UV Light ?

[Ashman]

I have done some reading about using different lights when looking at or for certain minerals.

I was wondering if anyone here uses a UV light as one of their tools on a regular basis and if so what would you recommend ?

I ended up buying a UV Headlamp Light but quickly released it is not a shortwave UV light. It seems that all I can find locally Walmart, Home Depot etc... have a Wavelength Range in the high 300nm. Where from what I have read that a true shortwave UV light is best and the wavelength range on a shortwave light should be between 100-280nm.

Does anyone know if the numbers I just mentioned above about the wave length range are correct ?

Also does anyone know of any local type of retail stores that sell such a light ?

 

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[BurntBear]

It depends on what minerals. Some fluoresce under short-wave; others only in long-wave.

This is a breakdown of the wavelengths: (in the chart)

Ultraviolet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I use long-wave for detecting Rubies and Pink Sapphires. Here is a thread on that:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/rocks-gems/438561-ruby-uv-lighting.html

I picked up a long-wave UV flashlight at a local hardware store. I think they were $10.

 

[Ashman]

Once again, Thank You for your reply. You have posted some really good info on this subject.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

At this time there are no affordable LED short wave lights. Some claim to be SW, but are only shorter than others...they are not SW in the sense that they will illuminate minerals that fluoresce under true SW light. One good thing about LW UV is that most gems fluoresce under LW. But, if you're looking for certain minerals, you need a true SW UV light.
jim