & applications
Collected as a novelty mineral specimen and used for lapidary arts and UV-fluorescent displays.
Geological facts
Yooperlites are actually syenite rocks packed with fluorescent sodalite that glow vividly under ultraviolet light. They were discovered relatively recently in 2017 along the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan.
Field identification & locations
Readily identified in the field at night by scanning beach stones with a long-wave UV flashlight to reveal glowing orange patches. Common along Upper Peninsula beaches in Michigan.
