Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic Time
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral Quiz
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Wasson Bluff, Two Islands, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, Canadai
Regional Level Types
Wasson BluffCliff (Active)
Two IslandsCommunity
Cumberland Co.County
Nova ScotiaProvince
CanadaCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
45° 23' 30'' North , 64° 14' 31'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
45.39167,-64.24222
GeoHash:
G#: f8464pk1x
GRN:
N31W33
Type:
Cliff (Active) - last checked 2022
KΓΆppen climate type:
Dfb : Warm-summer humid continental climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Parrsboro1,472 (2014)6.7km
Springhill3,940 (2008)32.4km
Wolfville3,523 (2008)35.6km
Hantsport1,253 (2008)36.6km
Kentville12,636 (2014)40.2km
Mindat Locality ID:
4526
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:4526:4
GUID (UUID V4):
3fb6d9fd-7e80-4a76-b290-04a059a78b88
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Swan's Creek; Wasson's Bluff


A shoreline exposure accessible at low tide. The rock alternates between red sandstone and gray to brown Triassic basalt. The sedimentary rocks are famous for containing dinosaur fossils from near the Triassic-Jurassic boundary (near the time of the extinction). The fossils are protected by law through the Special Places act.

Excellent minerals, particularly vibrantly coloured chabazite, have been known from here for 200 years. The orange and red chabazites are generally considered some of the finest examples of that mineral in the world.

Many specimens labelled as gmelinite from Wasson Bluff are instead modified and/or twinning chabazite. The westward end of the bluff, nearer to Swan Creek, produces chabazites that have bevelled edges and are sometimes twinned to the phacolite habit that closely resembles gmelinite.

In many cases, the mineralization formed long after the basalt cooled. Only after tectonic activity fractured the basalt did most of the chabazite form, in voids between the basalt blocks.

Note that old references from the 1800s do not use Wasson Bluff as the name of this locality. Swan's Creek (or some variant of spelling) is used instead, but it is clear from the minerals' descriptions that this is the same as what is now Wasson Bluff. Two Islands has also been used instead of Wasson Bluff.

Coordinates were taken by GPS at the occurrence.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


18 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

β“˜ Analcime
Formula: Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Habit: Trapezohedrons, sometimes with small cube faces
Colour: White, pink, brown
Fluorescence: Some copper-included crystals fluoresce blue
Description: Crystals from nearer Swan Creek frequently show linear gashes from an earlier mineral, now dissolved away; possibly anhydrite.
β“˜ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
Habit: Simple flat rhombs.
Colour: White, colorless.
β“˜ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Habit: Many habits. Crystals associated with the orange chabazite tend to be steep scalenohedrons.
Colour: White, gray
β“˜ Celadonite
Formula: K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
βœͺ 'Chabazite'
Habit: rhombohedrons, simple penetration twins, rare contact twins
Colour: salmon orange, red, pink, white
βœͺ Chabazite-Ca
Formula: (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Habit: Rhombs, internal and penetration twins ubiquitous, contact twins rare.
Colour: White, pink, orange, red
Fluorescence: None
Description: The classic orange material is associated with drusy colorless, pearly heulandite, orange stilbite, and less commonly calcite. Sometimes stained black with a very thin coating of wad. Specimens are easily etched by groundwater and often exhibit broken edges from frost damage.
β“˜ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Habit: Massive
Colour: Turquoise, bluish-green
Description: Sometimes gel-like, sometimes associated with copper.
β“˜ Clinoptilolite-Ca
Formula: Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Description: See analysis W180, originally cited as W108
β“˜ Copper
Formula: Cu
Description: Specimens are generally poor. Good sharp micro crystals have been found included within analcime.
β“˜ Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
β“˜ 'Gmelinite Subgroup'
Habit: rhombohedral habit, up to 2cm, with large triangular faces; many crystals have the interior dissolved
Colour: dark salmon red
β“˜ Heulandite-Ca
Formula: (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
β“˜ 'Heulandite Subgroup'
Formula: (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
β“˜ Laumontite
Formula: CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Colour: White
β“˜ Natrolite
Formula: Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Habit: Sprays, balls and jackstraw arrangements of delicate crystals. Curved crystals have also been found.
Colour: colorless, white
β“˜ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
β“˜ Saponite
Formula: Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
β“˜ Stellerite
Formula: Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
β“˜ Stilbite-Ca
Formula: NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
β“˜ 'Stilbite Subgroup'
Formula: M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Habit: Radiating aggregates and fan-like groups to 4cm long.
Colour: Orange, white, reddish brown
Fluorescence: None
β“˜ Thomsonite-Ca
Formula: NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Colour: White
Description: Micro clusters.
β“˜ Vermiculite
Formula: Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
β“˜ 'Wad'
Description: Some chabazite specimens show a thin black coating of wad.

