Howells Point, Riverton, Southland District, Southland Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Howells Point	Point
Riverton	- not defined -
Southland District	District
Southland Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

Pumpellyite and other minerals have been collected at Howells Point on the Riverton Peninsula in Permian spilites.

Easily accessible at the end of the road along the coast, a short distance from Riverton. Howells Point is a public recreation reserve. Small vugs containing zeolites, pumpellyite, and chlorite crystals have been found, at least in the past. A microscope would be useful. It is also a good place to see pillow lava.

Albite, some twins and slightly distorted are found in small gas holes in the tuff. Stilbite is common as opaque yellow, some covered in limonite, or as clear single crystals, clusters and aggregates. They may have a chalky look due to weathering. Laumontite as clear to chalky crystals, or black, red, yellow or white colours, many covered with limonite, leached out of the bogs above. Quartz crystals are common with many distortions and a few with odd terminations, much apparently stained with limonite. Hematite found as specular plates in rosettes. Pumpellyite as blue-green lustrous bladed crystals lining many of the vugs, and associated with most of the other species.

Epidote and chlorite is also noted by Auton, while Stott provides a list of species including in addition to the above, chalcedony, pyrite, prehnite as small green, yellow or brown spheres (siderite?), white barite, feldspar, and elongated dark green chlorite crystals. This information has been provided by local collectors, rather than any scientific study. Photographs on Mindat also include pyrite, chalcopyrite, siderite, and a yellow epidote crystal.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References