Fluorescent Tunnel Photos

The Diamond Joe mine and the Purple Passion mine are both in the same hydrothermal vein consisting mainly of calcite, but having some quartz, galena, and silver ores. This vein extends intermittently for about 3,000 feet running roughly north and south. Some time in the early 1900's several prospecting cuts and short tunnels were made along the vein to determine where it was best to mine. The largest prospect tunnel is located about 1,500 feet south of the Purple Passion mine up on a hill. The tunnel bores horizontally through soft koalinized granodiorite for about 40 feet to access the vein. This tunnel turns left for about 40 feet along the vein. The walls and ceiling are mostly calcite and fluorite. Under short-wave UV, the calcite fluoresces a bright fire-orange color and the fluorite fluoresces blue.

Mr. Harvey Jong (assisted by Mr. Darryl Dodd) took 360 degree digital photos in the widest part of the tunnel. He then used some software to stitch the photos into one long loop. Harvey did a great job - this is an amazing sight, although not quite as good as being there in person. You may access Harvey's Masterpiece at: http://www.azminfun.com/panos/fluores_tunnel.html

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The Fluorescent Hillside

The best fluorescent minerals in the vein are actually between the old Diamond Joe inclined shaft and the Purple passion shaft. When we first started working the vein for fluorescent minerals, the top of vein started about 15 feet up the hillside. We have worked that area down to about ground level. This next series of photos shows us drilling, blasting and looking at the fluorescent hillside.

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