Mineral Museum hosts 'Super Dig'

People from all over the country came to the Franklin Mineral Museum on April 27, to collect fluorescent rocks at the “Super Dig.”
The Delaware Valley Earth Science Society (DVESS), incorporated in 1957, organized the Super Dig for the benefit of the Franklin Mineral Museum.
Probably around eight years ago, Super Dig Trip Master Jeff Winkler said, over a million pounds of rock was donated to the Franklin Mineral Museum. The rock had once been considered worthless rail ballast, or railroad tie track bed. Then in the 80s, collectors discovered the fluorescent rocks.
Winkler said the Super Dig is a rock club only event, because club members understand the risks vs. rewards of collecting rock, along with having liability insurance.
He also said some people joined the Franklin Mineral Museum as members, which gives them liability insurance, so they can enjoy the Super Dig through the federation which regulates all the collecting in the world.
“We are here in Franklin until we run out of rock,” he said.
In the past, Winkler said, people have come from France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, W.I., S.C., and C.A. In addition to the Super Dig, they conducted two high-grade geology tours on the Trotter/Buckwheat property, by very special permission.
On the way to the million pounds of rock, one hikes past a fenced area, down a deep, tree lined path.
That day they were finding rare fluorescent rocks. Winkler said, they found a 33-pound piece of Hardystonite and Clinohedrite. Hardystonite, he said, “is a to-die-for” fluorescent piece. They were finding four colored pieces, he said, of Willemite, Calcite, Hardystonite, and Clinohedrite, which fluoresce colors of green, red, orange, and violet under an ultra-violet light.
“Pound, pound, pound” — hammer against rock — could be heard as collectors broke open stones and rocks flew through the air. He explained, it’s “part of the hobby” — rocks flying. A black-tent with a high-powered lamp was near by to help inspect fluorescing mineral finds.
The 33-pound piece of Hardystonite sat on the corner of a table. A kind collector lugged the gray, black, and brown piece into the black-tent where breathtaking green and famous Hardystonite violet fluoresced.
Winkler explained many first discoveries occurred at the Franklin Mineral Museum. With the mining process, he continued, they learned how fluorescent rock works. In the 20s, he said, they had a Frankenstein-type electric system with big knife switches which produced short-wave ultra-violet waves. One day, a rich vein of Willemite mineral, which fluoresces green, became excited from the electric system, while traveling out of the mine on conveyor belts. If you have the right percentage of manganese present as a co-activator, he said, it glows for days.
Imagine all of a sudden, he added, the rocks are glowing, “Kind of like a 20s horror movie.”
When they developed the portable short-wave lamps, he said, the miners could enter the mine and follow the fluorescing ore body. Over the years, he commented, they put crushed Calcite and Willemite in concrete, which fluoresce a beautiful red and green with other base minerals.
“That’s a coveted concrete in Franklin, and there are pieces of it here," Winkler said.”
“You’d be surprised how many people don’t realize what they have in their backyard,” he added.
Alex Kerstanski, who is taking geology at college, was working along with his father Gary. They had found some four-colored Hardystonite.
Other serious collectors had made their own dark room tent in the back of the area.
Winkler pointed out a big piece of green rock, Amazonite, to some collectors. He suggested they crack it open and check that some of it is fluorescent.
He said this is a year long event to plan. People donate $50 each for three hour sessions, and $1.50 per pound for what they keep. All donations go to the museum.
“I’ve got to smile because these guys are finding great stuff,” Winkler concluded.