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Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

 

LXA-U1QFluorapatite Ca₅(PO₄)₃F , Calcite CaCO₃

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

I collected this in 2008. It shows a small fluorapatite crystal about 4mm long in white calcite. The apatite was weakly - moderately fluorescent blue under short wave uv.

C9D-GAYQuartz SiO₂ , Pyrrhotite Fe_1-xS , Calcite CaCO₃ , Fluorapatite Ca₅(PO₄)₃F

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

In view is a 2"x1 1/2" piece I collected in 2008. On the left side is a 1"x1/2" quartz crystal with a greenish inclusion (perhaps chlorite). The crystal is encased in white calcite showing good cleavage. To the left of the quartz is some brassy colored pyrrhotite and further to the right a prism of fluorapatite about 3/16"x1/2". The calcite also has smaller black prismatic crystals of either amphibole or pyroxene.

HCJ-F72Quartz (Var: Ferruginous Quartz) SiO₂

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

This is magnified view of a quartz vein found on a darker rock resembling an amphibolite. The quartz was colored an attractive reddish color. This was collected summer of 2008. The field of view here is about 12mm. There also occured small pyrrhotite xls. and an unidentified mineral in the same vein.

G6D-5T7Calcite CaCO₃

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

This is a specimen of salmon colored calcite collected summer of 2008 by Fred Schuster and is in his collection. The piece is 3"x2". There is a green minerals associated with it that need identification.

FVG-3C2Diopside CaMgSi₂O₆ , Graphite C

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

a 2" piece of calcite with green diopside prisms and graphite mixed in.
F. Schuster Collection.

Sharply-defined xenoliths

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

This picture was taken June 2nd, 2011.

The central part of this rather impressive road cut shows attractive features from a mineralogical standpoint. Looks as if a very pale rock flow would have "captured" sharply-defined very dark blocks, of which the largest one is nearly car-sized !

Having no serious geology training, I will not speculate of the nature of the rock types present at this road cut. Hopefully, a geologist will pass by and define these for our delight.

Surprisingly, little was found in terms of well-formed, collectible minerals, and Fred Shuster's finds of 2008 sum it all. But, it's a huge road cut, and perhaps other visits might prove fruitful.

J.Y. Lamoureux

blasting 2008

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

View of Rt 155 during blasting and widening 2008.

Mekinac River, with rt 155 blasting through hill

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

The road cut exosed a layer of marble which is the light band on the face.

Y3V-896Diopside CaMgSi₂O₆ , Calcite CaCO₃

Autoroute 155 roadcut, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada

Field of View: 5 mm
Largest Crystal Size: 1 mm

This specimen was bathed in HCL to show the minerals in the marble calcite.
The gemmy green crystals are diopside. The gemmy brown orange may be grossular but not identified.