State Route 9 - Ellis Street and State Route 72 interchanges (State Route 72 roadcut), New Britain, Hartford County, Connecticut, USAi
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
State Route 9 - Ellis Street and State Route 72 interchanges (State Route 72 roadcut) | Road Cutting |
New Britain | City |
Hartford County | County |
Connecticut | State |
USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
41° 39' 20'' North , 72° 46' 12'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
Place | Population | Distance |
---|---|---|
New Britain | 72,808 (2017) | 1.0km |
Kensington | 8,459 (2017) | 2.2km |
Newington | 30,562 (2017) | 6.1km |
Plainville | 17,328 (2017) | 7.6km |
Farmington | 25,000 (2017) | 8.8km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Club | Location | Distance |
---|---|---|
Lapidary and Mineral Society of Central Connecticut | Meriden, Connecticut | 13km |
Bristol Gem & Mineral Club | Bristol, Connecticut | 15km |
New Haven Mineral Club | New Haven, Connecticut | 41km |
Mindat Locality ID:
5583
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:5583:6
GUID (UUID V4):
01e91844-e7f1-4a65-a39c-ad2872c896b9
The history of highway construction and designation in this area is confusing, and specimens can be labelled differently depending on when they were collected. Most collecting took place in 1974-5 when the state expressway section in New Britain, referred to then as Route 72, was being constructed and cut through numerous, heavily faulted low basalt ridges. As originally designated, the Route 72 expressway extended from state Route 15 (SE of New Britain), past the planned Interstate 291 interchange (which headed north), toward and past Interstate 84 (W side of New Britain). It was completed in 1979 and many early specimens labels refer to Route 72. In 1986, the planned Interstate 291 (north of Route 72) was completed, but it was redesignated as state Route 9 (most specimens labelled "Route 9, New Britain" come from this section) along with the existing section of state Route 72 south of their intersection connecting to Route 15. The Route 72 expressway section west of the interchange with former I-291 remained designated as state Route 72. But the stretch of Route 72 renamed Route 9 contains the bulk of the mineralized road cuts. Based on modern nomenclature, these are at the Route 9 and Ellis Street interchange area, and at the Route 9 and Route 72 interchange area, which cover about 1 mile of expressway. Though many old labels are not locality specific, the geology and mineralogy are essentially the same throughout most of New Britain, so the exact origin is somewhat academic.
Mineralization is hosted primarily by a myriad of NE-SW trending fault veins cutting basalt and sedimentary rocks and by gas cavities in the basalt. Gray (1982) provides a description of the Columbus Street vein that is relevant to the State Route 9 locality, although not all the same minerals are reported for both localities:
Basalt bordering the vein is silicified and bleached to a light gray color. This type of alteration is typical of the N45Β°W [actually N45Β°E according to Hubert et al. (1992)] faults in the New Britain area irrespective of the presence of the carbonate-quartz-barite veins.
Vein filling was accomplished initially by the deposition of quartz, calcite, and ferroan dolomite in open spaces along the active fault zone. Movement continued throughout this phase frequently brecciating previously deposited vein material. After faulting ceased barite which occurs in plumose crystal groups up to 20 cm long, filled the open space in the center of the vein and cemented the carbonate-quartz breccias. The ferroan dolomite of the carbonate zone is oxidized to a dark red-brown color at the boundary of the barite zone. Cavities between barite crystals are filled by small amounts of drusy quartz, ferroan dolomite, and aragonite.
Sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, and minor amounts of barite, chalcocite, covellite, and tennantite fill open spaces and replace carbonates within the quartz-carbonate zones. Sphalerite was the first sulfide deposited. Galena and chalcopyrite followed later.
Vitreous black carbonaceous spheres, 1 to 5 mm in diameter, occur throughout the vein but are most abundant along the boundary of the quartz-carbonate and barite zones. Presumably these spheres were droplets of oil suspended in the hydrothermal fluids which became accidentally trapped during the deposition of the vein minerals.
Vein filling was accomplished initially by the deposition of quartz, calcite, and ferroan dolomite in open spaces along the active fault zone. Movement continued throughout this phase frequently brecciating previously deposited vein material. After faulting ceased barite which occurs in plumose crystal groups up to 20 cm long, filled the open space in the center of the vein and cemented the carbonate-quartz breccias. The ferroan dolomite of the carbonate zone is oxidized to a dark red-brown color at the boundary of the barite zone. Cavities between barite crystals are filled by small amounts of drusy quartz, ferroan dolomite, and aragonite.
Sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, and minor amounts of barite, chalcocite, covellite, and tennantite fill open spaces and replace carbonates within the quartz-carbonate zones. Sphalerite was the first sulfide deposited. Galena and chalcopyrite followed later.
Vitreous black carbonaceous spheres, 1 to 5 mm in diameter, occur throughout the vein but are most abundant along the boundary of the quartz-carbonate and barite zones. Presumably these spheres were droplets of oil suspended in the hydrothermal fluids which became accidentally trapped during the deposition of the vein minerals.
