Induction in the Fluorescent Mineral Society Hall of Fame
Robert Jones is an educator and author with a lifelong interest in fluorescent minerals. He has shared his passion and knowledge through his books and the long-running Rocks and Minerals column ‘Collecting Fluorescent Minerals.’ Bob educated and inspired a generation of collectors at a time when fluorescent mineral collecting was in its infancy, helping to create the hobby as we know it today.”
One important event at the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is the presentation of awards to people for various accomplishments. Some are given during the annual meeting of an organization. Others are given at the annual Saturday night banquet.
This year, the Fluorescent Mineral Society members surprised me by voting to make me a member of their Hall of Fame.
The Fluorescent Mineral Society is composed of collectors who enjoy minerals that respond to UV excitation. ey have a Hall of Fame so the organization can honor those who have made important contributions to the uorescent mineral hobby and science.
They presented me with a special plaque in recognition of my many articles in Rock & Gem, as well as in other publications, describing and promoting uorescent mineral collecting.
In 1971, my rst article in Rock & Gem was on uorescent minerals and I’ve written many others since that time! is was not my rst Hall of Fame selection. Several decades ago, I was put in the “Rockhound Hall of Fame.”
My interest in fluorescent minerals was the basis for my master’s thesis. At the time, I subscribed to Rocks and Minerals magazine. It was published
by Peter Zodak and had columns on various subjects. I asked Peter why he did not have a magazine just for fluorescent minerals? He simply answered, “Because you have not written it!”
I did exactly this by writing “Collecting Fluorescent Minerals” in Rocks and Minerals for 12 years. I believe that column was the rst to regularly feature collecting minerals that fluoresce. How things have grown since 1961 when I launched my writing hobby!
What thrills me about those early writings, and my subsequent articles in Rock & Gem is when I hear from collectors who started uorescent mineral collecting because my writings let them know such treasures could be collected. Collecting uorescent minerals has become an active part of mineral collecting rather than a novelty like it was in the 1950s.
The Saturday night banquet at the Tucson Show has witnessed the presentation of many awards. It was there in 1999, that I was given the Carnegie Mineralogical Award, one of the most signi cant mineral awards to be given. Some of the leading lights of our hobby and science have been given that award including Dr John Sinkankas and D. Fred Pough.
Another form of recognition in mineralogy that is given is to have a mineral named for you. It came as a complete surprise when I had a call from Joe Grice of the Canadian Museum and he told me they were naming a new mineral, bobjonesite! The reasoning for having a mineral named for me is based on the earlier awarding of the Carnegie Mineralogical Award.
Bobjonesite is a rare mineral found so far in one location, the Shinarump Conglomerate of the Grand Canyon formations. It is a blue hydrous vanadium sulfate and not very stable. What makes it really rare is that it was found in a mine that was producing radioactive ores. e mine is now abandoned and inaccessible to visitors as the state decided to seal all radioactive mines.
My sons, Bill and Evan and I were able to go to the discovery source and nd the mineral in place, thanks to Pat Haynes, the original discoverer. We were able to go to the North Mesa #5 mine in Utah and collect small specimens of bobjonesite before the mine was sealed.