Yooperlites

Wait until you see them, you won’t believe they exist on earth

I’m Getting a Yooperlite!

My birthday card from my mom arrived in the mail. Even as an adult, I still expected birthday money to fall out. That is what I am used to.

I’ve told my mom she doesn’t have to send me money, but she still does. So, I was surprised when nothing fell out of the card this time. (A thing about moms — they seem to revert to their teenage behaviors as they age, they don’t listen and are sometimes defiant.)

Then, as I read the note— a great surprise! There would be a package arriving soon with my very own Yooperlite! (Moms are the best!)

WHOOHOOO! Best birthday EVER! I was so excited, waiting for the package. (A thing about grown kids — their child-like wonder, awe, and excitement sometimes shows up again.)

Yooperlites, not your ordinary rock

I have to admit, I probably like rocks more than most people. But, a Yooperlite is no ordinary rock. I will explain.

Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes. It is actually the largest freshwater lake in the world in terms of surface area. The cover photo shows Lake Superior spilling out some of its treasures. There are many interesting rocks found in the area such as pudding stones and agates.

In my opinion, the Yooperlites are the most impressive of all.

What is all the hype about?

Yooperlites don’t look so awe-inspiring at first glance. But, there is some magic involved. (Ok, maybe it is just science if you have outgrown your child-like wonder and awe.)

They can be left natural or polished.

And, when exposed to UV blacklight, they turn into what my imagination thinks Elon Musk and his friends will experience when they embark on their space journey. (Most kids dreamed of being an astronaut at least one time in their lives — childlike wonder and awe, alive again.)

As you can see, Yooperlites are quite exciting. The collection I photographed does not belong to me. I am still patiently waiting for mine. (I am going to call my mom again today and ask, when is it going to get here?)

The Mystery, Magic, and Science

Hunting for a Yooperlite is a nighttime excursion along the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior with UV blacklight in hand. They can't be easily distinguished from other rocks in the daylight.

Yooperlites contain a unique mineral, fluorescent sodalite. This is what gives them their magical glowing properties. They are thought to have been delivered to the shorelines of Lake Superior by the continental glaciation that formed the Great Lakes. They were documented in Greenland in 1811 and more nearby in Ontario, Canada eighty years later.

I wonder how they were discovered at that time? LED Blacklights? And, have they been “discovered” at this Lake Superior site in the past, and just not reported?

Discovery

The name Yooper is in reference to the nickname of people that live in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan — the Yoopers. Lake Superior spans the northern shoreline of the Upper Penninsula.

I wondered how a person gets to “discover” something that had been discovered before. It turns out, this was the first documented sodalite discovery in Michigan. This is how the new founder was able to choose this name and brand it.

How mind-blowing to think about making a discovery like this today when so much has already been discovered. What level of awe must that bring?

I would like to make the trek sometime, to view Yooperlites in their natural habitat. I have to decide if I will research and discover my own hunting grounds or join a tour. This brings one more question.

The collection I photographed was independently collected, but I am now questioning my “ownership” before my even package arrives. I wonder about the implications of having a collection. I don’t love the idea of “owning” something that is of limited supply from nature. I will not collect any more. I will just enjoy them and leave them for others to enjoy too.

Final Thoughts

This was only a super simple explanation of the science behind a super exciting rock. If you wish to know more, here is an interesting read about Yooperlites. And, you can find a collection of interesting facts, videos, and tour information here. (This is not an affiliate link.)

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone finds moments to rediscover their child-like awe and wonder!

Before you go, here is another awe-inspiring glow-in-the-dark phenomenon that I encountered earlier this year — luciferin is the key ingredient here:

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