>It seems that different UV nm wavelengths work differently.  Will a long
>wave UV 375 nm - 405nm work better, or a shortwave UV 254nm?  I certainly
>liked John Wolf's approach that just to show the dealers the UV put them on
>notice that you were alert to fakes, or doctoring.

I have tried both LW and SW UV. It doesn't seem to make any
difference to Recent or fossil shells' fluorescence; it will be the
shell pigments fluorescing, not the minerals. I don't know whether it
will make any difference when used on glues, fillers etc used by the
fakers, but certainly at least some glues should fluoresce under both
SW & LW.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
‚ Opinions stated are mine, not of the University of Otago
"There is water at the bottom of the ocean"  - Talking Heads

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