Projection Stones!

Did you know about Fiber Optic Tapers?? I didn't, until "Al Gore" (also known as the algorithm) threw this short at me in my daily feed a bit ago, along with a demo of a fiber optic taper. I'd never heard of such a thing before.

They're neat, but costly. Luckily, I found something even better for my purpose. The Ulexite* is a naturally occurring mineral that is essentially a fiber optic taper made by the Earth. "... a truly uncommon ceramic mineral in that it contains almost no alumina or silica; it is nothing but fluxing oxides. This mineral forms in unusual geologic circumstances and can be found in very few places in the world." 

Color me intrigued! I love all distorting optics, translucents that give a dreamy effect for capturing and viewing Halfland. I thought I ought to check some out...

Larger slab of (can't confirm its authenticity) Ulexite mineral with white inclusions
used to view a tiny Halfland fly puppet, about the size of your little fingernail.

In the same setup, the same fly without the stone viewer. I really love the way
the stone gives the puppet a greater reality under its unique effect.

Here, a less snowy, smaller slab is tested out. (also see the video clip below)

It's challenging to determine if the slabs of Ulexite I purchased on Etsy are authentic or another similar mineral look-alike, such as gypsum varieties like satin spar, or other borate minerals. To my untrained non-mineralogist eyes, it was indistinguishable. 

(There are two specific clues to whether this sort of slab is Ulexite or not. One is the viewing angle. Ulexite lifts the image to the surface in a way that remains visible from as much as 6 degrees off center. I'm unsure if what I'm viewing is 6 degrees or not, but the effect appears to disappear if I'm not directly above the object. Another test is whether there are concentric circles of light visible when a light is shone through the stone. I tried various lights but couldn't see any concentric circles appear. There are other clues, such as inclusions and fissures, but those also occur in different minerals. So I don't know what I have.)

It's strange, because if the slabs I have are not Ulexite, they certainly give a similar effect to what I was expecting. I looked for a long while for other sources for pieces of Ulexcite. Maddeningly, one of the world's most significant sources for it is located less than 150 miles from where I live in California, but it might as well be on another planet.

So I won't continue to look for any more pieces to experiment with. I may find a way to use the precious bits I have for a particular shot here or there. Or as a viewer in front of a small screen running the finished scene. (Or both at once, filming a clip playback through the stone within a scene capture.)

I love the effect and that it's a naturally occurring mineral. It's like snatching the digital-ness out of Halfland and giving it right back to the magic of nature. Take a look...

Clip of my Ulexcite slab in action over a tiny 1/2L fly puppet in the sun. Interesting effect.

AI sez:: * Ulexite is a mineral, sometimes referred to as "television rock" or "TV rock," known for its unique optical properties. When a polished piece of ulexite is placed on a printed page, the text on the page can be seen on the surface of the stone, resembling a television screen. This effect is due to the mineral's fibrous structure, which acts like a fiber optic cable, transmitting light and images. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Fiber Optic Properties: Ulexite's natural fiber structure allows it to transmit light and images through its surface. 
• TV Rock Nickname: Due to this ability to project images, ulexite is nicknamed "TV rock". 
Composition: Ulexite is a sodium-calcium borate mineral. 
Find Locations: It's often found in evaporite deposits and can be found in places like Boron, California.