Willemite, Calcite, Sterling Hill mine.
Photograph by Simone Conti.
I started collecting fluorescent minerals when I was 13 years old. My father was a chaperone on an 8th grade field trip to the Franklin Institute museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While there I saw a small fluorescent mineral exhibit that fascinated me. On the way out of the museum we went through the gift shop. At the gift shop my father purchased for me a small specimen of willemite and calcite from the Sterling Hill mine in New Jersey. That was the first fluorescent specimen I owned, and I still own that specimen today! The following Christmas I received my first ultraviolet lamp, a Raytech Model LS-7, longwave and shortwave (which I still have today). So as you can see, I have been collecting fluorescent minerals for 54 years.
I currently have well over 5,000 specimens in my collection. I have decided to begin selling some of my own specimens through the Polman Minerals website on this new Showcase page. I will begin these sales by going through my collection and finding duplicate specimens that I no longer need. The specimens that will be offered for sale on this new Showcase page will encompass specimens from every locality. I will start by going through the drawers in my mineral cabinets. After that I will begin the arduous task of going through hundreds of flats!
Each specimen in my collection was numbered using Liquid Paper and India ink. The numbers start with my initials (GVP) and then the catalog number. A corresponding label will also accompany each specimen (see sample above). In case you are a collector of labels, I will keep the label(s) separate from the specimen so that they do not get damaged in shipping.
Over the years I have heard that some people, when they obtain a specimen with a catalog number on it, remove that number using acetone. Do not do that!! The provenance to a specimen adds to its historical and financial value. Remember, we do not “own” these mineral specimens, God owns them. Since they can be millions of years old, they were here long before you and will be here long after you are gone. We are just their curators. It is wise to keep records of your collection and to express your plans for whom you wish to take on the curator duties once you are gone. If the specimen you purchase has a special provenance to it, I will let you know. I hope you enjoy these specimens as much as I have over all these years.
To order a specimen from this Showcase, just email or call with the number you wish to purchase. When a specimen is sold it will be marked SOLD in red. When new specimens are posted, sold specimens will be deleted, and new specimens added in their place.
For quick email access to purchase a specimen, email gpolman@polmanminerals.com.
Name & Location: Calcite, Near Lampasas, Texas.
Size: 5 x 3 x 2.5-inches
Notes: Collected by the late Joe Lobel. Contains a small amount of red and yellow fluorescing calcite as well. Exhibits long duration sustained luminescence.
Price: $100.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Sodalite, Tugtupite, Polylithionite, Tasaq Slope, Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland.
Size: 5 x 3.5 x 2-inches
Notes: Collected during one of the first trips to Greenland. Nice four color specimen with unknown green. Contains Ussingite as well.
Price: $250.00
Name & Location: Miserite, Wollastonite, North Wilson Pit, Union Carbide Mine, Wilson Springs, Garland County, Arkansas.
Size: 4.5 x 2.5 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Old Tom Warren specimen.
Price: $200.00
Name & Location: Calcite, Chalcedony, Near Toadstool Geologic Park, Near Crawford, Nebraska.
Size: 4 x 1.5 x 2.5-inches
Notes: Hershal Ward specimen.
Price: $45.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Tremolite, Diopside, Phlogopite, Tourmaline, Godfrey, Ontario, Canada.
Size: 3.5 x 1.5 x 1-inches
Notes: Aesthetic four color specimen. Collected in early 90s.
Price: $45.00
Name & Location: Willemite, Broken Hill, Zambia, Africa.
Size: 2.5 x 2 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Claude Poli specimen, 1957 find.
Price: $45.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Barite, Ojuela Mine, Mapimi Municipality, Durango, Mexico.
Size: 2.5 x 2 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Rare find from early 90s. Aesthetic specimen in white light as well. Old Artrox specimen.
Price: $250.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Tugtupite, Analcime, Tasaq Slope, Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland.
Size: 2.5 x 1.5 x 1-inches
Notes: Exhibits a slight color change between wavelengths.
Price: $100.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Calcite, Near Boquillas del Carmen, Sabinal, Coahuila, Mexico.
Size: 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Acid washed to remove lime scale. Exhibits long duration sustained luminescence. Nice color change between wavelengths.
Price: $85.00
Name & Location: Brannockite, Foote Mine, Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
Size: 3 x 2 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Rare mineral from the Type Locality.
Price: $50.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Sodalite, Analcime, Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland.
Size: 4 x 4 x 2-inches
Notes: Collected during one of the first trips to Greenland. Old Don Yonika specimen.
Price: $200.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Ruby in Zoisite, Mundarara Mine, Longido District, Arusha Region, Tanzania.
Size: 4 x 2 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Fluoresces a beautiful ruby red color. Did not photograph well.
Price: $150.00
Fluorescent Mineral GVP-203 SOLD
White Light Front
White Light Back
Shortwave Ultraviolet Front
Shortwave Ultraviolet Back
Longwave Ultraviolet Front
Longwave Ultraviolet Back
Name & Location: Sodalite, Kvanefjeld, Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland.
Size: 5 x 3 x 2-inches
Notes: Almost gemmy green sodalite from one of the earliest trips to Greenland. Has a small polished section on the back.
Price: $500.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Ruby, Mysore District, Karnataka, India.
Size: 2.5 x 2 x 1-inches
Notes: Nice aesthetic specimen of ruby in matrix. Old Mountain Minerals specimen.
Price: $50.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Calcite, Caliche, Amethyst Hill, Near Wickenburg, Arizona.
Size: 3.5 x 2.5 x 2-inches
Notes: Nice two color specimen.
Price: $35.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Calcite, Neal Lampasas, Texas.
Size: 3 x 2 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Collected by the late Joe Lobel. Contains a small amount of yellow fluorescing calcite as well. Exhibits long duration sustained luminescence.
Price: $45.00
Name & Location: Phlogopite, Calcite, Afghanite, Sar-e-Sang, Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan.
Size: 3 x 2 x 2-inches
Notes: Very aesthetic specimen with a nice color change.
Price: $150.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Albite, Wollastonite, Meta-Uranocircite?, Rose Road, Pitcairn, St. Lawrence County, New York.
Size: 2 x 1.5 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Nice three color specimen from this unique locality.
Price: $35.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Aragonite, Giumentaro Mine, Ponte Capodarso, Caltanissetta Province, Sicily, Italy.
Size: 3 x 2 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Nice deep red fluorescence with a nice color change. Specimen has a sawcut on back.
Price: $125.00 SOLD
Name & Location: Calcite, Fluorite, Pure Potential Mine, La Paz County, Arizona.
Size: 3 x 3 x 1.5-inches
Notes: Very aesthetic specimen. My favorite midrange fluorescing material.
Price: $45.00 SOLD