Januzzi (1976) provides an early mineral list. Miller (circa 1986), Hubert et al. (1992) and Scovil (2008) provide additional descriptions. Hubert et al. (1992) give an age of 180 million years ago for the mineralization. The host rocks are about 206 million years old.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
β 'Amphibole Supergroup' Formula: AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
β 'Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite' Formula: AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
β Anglesite ? Formula: PbSO4 Description: unconfirmed, no details given by reference, not seen on many examined specimens |
βͺ Anhydrite Formula: CaSO4 Habit: Tabular, subparallel to radiating groups Colour: light blue to blue-gray Description: In basalt gas vesicles, the vast majority naturally dissolved away early in the paragenesis, but for some reason some crystals in this area survived. But many empty rectangular molds left within later encrusting minerals are also present. |
βͺ Aragonite Formula: CaCO3 Habit: flattened acicular prisms Colour: colorless to white Fluorescence: pale yellow-white under LW/MW/SW Description: Excellent acicular sprays of clear crystals in small cavities on very rusty/earthy goethite in the cores of fault veins, crystals usually micro to 1.5 cm or so. |
β Aurichalcite Formula: (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 Habit: crusts to extremely tiny crystal sprays Colour: blue-green Description: secondary crusts associated with metal sulfides in fault veins |
β Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 Habit: crusts and crude microcrystals Colour: dark blue Description: secondary alteration of chalcopyrite with malachite in fault veins |
βͺ Baryte Formula: BaSO4 Habit: tabular to slightly radiating clusters/aggregates Colour: white Description: Abundant as single tabular crystals to more typical slightly divergent, radiating crystal groups in fault veins. Some show etched surfaces. |
β Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 Habit: massive Colour: black with minor iridescence Description: As isolated masses or associated with other sulfides such as galena, sphalerite and chalcopyrite and secondary malachite. |
βͺ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Habit: rhombohedral, scalenohedral or hexagonal prisms with rhombic terminations Colour: white to pale yellow Fluorescence: pale pink to magenta best under MW Description: Usually formed late, on top of dolomite and quartz. Crystals from micros to a few cm. References: |
β Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 Habit: encrustations Colour: pale gray to yellow gray Description: earthy to crusty alteration of galena in fault veins |
β Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S Habit: Striated microcrystals Colour: Metallic blue Description: Most copper sulfide here is bornite, small flattened siderite rhombs are striated and may look like chalcocite. A few microcrystals found, however, on dolomite with malachite. |
β Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Habit: massive, rare crystals are complexly formed, striated and deformed Colour: brassy with iridescence Description: Common as iridescent masses usually with dolomite, quartz and barite in fault veins. Crystals very rare and usually distorted micros. |
β Copper Formula: Cu Habit: arborescent microcrystals |
β Covellite ? Formula: CuS Description: Bona-fide analyzed and labelled covellite from Connecticut is unknown though often claimed. |
β Cuprite Formula: Cu2O Colour: red Description: Secondary red crust/stains. |
β Datolite Formula: CaB(SiO4)(OH) Habit: Complex rather equant to granular. Colour: pale yellow-green Description: Drusy crystals lining gas vesicles in basalt. |
β Devilline ? Formula: CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O Description: Januzzi (1976) claims it was characterized but provides no details or citation. |
βͺ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 Habit: rhombohedral, some curved Colour: white, pink, tan, brown if iron-rich Description: Abundant as fault vein filling associated with barite, quartz, bitumen. Crystals usually drusy. |
β Galena Formula: PbS Habit: cubic to slightly cuboctahedral, interpenetration twins very rare. Colour: dark gray, some iridescent Description: Crystals can reach several cm in groups to over 15 cm commonly embedded in barite and/or dolomite and associated with other metal sulfides like sphalerite and bornite. |
β Goethite Formula: Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) Habit: massive, earthy to pseudomorphous after rhombic carbonates Colour: dark brown, brown to yellow-brown Description: Alteration of sulfides or carbonates in fault veins. References: |
β Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 Habit: Tabular to granular. Colour: Specular black to red. Description: Microcrystals on quartz or datolite in gas vesicles in basalt. |
β 'Heulandite Subgroup' Formula: (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O Description: Crystals to around 1 cm in gas vesicles in basalt. |
βͺ 'K Feldspar' Habit: "cauliflower-like" aggregates Colour: Peach to tan Description: Found in basalt cavities usually on top of datolite or prehnite indicating late crystallization. |
βͺ 'K Feldspar var. Adularia' Formula: KAlSi3O8 Habit: "cauliflower-like" aggregates Colour: Peach to tan Description: Found in basalt cavities usually on top of datolite or prehnite indicating late crystallization. |
β Laumontite Formula: CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O Description: Crystals in gas vesicles in basalt. |
β Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 Habit: Acicular microcrystals, crusts and coatings. Colour: Emerald green Description: Alteration of copper sulfides, mainly chalcopyrite. |
β Pectolite Formula: NaCa2Si3O8(OH) References: |
βͺ 'Petroleum var. Bitumen' Habit: amorphous Colour: jet black Description: Jet black, vitreous, shapeless with conchoidal fracture, usually found interstitially with highly etched quartz, or as globules with dolomite in the fault veins. |
β Prehnite Formula: Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 Habit: Botryoidal aggregates of tabular crystals. Colour: Pale green. Description: Botryoidal aggregates in basalt gas vesicles. References: |
βͺ Quartz Formula: SiO2 Habit: Short prismatic Herkimer-style crystals, as parallel growth aggregates, drusy, Cumberland habit Colour: colorless to white Description: Drusy crystals line voids in faulted altered basalt, generally isolated or clustered Herkimer-type crystals to a few cm found rooted on the druse or with barite and dolomite, etc., scattered in fault veins. Also as parallel-growth plates of short crystals in the veins, or as Cumberland habit crystal aggregates in gas vesicles in basalt. Also massive and highly etched when associated with bitumen in the veins. |
β Quartz var. Amethyst Formula: SiO2 Habit: short prismatic to prismless Colour: purple Description: In fault veins usually as plates of parallel crystals grading to colorless quartz. In gas vesicles in basalt. |
βͺ Siderite Formula: FeCO3 Habit: Flattened, striated rhombohedrons, rarely in saddle-shaped aggregates. Colour: Dark brown Description: Isolated of groups of microcrystals usually on drusy quartz and associated with baryte. |
β Sphalerite Formula: ZnS Habit: Massive Colour: dark brown to black Description: Cleavable masses associated with other metal sulfides, primarily galena. |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
β | Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
β | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
β | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
β | Covellite ? | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
β | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
β | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
β | Goethite | 4.00. | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
β | Cuprite | 4.AA.10 | Cu2O |
β | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
β | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
β | var. Amethyst | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
β | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
β | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
β | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
β | Aragonite | 5.AB.15 | CaCO3 |
β | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
β | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
β | Aurichalcite | 5.BA.15 | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
β | Anhydrite | 7.AD.30 | CaSO4 |
β | Anglesite ? | 7.AD.35 | PbSO4 |
β | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
β | Devilline ? | 7.DD.30 | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 Β· 3H2O |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
β | Datolite | 9.AJ.20 | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
β | Pectolite | 9.DG.05 | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
β | Prehnite | 9.DP.20 | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
β | Laumontite | 9.GB.10 | CaAl2Si4O12 Β· 4H2O |
Unclassified | |||
β | 'Petroleum var. Bitumen' | - | |
β | 'K Feldspar' | - | |
β | 'var. Adularia' | - | KAlSi3O8 |
β | 'Heulandite Subgroup' | - | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] Β· nH2O |
β | 'Amphibole Supergroup' | - | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
β | 'var. Byssolite' | - | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | β Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
H | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
H | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
H | β Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
H | β Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
H | β Goethite | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
H | β Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
H | β Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
H | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
H | β Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
H | β Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
H | β Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
B | Boron | |
B | β Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
C | Carbon | |
C | β Aragonite | CaCO3 |
C | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
C | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
C | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
C | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
C | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
C | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
O | β Quartz var. Amethyst | SiO2 |
O | β Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
O | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
O | β Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
O | β Aragonite | CaCO3 |
O | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
O | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
O | β Baryte | BaSO4 |
O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
O | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
O | β Cuprite | Cu2O |
O | β Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
O | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
O | β Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
O | β Goethite | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
O | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
O | β Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
O | β Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
O | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
O | β Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
O | β Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
O | β Quartz | SiO2 |
O | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
O | β Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
F | Fluorine | |
F | β Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
F | β Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
Na | Sodium | |
Na | β Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
Na | β Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
Al | β Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
Al | β Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
Al | β Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
Al | β Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
Al | β Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
Si | β Quartz var. Amethyst | SiO2 |
Si | β Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
Si | β Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
Si | β Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
Si | β Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
Si | β Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
Si | β Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
Si | β Quartz | SiO2 |
Si | β Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
S | Sulfur | |
S | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
S | β Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
S | β Baryte | BaSO4 |
S | β Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
S | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
S | β Chalcocite | Cu2S |
S | β Covellite | CuS |
S | β Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
S | β Galena | PbS |
S | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
Cl | Chlorine | |
Cl | β Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
Cl | β Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
K | Potassium | |
K | β K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
K | β Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | β Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
Ca | β Aragonite | CaCO3 |
Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
Ca | β Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
Ca | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Ca | β Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
Ca | β Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
Ca | β Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
Ca | β Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
Ca | β Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
Ti | Titanium | |
Ti | β Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
Ti | β Amphibole Supergroup var. Byssolite | AX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2 |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | β Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
Fe | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Fe | β Goethite | Ξ±-Fe3+O(OH) |
Fe | β Hematite | Fe2O3 |
Fe | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
Cu | Copper | |
Cu | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
Cu | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
Cu | β Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
Cu | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Cu | β Chalcocite | Cu2S |
Cu | β Covellite | CuS |
Cu | β Cuprite | Cu2O |
Cu | β Copper | Cu |
Cu | β Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
Cu | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
Zn | Zinc | |
Zn | β Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
Zn | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
Ba | Barium | |
Ba | β Baryte | BaSO4 |
Pb | Lead | |
Pb | β Anglesite | PbSO4 |
Pb | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
Pb | β Galena | PbS |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Ganderia DomainDomain
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