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Susie Leopold @blastylavagrrrl.bsky.social · 1d

When admiring geologic features in movies/tv, my hand reaches out to trace whatever is pinging my geologic brain.
Tonight we saw One Battle After Another. There's some gorgeous #geology near the end. And I reached. The rocks were STUNNING. I also liked the movie.
Location: CA Anza-Borrego State Park

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Scott Merms 🏞️ @shmermel.bsky.social · 6d

I guess since it won, here's the kyanite one college roommate got me which totally ruined the mediocre kyanite we saw in Spain ⚒️ #mincup25

A hunk of kyanite with intersecting crystals in the shape of an L and is deep blue where the crystals are planes. The longer side the crystals are in a slight V shape perpendicular to the camera and approximately 5 inches long. The short side is about 3 inches long and a deep blue and look flat in the photo

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Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 6d

Have minerals you want to see run in #MinCup26? The nomination form is open! www.mineralcup.org/nominations

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Ele Willoughby @minouette.bsky.social · 8d

This October I am going to use the #SpacetoberChallenge prompts on IG as inspiration for sharing both new work & space art from my portfolio. Starting with my #linocut portrait of Félicette for the prompt “launch”. 🧪🐡 #histsci

Félicette was a Parisian stray tuxedo cat who was recruited into the 🧵

My linocut portrait of Félicette, a Parisian stray tuxedo cat who was recruited into the French space program. It's printed by hand, in black ink on pearlescent Japanese paper, 6" x 8". She peers from the side of the image, facing the viewer with the electrode on her head, the Véronique rocket, paw print, her name and starry sky behind her.

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Ele Willoughby @minouette.bsky.social · 7d

Day 2 of #spacetober_challenge is planet(s), so I am sharing two mini #linocut prints of Mars (with Phobos and Deimos) and Mercury, along with my stylized minimalist ‘Transit of Venus’ print, showing Venus eclipsing the Sun. 🧪🔭

#sciart #printmaking #spaceArt

minouette.etsy.com/listing/1313...

This is a mini print of Mars! This hand-carved, hand-printed linocut is just 5” x 8” (12.7 cm x 20.3 cm) and shows Mars, in orange and brown against a black background, with the word and symbol for Mars. Its tiny, lumpy moons Phobos and Deimos are in black.

This linocut represents the transit of Venus. A gold semicircle (curve up, flat side horizontal) on white paper represents the solar disk and the series of smaller excised circles represent the path of Venus tracing a slanted line which would form a chord of the semicircle.

This is a mini print of Mercury! This hand-carved, hand-printed linocut is just 5” x 8” (12.7 cm x 20.3 cm) and shows Mercury, with craters in shades of grey against a black background, with the word and symbol for Mercury.

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Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 6d

Ready to learn about rivers?

AGU Hydrology H3S @agu-h3s.bsky.social · 7d

CATCHMENT CUP IS LIVE! Whose ready to learn about some new (and old) research catchments?!? First up: HEADWATER CATCHMENTS

VOTE HERE until 10/4: www.agu-h3s.org/rivercup

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Susie Leopold @blastylavagrrrl.bsky.social · 6d

Looking to fill that post- #MinCup need to learn facts about this orb we ride through space?
October is Spooky Lake month, 31 days of haunted hydrology!
Daily videos on Instagram: www.instagram.com/reel/DPPa1Un... and TikTok: www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8A8YmR2/

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Alexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · 7d

Only 2+ hours left to vote for tugtupite for CHAMPION of #MinCup25! It changes colors! It fluoresces! This is the mineral you want, people!! 🧪

www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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Susie Leopold @blastylavagrrrl.bsky.social · 13d

#Tugtupite is...
#Tenebrescent -It darkens when exposed to UV.
#Fluorescent -It fluoresces under long-, mid-, or shortwave UV.
#Phosphorescent -It GLOWS IN THE DARK!!!!

www.flickr.com/photos/28617...
www.flickr.com/photos/28617...
www.flickr.com/photos/28617...

#MinCup25

Two photos of the same rock.
The top photo shows a dirty white and pink stone. The pink is a soft baby pink.
The lower photo is the same rock after it has been exposed to UV light. The light pink areas are noticeably darker.
This darkening of the mineral after UV exposure is called tenebrescence.

Two photos of the same rock.
The top photo shows what happens when the rock is exposed to shortwave ultraviolet light: An extremely bright neon pink emerges where the mineral tugtupite is found.
The lower photo has the formerly pink tugtupite a hot yellow/orange shade under longwave ultraviolet light.
This changing of the mineral's color upon different lengths of UV exposure is called fluorescence.

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🌌Éskʷətayit @joxter.bgay.cat · 19d

Once again, I'm sticking with team Indigenous & voting #tugtupite, which is named for a Kalaallisut word.

The quintuple threat of tenebrescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, pleochroism, & piezoelectrism wins it major points, too.

These polished specimens are also very charming! (w/ alt text.)

A polished tugtupite cabochon. It is mostly a fairly opaque white with pink, and brown inclusions that look like flowers suspended in soap or resin.

Image sourced from old etsy listing.

