Sterling Hill Mining Museum - The World’s Largest Fluorescent Mineral Collection
When it comes to the world’s best display of fluorescent minerals, there is only one destination – New Jersey. The Sterling Hill and Franklin deposits have nearly 400 mineral species documented. 96 of these species are fluorescent minerals, 66 of which are only found here this.
Walking into a small side cavern of the mine I noticed a row of UV lights hanging down from the ceilings all along the wall. As soon as they were turned on, I was greeted by a site that I had only dreamed about since the first time I held a fluorescent mineral in my hand. A WALL of fluorescent rocks! Bright blue lightning with red rainbows flowing in the backdrop led to rocks glowing with greens and reds below. A huge pile of moving gold sparkles towered over masses of red and green swirls in cubes of rocks that were lined up like a row of fluorescent dominoes below.
Those first two walls were merely a sample of what was to come at Sterling Hill Mine. The next cavern showcased two multi-ton chunks of fluorescent minerals that were going to be display pieces in two of the largest museums in the world. 2 beautiful slices of New Jersey goodness shining like a multilayer red and green fluorescent cake.
A Colorful History
The mine has a history almost as colourful as its minerals. Thomas Edison sunk close to $2 million dollars and hired over 500 workers to staff his operation here back in 1890. Along with his workers he brought his ideas. Ideas on electricity and lighting. Little did he know that with his discovery of electricity, the miners were about to get more than they expected when the rocks lit up.
Back then, to get the motors and light bulbs started, they used big switches called knife blade switches, the sort of thing you see in a Frankenstein movie. When the circuit is opened or closed, there is a small gap between the two metal blades. A large voltage is applied which causes what is known as an electrical arc to jump across the gap. This electrical arc is essentially a bolt of lightning on a tiny scale. Most of the energy in this arc is emitted as shortwave ultraviolet light. Every time these electricians turned the lights on and off, this spark/electrical arc caused the minerals in the wall to fluoresce. When they discovered that the willemite (or zinc ore) that they were mining glowed a radioactive green, they found a brilliant new way to locate deposits. Beautiful colors that only appeared from sparks.
At first when miners started using fluorescence to illuminate zinc ore, they carried around high voltage transformers and electricity in pitch black wet mines. This high risk scene went on for a few years until the early 1940’s Thomas S Warren invented ‘The Mineralight’, the first portable Ultraviolet lamp.
This allowed miners to easily find tungsten and uranium; two elements crucial to America’s Second World War efforts. Uranium being used for the dreaded atomic bombs and tungsten being used for filament and light bulbs. You may have already guessed by now but both of these minerals fluoresce under UV light. Sales for his mineralight earned Warren lots of money which he used to invest in his number one hobby; fluorescent minerals. Upon his death he donated his collection to this museum. Which is where today resides the largest fluorescent mineral collection in the world.
The Warren Collection
Rooms full of cabinet after cabinet filled with rocks that light up. In the centre of the room there are tables upon tables of fluorescent mineral samples. Big slabs of glowing minerals , red and green willemite, pink calcite, and blue fluorite. The collection is a real testament to a man who clearly had a serious passion for glowing minerals. It takes some serious dedication and love to create a collection like this. Fluorescence clearly had a lasting impact on his life. And through the collection he left continues to touch the thousands of visitors that come each year to Sterling Hill Mining Museum.
You don’t need to climb Everest or visit the Grand Canyon to experience awe. It’s present in the everyday if we take the time to notice. A powerful piece of music, an act of extraordinary kindness, or even the intricate patterns of a leaf can spark awe. Slowing down, paying attention, and stepping outside of routine thinking can unlock moments of wonder that shift our perspective and enrich our lives.