Partridge Island, Parrsboro, NS - A Walk back in Time
Apr 22, 2014 20:28:07 GMT -5
montanamuskrat, quartz, and 4 more like this
Post by 150FromFundy on Apr 22, 2014 20:28:07 GMT -5
Given that the weekend was long, the weather was fair and the fact that I was dwelling on the Stilbite left behind, I had to go back for a second trip to Partridge Island to take care of business. Here are a few location photos taken along the way.
West Bay from Partridge Island
This formation is sedimentary rock from the Carboniferous period, 320 MYA. You can see the steeply inclined sedimentary layers have been up thrust by tectonic forces along the fault zone. Fossils include bivalves and horseshoe crabs.
Cape Sharp from Partridge Island
This point of land off in the distance is a big chunk of amygdaloidal basalt from the Jurassic period, 200 MYA. This will be a future post when I get in better shape. The cliffs and beach access is a little tougher here.
Sea Stack
I take the same photo year after year. I’m still amazed that this tree hangs on to life year after year. The bedrock here is actually the ocean floor at high tide. This is one of those dreaded cut off points that if you are on the wrong side of this headland when the tide comes back in, you are in trouble.
Basalt Rubble and Fresh Rock Falls
The freeze/thaw cycles work wonders on the cliffs to bring down fresh material each Spring. Rock hounding here is a little more like Easter egg hunting, or finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Millions of rocks to rummage through, but after a few hours of hunting you should have a bucket full. Best of all, we don’t have to contend with rattlers and scorpions in our rock piles.
Chalcedony/Agate/Jasper Veins
As you approach a rich location, you will see tell tale signs along the way. Many of the fractures in the amygdaloidal basalt tend to contain Chalcedony, Agate and Jasper or some combination of them.
Zeolite Crusts
Another tell tale sign you are getting close is the appearance of zeolite crusts along fracture seams. The green is likely Celadonite. The pink is likely Heulandite.
Amygdaloidal Basalt
The basalt formed in pillow lavas and in basalt columns along these cliffs. You can see small vugs with a splash of colour where they have filled in with various zeolite minerals.
Zeolite Filled Vug
When the vugs start getting larger and the zeolite minerals become a little more developed, it time to start hunting. This vug shows Chabazite (orange/red), Gmelinite (white) and Calcite (translucent).
Darryl.
West Bay from Partridge Island
This formation is sedimentary rock from the Carboniferous period, 320 MYA. You can see the steeply inclined sedimentary layers have been up thrust by tectonic forces along the fault zone. Fossils include bivalves and horseshoe crabs.
Cape Sharp from Partridge Island
This point of land off in the distance is a big chunk of amygdaloidal basalt from the Jurassic period, 200 MYA. This will be a future post when I get in better shape. The cliffs and beach access is a little tougher here.
Sea Stack
I take the same photo year after year. I’m still amazed that this tree hangs on to life year after year. The bedrock here is actually the ocean floor at high tide. This is one of those dreaded cut off points that if you are on the wrong side of this headland when the tide comes back in, you are in trouble.
Basalt Rubble and Fresh Rock Falls
The freeze/thaw cycles work wonders on the cliffs to bring down fresh material each Spring. Rock hounding here is a little more like Easter egg hunting, or finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Millions of rocks to rummage through, but after a few hours of hunting you should have a bucket full. Best of all, we don’t have to contend with rattlers and scorpions in our rock piles.
Chalcedony/Agate/Jasper Veins
As you approach a rich location, you will see tell tale signs along the way. Many of the fractures in the amygdaloidal basalt tend to contain Chalcedony, Agate and Jasper or some combination of them.
Zeolite Crusts
Another tell tale sign you are getting close is the appearance of zeolite crusts along fracture seams. The green is likely Celadonite. The pink is likely Heulandite.
Amygdaloidal Basalt
The basalt formed in pillow lavas and in basalt columns along these cliffs. You can see small vugs with a splash of colour where they have filled in with various zeolite minerals.
Zeolite Filled Vug
When the vugs start getting larger and the zeolite minerals become a little more developed, it time to start hunting. This vug shows Chabazite (orange/red), Gmelinite (white) and Calcite (translucent).
Darryl.