A polished tugtupite cabochon. It is mostly a fairly dark grey, with large pink splotches that look like flowers and a few flecks of opaque white, making it look like flowers suspended in resin.

Image sourced from old ebay listing.

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Tom Nichols is very stupid @corgiseveryhour.bsky.social · Sep 8

Tugtupite is a beryllium aluminium tectosilicate. It also contains sodium and chlorine.
It occurs in high alkali intrusive igneous rocks.Tugtupite is tenebrescent, sharing much of its crystal structure with sodalite, and shared flourescent properties as well. The pictures sell ot for me.

A shock of bright pink travels across the face of this rectangle specimen with green and sand colored edges along the bottom looks like a piece of rock candy with the electric pink color.

A much more subdued pink crystal mohawk on top of this specimin of tugtupite

Looking like an aged peice of beef, the bright pink makes a return to our specimin in yjr center of frame, and it is surrounded by paler pink with flecks of grey and black on the edges

Under blacklight the mineral glows bright red (the pink portions on the previous specimins) and electric green (the grey white portions of previous specimins)

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Owen Missen @scimissionowen.bsky.social · 13d

pug-putite ftw

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Elysia Macht @elysiamacht.bsky.social · 12d

Pie-zo-pizza rock #Tugtupite is the fave mineral of #pugs, Ninja Turtles & #DeanWinchester, so we make all sad if we don't vote for the beryllium aluminium tectosilicate #gemstone

More info in ALT! Photos behind link
www.minershop.com/products/tug...

www.elesyngaea.com/listing/1055...

#MinCup25

A pizza slice shaped rock on a palm, parts glowing in UV light. Quoting Elesyn Gaea site:

"This FANTASY ROCK contains the super rare TUGTUPITE, sodalite, chkalovite, analcime, a few spots of uranyl ion, and arfvedsonite. This is a very complex and beautiful medium size piece. Tenebrescent.

Fantasy Rocks are one of the most sought after fluorescent minerals in the world due to the beautiful and complex combination of colors when exposed to UV lighting. Tugtupite is one of the most sought after gemstones because of its rarity, exclusivity, color, and its tenebrescence; and when it is mixed with other beautiful fluorescent minerals from Greenland, it creates a galaxy-looking combination known as "Fantasy Rock" (term coined by Mark Cole from the wonderful website called "Natures Rainbows"). Fantasy Rocks is a term that only refers to the fluorescent mineral combinations (of at least 3-4 or more glowing color combinations) that only come from the Ilimaussaq Complex in Greenland."

Tugtupite under midwave light, looking lilac-y violet purple with bluer areas.

From the Minershop. com site with many more amazing tugtupite photos. The light effects are fantastic. Smithsonian says:

A variety of fascinating optical properties, including tenebrescence, fluorescence, and phosphorescence. Tenebrescence is the ability of minerals to change or darken in color when exposed to light. Tugtupite is strongly tenebrescent with colors changing from white or light pink, to vivid red and even purple-red. The color changes quickly, within minutes, when exposed to sunlight or short-wave ultraviolet light. Absence of daylight during the long arctic winter causes tugtupite to naturally lose its color over weeks to months, returning to white or very light pink. This color-change is reversible, as tugtupite will again regain its red color when re-exposed to sunlight. Tugtupite is also strongly fluorescent in both shortwave (SWUV) and long-wave (LWUV) ultraviolet light. Under SWUV light, it glows strongly orange to orangey-red; whereas under LWUV light, it glows weakly salmon-pink. It is sometimes referred to as the “King of Fluorescent Minerals.” Tugtupite is also phosphorescent, with the color fading from a light to dark-green after a few minutes once an UV light source has been extinguished.

A round, cut tugtupite gemstone from the Smithsonian national museum. Info from there continues:

Tugtupite was first discovered in 1957, at Tugtup agtakôrfia, Greenland, a few kilometers to the east of the town of Narssaq, by Professor Henning Sørensen. The name tugtupite is derived from the locality where the mineral was first found. Tugtupite is also referred to as Tuktu, a named derived from the Greenlandic Inuit word for reindeer (tuttu) and means “reindeer blood.” Tugtupite is a rare silicate, closely related to sodalite. The red variety of the mineral tugtupite has been used as a gemstone since 1965. It is typically massive in nature, however, small prismatic crystals that are transparent have been found growing on cavity walls in massive tugtupite.

"EAT PIE, KILL DEMONS" for our pie-zo-electric vote of choice.

A very handsome actor, Jensen Ackles, as Dean Winchester wearing a suit + bow tie on the left, standing next to a neon sign that has a pie slice at the top over "EAT PIE" text in blue like it, above "KILL DEMONS" in red. Dean's white shirt colours reindeer blood on the snow from the neon lights, in honour of supernatural tugtupite. Be like Dean, vote for blood.

It's originally a post from someone thanking everyone celebrating 300 episodes, saying "It's like the Dean Winchester bat signal, but neon". Dean Winchester will come after you if you don't vote for his favourite rock, tugtupite.

It's #Supernatural endorsed blood rock voting time! Also me thanking for anyone voting for it through this.

