Rare Fluorescent Mineral “Hokkaido Stone” Discovered in Japan’s Hokkaido Mountains

Recently, a mine in the Hokkaido mountains of Kakunodatecho and Aibetsucho was found to contain a brand-new, extremely uncommon mineral, according to an announcement made by the Sagami Central Chemical Research Institute of Japan, Tokai University, and Osaka University.

When this newly discovered mineral is subjected to ultraviolet light, it fluoresces brilliantly and brilliantly. It has been given the name “Hokkaido Stone” (ほっかいどうせき) and is formally recognized by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA).

While the majority of minerals on earth are inorganic, the recently discovered Hokkaido Stone falls under the category of “organic minerals,” which were created after ancient biological deposits. It is a very unusual instance as a result of this. The primary constituent of Hokkaido Stone has been determined by scientists at the Sagami Central Chemical Research Institute to be a chemical known as “benzopyrene.” The stone does, however, contain very small amounts of petroleum and other ingredients. A long period of high pressure and high temperature from volcanic geothermal activity acting on subsurface plants is thought to have played a role in its development. It might be investigated in the future to learn more about how petroleum is formed.

The Hokkaido Stone’s pale yellow color in natural light, which changes into a stunning fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light, is its most distinguishing attribute. An amateur mineral researcher first identified this unusual mineral in a closed mine in Hokkaido in January of last year. Researchers’ examinations revealed that the mineral is mostly found in two places in Hokkaido, though the precise sites have been kept secret to avoid unauthorized collecting. A few mineral specimens will be shown to the public in Hokkaido’s regional museums.

Furthermore, upon the news of Hokkaido Stone’s fluorescent properties, numerous Japanese netizens immediately drew parallels to the “levitation stone” from the famous Japanese animated film “Castle in the Sky.” Even Studio Ghibli, the production studio behind “Castle in the Sky,” shared the related news on their official Twitter account, accompanied by a picture of the character Dola, who resides in an abandoned mine, expressing their amazement.