Dropped $80 on a UV flashlight for rock hunting and it actually paid off

I went out to a creek near my house in Ohio last Saturday with this cheap UV light I got off Amazon. Found three pieces of fluorescent calcite that glowed bright orange under the beam. Took them to a local rock shop and the guy offered me $150 for the whole lot on the spot. Has anyone else had luck hunting fluorescent minerals or is this just a beginner's luck thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

barbara_grant41mo ago

30 bucks more than a cheap one and that rock shop guy basically validated your find immediately. @drew_hart4 missed that the UV light itself is part of the fun, not just the payout.

drew_hart41mo ago

$80 for a UV flashlight seems a bit much for a hobby that might just be beginner's luck. You could have bought a cheaper one and still found those rocks. Maybe wait until you find something good again before diving that deep into the pockets.

the_wade1mo ago

I'm with you on this one. A good UV light can make all the difference, especially if you're hunting for something specific like that calcite. I dropped $60 on a Convoy S2+ a couple years back and it's been worth every penny - the cheap ones just don't have the same power to bring out the glow in darker rocks. @drew_hart4, I get the frugal angle, but sometimes the right tool makes a hobby more than just a one-time thing. It's not about the payout, it's about having gear that works so you can actually enjoy the hunt.