Gallery:

Na(AlSi2O6) · H2Oβ“˜ Analcime
CaCO3β“˜ Calcite
β“˜ 'Chabazite'
(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2Oβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca
Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1β“˜ Chrysocolla
Cuβ“˜ Copper
β“˜ 'Gmelinite Subgroup'
(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2Oβ“˜ Heulandite-Ca
(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2Oβ“˜ 'Heulandite Subgroup'
Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2Oβ“˜ Natrolite
NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2Oβ“˜ Stilbite-Ca
M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2Oβ“˜ 'Stilbite Subgroup'
NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2Oβ“˜ Thomsonite-Ca

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
β“˜Copper1.AA.05Cu
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
β“˜Cuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
β“˜Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
β“˜Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
β“˜Baryte7.AD.35BaSO4
Group 9 - Silicates
β“˜Celadonite9.EC.15K(MgFe3+β—»)(Si4O10)(OH)2
β“˜Saponite9.EC.45Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 Β· nH2O
β“˜Vermiculite9.EC.50Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 Β· 8H2O
β“˜Chrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 Β· nH2O, x < 1
β“˜Natrolite9.GA.05Na2Al2Si3O10 Β· 2H2O
β“˜Thomsonite-Ca9.GA.10NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] Β· 6H2O
β“˜Analcime9.GB.05Na(AlSi2O6) Β· H2O
β“˜Laumontite9.GB.10CaAl2Si4O12 Β· 4H2O
β“˜Chabazite-Ca9.GD.10(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 Β· 12H2O
β“˜Clinoptilolite-Ca9.GE.05Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 Β· 20H2O
β“˜Heulandite-Ca9.GE.05(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 Β· 26H2O
β“˜Stilbite-Ca9.GE.10NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 Β· 28H2O
β“˜Stellerite9.GE.15Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 Β· 28H2O
Unclassified
β“˜'Heulandite Subgroup'-(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] Β· nH2O
β“˜'Stilbite Subgroup'-M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] Β· nH2O
β“˜'Gmelinite Subgroup'-
β“˜'Chabazite'-
β“˜'Wad'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hβ“˜ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Hβ“˜ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Hβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hβ“˜ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Hβ“˜ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Hβ“˜ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Hβ“˜ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hβ“˜ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Hβ“˜ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Hβ“˜ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Hβ“˜ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Hβ“˜ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Hβ“˜ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Hβ“˜ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
CCarbon
Cβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oβ“˜ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Oβ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
Oβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Oβ“˜ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Oβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oβ“˜ CupriteCu2O
Oβ“˜ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Oβ“˜ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Oβ“˜ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Oβ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Oβ“˜ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oβ“˜ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Oβ“˜ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Oβ“˜ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Oβ“˜ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Oβ“˜ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Oβ“˜ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Oβ“˜ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
NaSodium
Naβ“˜ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Naβ“˜ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Naβ“˜ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Naβ“˜ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Naβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Naβ“˜ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Naβ“˜ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgβ“˜ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Mgβ“˜ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgβ“˜ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
AlAluminium
Alβ“˜ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Alβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Alβ“˜ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Alβ“˜ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Alβ“˜ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Alβ“˜ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Alβ“˜ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Alβ“˜ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Alβ“˜ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Alβ“˜ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Alβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Alβ“˜ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Alβ“˜ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Alβ“˜ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
SiSilicon
Siβ“˜ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Siβ“˜ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Siβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siβ“˜ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Siβ“˜ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Siβ“˜ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Siβ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Siβ“˜ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siβ“˜ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Siβ“˜ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Siβ“˜ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Siβ“˜ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Siβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Siβ“˜ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Siβ“˜ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Siβ“˜ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
SSulfur
Sβ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
KPotassium
Kβ“˜ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Kβ“˜ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Kβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
CaCalcium
Caβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Caβ“˜ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Caβ“˜ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Caβ“˜ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caβ“˜ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Caβ“˜ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Caβ“˜ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Caβ“˜ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Caβ“˜ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Caβ“˜ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
FeIron
Feβ“˜ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Feβ“˜ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Feβ“˜ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
CuCopper
Cuβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuβ“˜ CupriteCu2O
Cuβ“˜ CopperCu
BaBarium
Baβ“˜ BaryteBaSO4

