Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2009 22:46:24 GMT -5
Dennis and I went Zeolite specimen collecting today. The location is close to home which makes it a convenient trip. The collecting area covers only approx. 1/2 mile area and consists of Zeolite bearing Basalt. There are many minerals here including Thomsonite, Stilbite, Chabazite, Heulandite, and others. Essentially, these minerals have filled all of the volcanic voids in the basalt. Specimens range from micro to a few inches and though they are usually white, they also come in other pastel shades.
Lori dear, you were with us on this trip!!! I kept yelling across the trees to Wolf "Lori would be FREAKING if she were sitting here with all of this DRUZY!!!!!"
Its a wooded area where the Zeolites are:
Some of the basalt boulders that contain Zeolites are up to 25 feet tall:
The boulders are pretty dangerous so we just dig in the overburden that has been left behind from digs over the years. But there are even crystals sticking out all over the giant boulders:
This is what we were digging in:
Wolf behind the ferns lol:
His collecting spot:
And our little rock dog Dyna:
He is NOT looking at my butt. This kind of photo happens when you are running, trying to beat the camera timer LOL
Almost made it........
Ok, thats better
Ok.........here's the goodies we brought home. Keep in mind they are dirty still, just as they came out of the ground.
Three of my favorites that I found:
This little mineral strand is so delicate...its only a few mm long and less than a mm wide
This little guy matches the description for Heulandite balls. Pretty cool, the only ones Ive found like this:
Some others:
I know this was a lot of pics If you are still with me, thanks for looking! We had a fun day!!! ;D
Shannon
Lori dear, you were with us on this trip!!! I kept yelling across the trees to Wolf "Lori would be FREAKING if she were sitting here with all of this DRUZY!!!!!"
Its a wooded area where the Zeolites are:
Some of the basalt boulders that contain Zeolites are up to 25 feet tall:
The boulders are pretty dangerous so we just dig in the overburden that has been left behind from digs over the years. But there are even crystals sticking out all over the giant boulders:
This is what we were digging in:
Wolf behind the ferns lol:
His collecting spot:
And our little rock dog Dyna:
He is NOT looking at my butt. This kind of photo happens when you are running, trying to beat the camera timer LOL
Almost made it........
Ok, thats better
Ok.........here's the goodies we brought home. Keep in mind they are dirty still, just as they came out of the ground.
Three of my favorites that I found:
This little mineral strand is so delicate...its only a few mm long and less than a mm wide
This little guy matches the description for Heulandite balls. Pretty cool, the only ones Ive found like this:
Some others:
I know this was a lot of pics If you are still with me, thanks for looking! We had a fun day!!! ;D
Shannon