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TIGEROWNER MINERALS
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A few words about Ultraviolet Lamps: The lamp included with my "Longwave Beginner's Kit is a 4-watt BLB "blacklight"; it produces only longwave ultraviolet (UVA) rays, along with a good deal of visible blue. A scientist’s (or serious hobbyist’s) longwave lamp will have considerably more power, and produce significantly less blue light; it will also cost much more than this whole kit. Longwave UV lamps are not harmful to eyes or skin, but their use by very young children should still be supervised. THESE LAMPS ARE SAFE! Junior rockhounds can use longwave or 'BLB" lamps without worry, because it will not cause any problem for skin or eyes, even if used a fair amount. The powerful "blacklights" sometimes used at rock music shows, and sold for use in lighting up posters, etc., are longwave-producing lamps, and are safe to use as well; they cost significantly less than a serious researcher’s longwave lamp.Shortwave lamps are a different matter entirely! Shortwave UV lamps produce shortwave (UVC) rays, which are the type that can quickly produce a "sunburn", or "welder’s flash", basically a "sunburn" of the eye. High exposure over a longer period can promote skin cancer, and has been thought by some to produce cataracts. These lamps should always be used with eye protection. Unfortunately, I have seen eBay auctions advertising low-powered, relatively inexpensive shortwave lamps as safe, as long as you "simply don’t look into the light"; please don’t you believe it! First, many children, when told not to do something, will simply wait until you’re looking the other way, and then do it! Second, anything you shine the lamp on will reflect some of the shortwave rays – right into your eyes. And finally, lower-powered lamps require total darkness to be effective; however, the lower the level of ambient light, the more your pupils will dilate – thus letting even more shortwave UV into your eyes. Fortunately, safety glasses (and even most window glass) do a good job of protecting young eyes. Now for the good news: used with care, and with adequate eye protection, shortwave lamps are wonderful tools that produce brilliant fluorescence in many more minerals than longwave lamps can. Because of this, most rockhounds who really get into this hobby eventually "graduate" from longwave lamps to shortwave; this is fine, as long as they treat these tools with the respect they deserve (and use the proper safety precautions). Their major drawback is cost: a good battery-operated field lamp can cost well over $200, and a display lamp over $400. Make sure that your junior rockhound is ready for this type of lamp before making the investment; then make sure that it is always used with the proper safety precautions and adequate eye protection. |