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasson_Bluff
Wikidata ID:Q16902987

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North America
North America PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

nsminerals.atspace.com [The Mineralogy of Nova Scotia]
Jackson, C.T., Alger, F. (1829) Remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the peninsula of Nova Scotia.
Hoffmann, E. (1832) Zerlegung einiger Chabasite. Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 495-498.
Phillips, William, Alger, Francis (1844) An Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy (5th ed.) William D. Ticknor & Co., Boston, MA. pp.239-241
Clarke, F.W. (1903) Mineral Analyses from the Laboratories of the United States Geological Survey 1880 to 1903. 119p (67).
Clarke, Frank Wigglesworth (1910) Analyses of Rocks and Minerals from the Laboratory of the United States Geological Survey, 1880 to 1908. U.S. Government Printing Office: 282-283.
Walker, Thomas L., Parsons, Arthur L. (1922) The zeolites of Nova Scotia. Contributions to Canadian Mineralogy, University of Toronto Press. 13-73
Sabina, Ann P. (1964) Rocks and minerals for the collector, Bay of Fundy area. Paper 64-10. Geological Survey of Canada doi:10.4095/101010
Gregory, Gardiner (1966) Mineral Hunting in the Parrsboro, Nova Scotia Area. Rocks & Minerals, 41 (2) 85-91 doi:10.1080/00357529.1966.11765526
Grice, Joel D. (1989) Ancient Lavas: Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. In: Famous Mineral Localities of Canada. Published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited & the National Museum of Natural Sciences, 190 pages: 136-145.
Tschernich, Rudy W. (1992) Zeolites of the World. Geoscience Press, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona. 567pp.
Pe-Piper, Georgia, Miller, Lisa (2002) Zeolite minerals from the North Shore of the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia. Atlantic Geology, 38 (1) 11-28 doi:10.4138/1252
JΓ€nchen, Jochen; Bish, David L.; MΓΆhlmann, Diedrich T.F.; Stach, Helmut (2006) Investigation of the water sorption properties of Mars-relevant micro- and mesoporous minerals. Icarus: 180(2): 353-358.
Sabina, Ann P. (2015) Rocks and minerals for the collector : Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; South Shore, Nova Scotia. Popular Geoscience 97. Geological Survey of Canada doi:10.4095/293933
Misaelides, P., Sarri, S., Noli, F., Kantiranis, N., Filippidis, A., de Blochouse, B., Maes, A., Breynaert, E. (2017) Investigation of Chabazitic Materials as Sorption Sink for 137Cs in Cementitious Aqueous Solutions. Conference proceedings, Migration 2017.
Quick NavTopMineral ListRock TypesOther DatabasesOther RegionsReferences
 
Mineral and/or Locality  
Mindat Discussions Facebook Logo Instagram Logo Discord Logo
Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are Β© OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 27, 2024 04:57:06 Page updated: March 26, 2024 13:24:58
Go to top of page