Not Quite Specimens - Rock Garden Rocks
Sept 5, 2014 18:47:22 GMT -5
Fossilman, quartz, and 2 more like this
Post by 150FromFundy on Sept 5, 2014 18:47:22 GMT -5
A recent post by transcendental showing local zeolites inspired me to go digging in the rock garden and pull a few out. The first thing I noticed in the original post was the similarity of the amygdaloidal basalt and zeolite filled vugs. But then again, I guess the host rock is all part of the same lava flow when North America ripped apart from Pangaea.
Much of the Bay of Fundy is lined with cliffs of basalt and in some locations the vugs are totally filled, or partially filled with zeolites and sometimes chalcedony. Halls Harbour has slightly larger vugs and a little more colour than nearby locations. The zeolites rarely occur as a pure specimen, but usually occur as multiples and require laboratory analysis for a positive ID. To further complicate things, there has been a little metamorphism along the contact zone which tends to alter things.
In general …
Analcime clear to white
Gmelinite rose pink
Heulandite red to salmon red
Stilbite orange to white is radiating fans
Apophyllite pale to apple green
Celadonite dark green crust or rind
Enjoy the pics.
Darryl.
Much of the Bay of Fundy is lined with cliffs of basalt and in some locations the vugs are totally filled, or partially filled with zeolites and sometimes chalcedony. Halls Harbour has slightly larger vugs and a little more colour than nearby locations. The zeolites rarely occur as a pure specimen, but usually occur as multiples and require laboratory analysis for a positive ID. To further complicate things, there has been a little metamorphism along the contact zone which tends to alter things.
In general …
Analcime clear to white
Gmelinite rose pink
Heulandite red to salmon red
Stilbite orange to white is radiating fans
Apophyllite pale to apple green
Celadonite dark green crust or rind
Enjoy the pics.
Darryl.
Field trip to Darryl's yard... 
