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Hackmanite By Sandra Downs
While many sodalites from this region are white, only hackmanite shows photochromism. When freshly dug from the ground, it's pink. It quickly fades to white under white light or sunlight. But put the specimen in a darkened closet and within a few days, it gradually turns to pink. To accelerate the process, place the specimen under a shortwave ultraviolet lamp in a dark room. Instant pink! The deepness of the pink color varies from place to place, and some specimens show a violet glow. A persistent raspberry-red can be coaxed out of the showier pieces. In Bancroft, hackmanite specimens are found at the Davis and Morrison Quarries, deep in the woods along the York River. In Mont. Saint-Hilare, field trips to the Poudrette Quarry uncover occasional pieces of hackmanite. If you're a fluorescent mineral collector, this Canadian classic is a must!
Permission is given to freely reprint this article from the Canadian Rockhound for non-commercial and educational purposes, provided the author and the Canadian Rockhound are acknowledged, and that the website URL address of the Canadian Rockhound is given. The article may not be edited or rewritten to change its meaning or substance without the author's permission. To contact the author, please use the e-mail address provided. Courtesy copies of newsletters using this article are requested for the author.
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Copyright © 1997 Canadian Rockhound
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