massive crystals found in warwick new york

Hi Glenn,

This is Steve Chamberlain, coordinator of the Center for Mineralogy at the New York State Museum. I would guess that the scapolite is probably meionite and the pyroxene is probably diopside, although chemical analysis is required to confirm this, e.g. analytical SEM analysis. Orange County was famous in the very early 1800s for producing these sort of metamorphic minerals in large crystals. A few decades later, St. Lawrence County became another source of similar material, along with adjacent areas in Ontario and Quebec.

I would hope that several of the best pieces might find their way into the collection of the NYSM. I've forwarded the url for your post to Mike Hawkins, the collections manager at the NYSM. We can also help you with definitive identification of the species, i.e. which scapolite and which pyroxene.

I imagine Mike Hawkins will be in contact in the near future.

Cheers,
Steve

Steve,

I spoke with Marian Lupulescu on the phone about a week ago and told him about the find and the mindat thread; did you speak with him?

Best,

Joe

A somewhat-related note:

There is a scapolite cluster on ebay (View Here) from Canada, that is also picture here on mindat: Found Here





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2010 10:04PM by Scott Galbraith.

Scott,

How is your post even remotely on topic?

Well, indirectly it was an exercise in valuation of a scapolite cluster, but it came out like a meander. I will try to tone it down. I definitely don't want to distract Glenn from the more pertinent posts today.

Joe,

We've connected the dots... Mike Hawkins is going down next week to see the specimens. Hurrah!

Thanks!

Steve

Now that is great news!

being a collector of New York state specimens this find has my heart all a pitter-patter >:D<
but seriously though there are so many interesting places to collect in this state if we could access them all freely two thirds of the state would be dug up :D okay maybe not. Hey Glenn your find makes me jealous.

Anyone have any ideas on what the green fluorescence is on this picture. It is on the side of the sphene (titanite) sample. I pictured the sample in a previous post.

Very nice specimens. A museum would be a great place for them. Even if they are not in the collection on the floor you could probably be granted some behind the scenes tours as your specimen will have your name details and information. I have some specimens in the ROM in toronto. I have contacts there that offered to let me behind the scenes if i just contact them. Pretty neat having something in a well respected museum whether or not its in displays or not.

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A buena hambre no hay pan duro

Hi, Glenn,

Why don't you try going to this link; it contains a color chart that shows the possible fluorescence of particular minerals.

Best,

Joe

[www.vaughns-1-pagers.com]

Glenn,

An afterthought, I suggest you ask the New York State Museum folks to bring down a Gieger Counter; bright fluorescence could possibly indicate uranium type minerals.

Joe

Re the green fluorescent photo you posted: This would be kind of a long stretch, but Willemite from the same Franklin Marble Belt that the specimens you found are coming from fluoresces that same color green. However, Willemite is exclusive the zinc deposits of Franklin and Ogdensburg, so even though you are still within the marble belt, this is a long stretch. But if it is indeed Willemite that would be quite an outstanding find!
- Hershel

Here are some pictures of todays great finds.
they are different the the others i've been finding. host granite is more yellow and black instead of white and black.
crystals are very black and are of different shape
One of my most favorite groups so far

Thanks everyone for all the advice and help
Glenn



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:05AM by Glenn Rhein.

Glenn
Could they be Augite's ?
Wayne

Three more large examples, second picture has a 7 inch feldspar on the bottom other crystals up to 3 inch diameters.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:05AM by Glenn Rhein.

Looks very much like Diopside. Very similar to those from the Hogencamp Mine near Tuxedo.

I love the third pictured in the last round and the first pictured in the previous rounds. Those are some amazing crystals. Thanks for the photos!

The longer thin crystals are finger size.
golf ball size scapolites in the second picture



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:06AM by Glenn Rhein.

Today we walk along the rock walls, we've done it many times before but today we actually look at the walls. we found some great pieces. The crystals were actully concentrated in certain parts of the wall.
I guess they found crystals when plowing or clearing the fields but were not interested in collecting them, had no need for them and just put them into the wall. It gives me an idea for new collecting areas. Where I find crystals in the wall I will look perpandicular in the woods or field to that point. Figuring that they would carry the rocks the shortest distance to the wall. This theory gives me three more new sites for digging.
These are some of the pieces we found on the wall.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 02:07AM by Glenn Rhein.