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Susie Leopold @blastylavagrrrl.bsky.social · 12d

Rarer than the pink beauty, is the soft baby blue #tugtupite.
Prismatic gemmy pink tugtupite crystals are also an extremely rare find.

Vote #tugtupite
www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r3...

Images from: uvminerals.org/glownotes/mi...

#MinCup25

Baby blue tugtupite in white, colorless and black matrix.

Soft pink prismatic tugtupite. The crystals are transparent to translucent and uniformly colored.

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Erin Braaains!-John 🧟 @eebeejay.bsky.social · 7d

Go for blood. Vote #Tugtupite! #MinCup25

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 8d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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Liz O'Connor⁷ @drmicrochem.bsky.social · 7d

4h left!
It's time for an army to rescue #Tugtupite in #MinCup2025
#BTSARMY vote #Tugtupite 💜
It's as close to being ARMY rock can be—as pink as Jimin's mochi cheeks & naturally brings the fire & sets the night alight when exposed to UV.
1 vote. No ballot stuffing pls
Hurry! 빨리!
#Borahae #보라해 #감사합니다

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 8d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 7d

Twiddling your thumbs after already voting in #MinCup25?

Why don’t you take our annual Players Survey and help us improve for next year! www.mineralcup.org/2025/players...

Annual Mineral Cup Players Survey — Mineral Cup

www.mineralcup.org

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MB Brown @mbbrownsf.bsky.social · 7d

I am Team #Tugtupite and I voted last evening! Vote once, convince others to vote (also once each) and have fun!
#MinCup25

Liz O'Connor⁷ @drmicrochem.bsky.social · 7d

4h left!
It's time for an army to rescue #Tugtupite in #MinCup2025
#BTSARMY vote #Tugtupite 💜
It's as close to being ARMY rock can be—as pink as Jimin's mochi cheeks & naturally brings the fire & sets the night alight when exposed to UV.
1 vote. No ballot stuffing pls
Hurry! 빨리!
#Borahae #보라해 #감사합니다

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 8d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

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Jillian @nogoodwyfe.bsky.social · 8d

Damn I really thought I was all in on kyanite but I am enchanted by the idea of tugtupite fading each arctic winter

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N. M. (they/she)⚒️ 🇩🇪 🇳🇱 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇪🇺🏳️‍⚧️🌈 @yirara-bah.bsky.social · 8d

I like #Kyanite but I have to vote for the underdog #tugtupite because of all it's properties and because I visited Greenland this year.
(photo not #tugtupite but just #NiceGneiss)

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Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️ @obialik.bsky.social · 8d

Last round of #MinCup25: Tugtupite vs. Kyanite.
I don't care who wins, but we have to make sure the triclinic mineral loses. ⚒️

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 8d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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Craig Johnson @bowtiediene.bsky.social · 8d

I made my decision. Kyanite is a cool mineral & I'll always think fondly of my first #MinCup25 when I see it. BUT, I want to support an under represented up and comer, the one who brings energy, and could bring about lasting, positive change. Wait...am I still talking about #MinCup25? Go TUGTUPITE!

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Ele Willoughby @minouette.bsky.social · 8d

While blue kyanite is used in jewelry, porcelain & pottery glazes, plus gets physics points as an index mineral, it’s the extraordinary ‘reindeer blood’ tenebrescent, & phosphorescent tugtupite “King of Fluorescent Minerals” which is also a gem, gaining both art and physics points for me. #MinCup25

Kyanite is a naturally occurring aluminum silicate mineral that typically forms as bladed crystals, and occasionally it occurs as radiating masses of crystals. The name kyanite is derived from the Greek word kyanos which means “blue.” Gem quality kyanite has a royal blue color similar to fine sapphire. This material is highly prized by those who cut gemstones. Kyanite can be cut en cabochon, faceted, or fashioned into beads, however its variability in hardness and color zoning can make it difficult to fashion and facet. Transparent intense blue kyanite is beautiful and is considered to be an exotic gemstone because it is not often seen in jewelry. Kyanite is predominately found in shades of blue and green, but it can also be yellow, white and orange. This 5.87ct gem is an intense deep blue color and the largest and finest kyanite from Nepal in the National Gem Collection. Smithsonian Museum"

The Smithsonian acquired two “ulu” silver pendants with tugtupite cabochons (ulu is an all-purpose knife traditionally used by Inuit, Yupik, and Aleut women), designed and created by Mike Møller. These are the first tugtupite gems acquired for the National Gem Collection. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/object/nmnhmineralsciences_14272125?geogallery=Tugtupite&node=14624I’m

Tugtupite 6.00 ct Oval Cut 15.10 x 9.50 x 6.50 mm The same oval cabuchon is shown under regular light as white and blood red and under UV as scarlet and burgundy, against a black background. Via https://gemologicalcollections.com/product/tugtupite-6-00-ct-oval-cut-15-10-x-9-50-x-6-50-mm-greenland-w399/

Gorgeous cut blood red tugpite gem from Greenland in the Smithsonian mineral collection

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telescyote 🔭 @cosmicyote.bsky.social · 8d

It knocked out some of my favorites, but I've come around and think #tugtupite should win it all! #MinCup25

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 8d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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