massive crystals found in warwick new york

Could be actinolite, more probably tremolite. I've seen such crystal sprays before, with fluorescence as you describe.

Hi Glenn,

I can't really tell from the pictures what you have there. I have never collected a piece of fluorescent Actinolite. I have Tremolite that fluoresces a cream/white color but what you have there is-to my eye, not Tremolite.

Here is a handy chart, a little outdated for you to check out.

[franklin-sterlinghill.com]

I see Earl and I posted at the same time. I'll defer to Earl.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2010 03:16PM by David Bernstein.

Glenn,
That looks like the same sample I have, just with a more greener color - I am even more convinced now that its Tremolite. The iron-presence of Actinolite usually prevents it from exhibiting fluorescence, whereas Tremolite is known to strongly fluoresce a white or cream color. Further, there are documented occurrences of Tremolite from Amity, as opposed to Actinolite.

Here is a picture of radiating Tremolite from Canaan, Connecticut from John Betts (www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com).


- Hershel



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2010 03:24PM by Herschel Friedman.

The yellow is so bright that it looks painted on, The backround which is a grey blue fluoresces for about five seconds after the sw light turns off.

Thanks everyone for your help with the Tremolite.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 01:56AM by Glenn Rhein.

The New york State Museum gang checking out the boulders. They were all very knowledgable and gave me some great advice. Thanks To all.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 01:56AM by Glenn Rhein.

I see heavy earth moving equipment in the background of the last photo. You planning on digging a big hole?


Byron

"The background which is a grey blue fluoresces for about five seconds after the sw light turns off."

The phenomenon of a delayed decay of emission after the light source has been switched off is called phosphorescence.

Glenn, I suspect that your phosphorescent mineral is the calcite matrix. The tremolite and norbergite are not known to phosphoresce from this region. What color is the phosphorescence?
Glad you had a good interaction with the NYSM folks.
Steve.

Actinolite is just an Fe rich tremolite. It is a fluorescent rule of thumb that Fe kills fluorescence, so your obvious looking actinolite is tremolite!!! None of these amphiboles can be definitively labelled without chemical or crystallographic analysis, but the good guesses supported by a little evidence (fluorescence in this case) are often right.

I've looked at the pictures again. I have never seen such vivid green Tremolite from this area-this being the Franklin marble belt. What I have seen is Diopside that has the fluorescent response described by Glenn.

I have plenty of self collected Tremolite in the style depicted in Herschel's post, particularly from the Franklin Quarry but none of it displays the green color depicted in Glenn's photo. Some of it has a strong UV response, some of it has no response at all.

If anyone has similar material from Amity or the surrounding area displaying cream/white fluorescence, I'd love to see it uploaded.

It could be diopside, the pyroboles are nasty. Xl cross sections and cleavage can separate them.

The first two pictures are being tested the Museum guys they are not quite sure what it is, maybe fluoredenite.
The third picture is the granite in my yard it has this wonderful hot pink color fluorescence.
Being in the construction business has its perks when you need to dig and lift heavy boulders, my equipment is right here.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 01:57AM by Glenn Rhein.

Graphite butterfly,



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 01:59AM by Glenn Rhein.

I am just astounded at what your finding there. You are soooooo lucky.


Byron

Byron Thomas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am just astounded at what your finding there.
> You are soooooo lucky.
>
>
> Byron


Yes, that is mind-boggling indeed. As a matter of fact I am pretty envious - OTOH, I wouldn't want to know what my wife would say if I treated her garden like that 8-)

Harry

On Joe's recomendation I collected about a dozen more of those radiating tremolites, Here are a couple more and some graphite on marble.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2011 01:59AM by Glenn Rhein.

That last photo (no. 014) is a fine example of smeared-out graphite on a slickenside (a minor fault surface). I measured hundreds of such faults underground at Sterling Hill some years back. When one side of a fault moves relative the other side, any graphite flake intersected by the fault surface becomes smeared into an elongate streak that reveals the direction of slip. If you use a hand lens you can sometimes trace a given streak back to the parent graphite flake from which it originated. With greater amounts of slip the streaks coalesce into a continuous film, but your photograph shows an early stage in that process.

I think this topic deserves "Thread of the Year" award - I have learned so much from reading the posts and I am just a wee bit jealous! Imagine! Owning a chunk of property that has this quantity of new material AND the heavy duty machinery with which to extract it!

Keep those photos coming, Glenn!

Maggie

I second that motion, Maggie!! What a wonderful thread and I am also a wee bet jealous. Good fortune to you Glenn.

Linda Smith
Rock Mama and Boogie Boarding Grandma

Or maybe, "made you so green with envy people call you kermit" thread.