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Author Topic: "Yooperlite"  (Read 3807 times)

Offline space otter

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"Yooperlite"
« on: September 08, 2018, 06:44:46 am »

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/man-discovers-glowing-rocks-called-yooperlite/ar-BBN1vAN?li=BBnb7Kz

Man discovers glowing rocks called "Yooperlite"
Caitlin O'Kane  2 hrs ago



Erik Rintamaki was searching for rocks on a Michigan beach last summer when he made what he calls a "mind blowing" discovery. Resting among the thousands of pebbles covering the Lake Superior beach, Rintamaki saw a glowing rock.

Quote
The gem and mineral dealer told CBS News he often goes rock hunting. But on this particular June night, he found a rock unlike any other — a florescent orb that he later named "Yooperlite." Like lava glowing through cracks in the earth, a glowing light seeped out of the lines in the small rock.

Rintamaki knew this couldn't be the only Yooperlite out there, but he couldn't find any information about glowing rocks online. He knows many people in the gem and mineral field, but everyone he asked had no clue what these mysterious rocks were.


© Provided by CBS Interactive Inc. A Michigan man who discovered a new rock type uses a black light to search for the distinctive glowing rocks along the beaches of Lake Superior.

Quote
Rinktamaki went back to the beach night after night, carrying a black light which helped illuminated the glowing rocks. "I was blown away," he said. "It's insane how many are on the beaches up here." He started collecting Yooperlites by the bagful and sold them online. Michigan State University messaged Rinktamaki with an interest in buying some of the rocks to study.

Michigan State, along with the University of Saskatewan, researched the Yooperlites for months. The universities determined that Rintamaki did, indeed, discover a new type of rock. He says other people may have spotted these gems before, but he was the first person to get Yooperlites verified — making him the self-proclaimed "Christopher Columbus of rocks."

Rintamaki said Michigan State gave the rocks a scientific name: syenite clasts containing fluorescent sodalite.

The name he gave them — Yooperlites — comes from the nickname "Yoopers," which refers to people who live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, according to Mineral News, a newsletter for mineral collectors that reported on Rintamaki's discovery.

When his discovery was verified and made public in May 2018, Rintamaki says life as he knew it changed. "I've had thousands of messages and I can't get to them all," he told CBS News. He now gives Yooperlite tours on the beaches along Lake Superior.


© Provided by CBS Interactive Inc. Rintamaki now takes out tour groups -- and charges $50 a person -- to hunt for Yooperlites.

Quote
"I've never had anyone not find stones," Rintamaki said of his tour groups. He takes groups out near dusk and they use black lights to search for Yooperlites for about four hours, he says. He also still sells Yooperlites and bought a machine that can buff them into perfect, smooth orbs.

When he's not with a tour group, he finds himself looking for Yooperlites alone all night long. "I work the night shift at a casino, so when I get out of work at 2 a.m., I get to the beach ... I search until the sun comes up," he said.

Rintamaki's passion has made him a local celebrity. He says his tours are booked solid through 2019 and the videos of his rock hunting have gone viral.



just type yooperlite into you tube..



















Offline fansongecho

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Re: "Yooperlite"
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2018, 07:13:38 am »

Love those polished stones Space O , they are well cool !  :) 8)

Offline zorgon

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Re: "Yooperlite"
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2018, 04:27:33 pm »
Articles like this make me cry    :'( :'( :'(  and angry at the same time   >:(

SEVERAL things stand out  THIS comment:

"Sep 7, 2018 - Rintamaki knew this couldn't be the only Yooperlite out there, but he couldn't find any information about glowing rocks online. He knows many ..."

No information about glowing rocks online? Seriously? Every gem an mineral club in the world collects the dang things. And take field trips FOR FREE to the sites where the glowing (phosphorescent and fluorescent) rocks can be collected

Michigan State, along with the University of Saskatewan, researched the Yooperlites for months. The universities determined that Rintamaki did, indeed, discover a new type of rock.

Seriously? Any geologist could identify it in a few hours... seems Universities aren't so smart these days.

Oh here we go   Rintamaki said Michigan State gave the rocks a scientific name: syenite clasts containing fluorescent sodalite.

Well fluorescent Sodalite is called Hackmenite and was found years ago in Bancroft. I have pounds of it :P  Some of it is yellow, most is dark blue with no fluorescence  and some is pink  with an unusual habit to go pink in the dark but goes white exposed to sunlight

Syenite is the host rock  so WHY are we giving this known mineral a NEW name?  Just because some local yahoo wants to rip people off? :P  $50.00 to go to the beach? Oi 

What I don't get is WHY is this national news on CNN  :P

This has long been a problem in the mineral business... local yahoos giving rocks local names and not the proper name. Just confuses people  But then I suppose you can sell it for a lot online  because it's "Special"


The Great Lakes were carved by receding Glaciers... A long time ago :P  So a lot of rocks were transported and tumbled.


Beach Pebbles,
Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada




I have been up there myself  Got a lot that I am selling on Etsy... but while I ALWAYS check all my specimens for fluorescence ...I never did check the pebbles as I don't consider them specimens. Only good for fountains and craft projects really

http://landoflegendslv.com/00shoppes/01active_items/Supplies_Beach_Stuff.html




« Last Edit: September 15, 2018, 05:40:23 pm by zorgon »

 


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