POLMAN MINERALS MISSION STATEMENT
To provide our customers with fine quality fluorescent mineral specimens, ultraviolet lamps and educational information, with unequaled, personal and professional customer service.
Polman Minerals is owned and operated by George V. Polman. George is a professional geologist, and started collecting fluorescent minerals when he was 8 years old. His love for the mineral hobby was the catalyst for his obtaining a geology degree in 1981. During his years at college, George was fortunate enough to have toured the Sterling Hill Mine in New Jersey a total of six times while the mine was in full operation. His love for the fluorescent mineral hobby grew exponentially upon touring the mine.
After graduation, George moved to Houston, Texas to begin his career as a geologist. It was during this time that George started Polman Minerals. George was a member of the Houston Gem and Mineral Society, and sold at their annual show.
It was in the early 1980s that George met, and became very good friends with, Mr. Tom Warren. Mr. Tom (as he was affectionately known), was the founder of Ultraviolet Products, Inc. (UVP). UVP is one of the top manufacturers of ultraviolet lamps. At the UVP facility, Mr. Tom had an entire warehouse full of fluorescent minerals, which he sold wholesale and retail.
In the mid-1980s, George moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and continued his career as a professional geologist. Polman Minerals was still very active at this time, as George continued to buy fluorescent minerals, and field collect whenever possible. It was during this time that a lot of the classic fluorescent mineral localities in Arizona were still accessible. George also started the Desert Region of the Fluorescent Mineral Society, and was it’s first President.
In the late 1980s, Mr. Tom retired, and contacted George to ask him if he was interested in purchasing the large stock of fluorescent minerals at the UVP warehouse. George did not have the room to store such a large stock, but did purchase several thousand pounds of high quality specimens. It was this purchase that really propelled Polman Minerals to become the business it is today.
Today, Polman Minerals is now a full time occupation for George, and it has become one of the largest dealerships of fluorescent minerals and ultraviolet lamps in the world! From 2009 until 2021, Polman Minerals had run the first and only web based fluorescent mineral reverse auction. George has spent a great deal of time consulting museums and individuals alike, on how best to collect and display their fluorescent mineral collections. In 2017 George was asked to be on the consulting team for the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, a new 20 million dollar museum located in Tucson, Arizona. The museum is scheduled to be open in early 2021. George was in charge of designing the fluorescent mineral display from scratch, and providing specimens for one of the three display cases.
In 50 years of collecting, George has put together a very large collection of fluorescent minerals, and enjoys showing his collection to people when they visit. On numerous occasions, George has also displayed portions of his collection at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
Young Sheldon TV Show on CBS
On January 15, 2018 Polman Minerals was contacted by the producers of the hit TV shows “The Big Bang Theory” and the new spin off show “Young Sheldon”. The producers and science advisors for “Young Sheldon” wanted to use fluorescent minerals in one of Sheldon’s classroom scenes. Since the show takes place in 1989, the producers wanted to use old light fixtures with BLB (black light blue) bulbs. I explained the drawback to using those types of lamps for fluorescent minerals, but still was able to provide them with several brightly fluorescent specimens that worked well under BLB light.
The film crew ran some tests after they received the mineral specimens. They later notified me that the tests were successful, and they were very happy with the results. A couple of weeks later I was notified that the scene with the fluorescent specimens was shot and was a success. The show aired on March 8, 2018. The episode was titled “Dolomite, Apple Slices, and a Mystery Woman”. Below are some screen shots from the show (thanks to Cran Cowan and Brian Miller).
Polman Minerals has become a worldwide provider of fluorescent minerals and ultraviolet lamps. A current list of countries that Polman Minerals has shipped to is provided below. If you are new to the hobby, or if you are a seasoned expert, Polman Minerals would be very happy to have you as one of our valued customers. Please contact us if there is anything we can do for you.