What Is A Yooperlite? The Mysterious Glowing Rocks

What is a Yooperlite?

Before we go any further, it’s worth noting that a ‘Yooperlite’ is actually a trademarked brand of what is officially known as a “syenite rock rich with fluorescent sodalite”. But if you’re unsure of what exactly it is we’re talking about here, a ‘Yooperlite’, in short, is a special kind of fluorescent rock that you can find predominantly along the shores of Lake Superior that, as the trademarked name suggests, can glow when subjected to specific lighting conditions. This fascinating discovery is owed to Michigan man Erik Rintamaki, who also holds the aforementioned trademark, that resulted from a seemingly innocent shoreline stroll late one evening. He credits the discovery to curiosity sparked from simple conversations around what the Lake Superior shoreline might look like when subjected to ultraviolet light. The idea came about after Erik was told how UV lighting can interact with certain minerals. Years later, Erik stumbled across an affordable hand-held UV light online and immediately purchased one “one a whim” (Yooperlites.com).

Strolling onto the shoreline at 4 am one fateful morning back in June of 2017, using his new UV light, Erik would make his initial discovery after finding two small Yooperlites, each “about the size of a dime”. When shone on with a UV light, to his surprise, these small stones emitted what is now a distinguishable teal-yellowish luminescent glow. The discovery would garnish a staggering amount of national media attention and has since inspired Erik to pursue a mentorship role within his community. Offering yearly Yooperlite tours & expeditions, Erik will accompany and educate rockhounds & rock collecting enthusiasts on a long walk along the Lake Superior shoreline in search of these incredibly unique rocks. You can also purchase Yooperlites directly from the official Yooperlite online store, however, there is a considerable effort to encourage discovering these sodalite-rich syenite rocks for yourself. The best spots to search for Yooperlites appear to be along the Keweenaw Peninsula and further east over by Whitefish Point, but with a chance to unearth Yooperlites on any night of the year, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to plan out this unique adventure. We’d recommend checking out the official Yooperlite & Pure Michigan websites for some of the best tips on how to best seek out Yooperlites for yourself.