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Thursday, December 12, 2019

One of my favorite specimens - anhydrite core sample from Oak Island, NS


I have a chance to visit Oak Island in person in  April 2019.  Oak Island, NS.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Images of Yooperlites from Pebble beach, Marathon, Ontario


Yooperlites from Pebble beach, Marathon, Ontario


Yooperlites are an uncommon fine to coarse-grained gray igneous rock named syenite. It is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and ferromagnesian minerals such as hornblende.  Yooperlites are very ordinary looking igneous in normal but when exposed to long wave ultraviolet light has a fluorescent mineral is variety of sodalite, which glows orange.

           (Updated) A nicer photo with truer color.  Used my trusty 40 year old Raytech UV light.












Monday, August 12, 2019

Idaho Gemstones by County

Gemstone information is available for the following counties. Information comes from Gemstones of Idaho written by Alice Allebaugh. 
Reference: Idaho Lands website
(I'm reposting here because data has a way of disppearring off the internet.)

  • ADAMS - Rubies and pink garnets are found at Rock Flat near New Meadows. Several diamonds have been found in this same area. Sapphires and corundum crystals that sometimes show asterism also have been found in the Rock Flat area.
  • BLAINE - Amethyst is found near Hailey; copper, silver, lead and zinc minerals are abundant.
  • BOUNDARY - Opal and opalized wood.
  • CUSTER - Clear quartz, amethyst and citrine are found. Large geodes are common. Banded, red and yellow agate is scattered over the area. A forest of petrified wood is near Challis. Near the East Fork of the Salmon River is an excellent collecting locality where a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz is found in blood red sandstone. Near Challis a rare zeolite is found in greater abundance and better specimens than in any other known locality. Copper, silver, lead and zinc minerals are abundant.
  • GEM - Fire opal is found in the lava beds of Squaw Butte near Emmett. The opals are salmon pink or cherry red in color and display great brilliance. Most are very small, but some have been large enough to cut into fine stones. Near the opal deposits agates of light blue color abound. Willow Creek has deposits of agatized and opalized wood of high quality as well as massive opal that ranges in color from deep red to salmon pink to white and pale blue.
  • GOODING - Internationally famous "horse" fossil beds near Hagerman; opal and opalized wood.
  • IDAHO - Nationally famous flora beds near Whitebird.
  • LATAH - Common and fire opals have been found in the vesicular basalts. The internationally famous garnet diggings on Emerald Creek afford the collector an opportunity to find gem and star garnets in remarkably large sizes and quantities. Fossil plant remains can be found in many localities in the siltstone of the interbeds between basalt layers.
  • LEMHI - Copper, silver, lead and zinc minerals are abundant
  • LINCOLN - Opal and opalized wood.
  • OWYHEE - Areas that yield red, yellow, green and mossy jasper of unexcelled quality. The area is nation-ally known for its pink and white plume agate and for its opal, both common and fire, which occurs in vesicles in the volcanic rocks. Banded, scenic, dendritic and sagenitic agates, as well as polka dot, smoky and moss agates are also found. Succor Creek on the western edge of the county yields red and green agates in a rich two-tone combination and a round shaped nodule, which is called "thunder egg." These are often found to be geodes with the center filled with fluids. In some the hollow center is lined with quartz crystals.
  • SHOSHONE - Copper, silver, lead and zinc minerals are abundant
  • WASHINGTON - Agates of many colors abound. The most highly prized agates are those that show an iridescence when cut into thin slabs. Petrified wood from Mann Creek northwest of Weiser is particularly beautiful. The grain of the wood is very prominent and the color is yellow, resembling natural oak. In the Beacon area west of Weiser the famous "Beacon Hill" nodules abound. These nodules are particularly beautiful because of the scenic or dendritic patterns. In some the interior is hollow and crystal lined.

Gemstone Guide for Idaho

This information comes Department of Lands website.
I'm reposting here because data has a way of disppearring off the internet.
(Reference: Information comes from Gemstones of Idaho written by Alice Allebaugh.)

GEMSTONE OR ROCK NAME
COUNTY
LOCATION
AGATES - NODULES
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
CUSTER
• Lime Creek 12 miles south of Challis along US 93A
• Iris along Willow Creek Road off US 93A south of Challis
OWYHEE• Squaw Creek
AGATES - PLUME
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
OWYHEE• Graveyard Point southwest of Homedale (private mine) west of US 95 near Idaho-Oregon border
AGATES - GREEN & GREEN MOSS
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
BLAINE• 9 miles north of Muldoon, south of Cary, along Little Wood River
LEMHI• Parker Mountain near Salmon
AGATES - BANDED & SCENIC
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
LEMHI• South of Meyers Cove
AGATES - LIGHT BLUE
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
GEM• Near Emmett
AGATES - RED
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
CUSTER• 3 miles west of Challis
AGATES - RED & GREEN
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
OWYHEE• Eastern fringe of Succor Creek
AGATIZED WOODCUSTER• 12 miles south of Challis along US 93A
WASHINGTON• Hog Creek 8-10 miles northwest of Weiser
AMETHYSTBLAINE• Pole Creek
CUSTER• Lost River
OWYHEE• War Eagle Mountain near Silver City
• "Indian Bathtub" area
VALLEY• Paddy Flat and Big Creek area near Cascade
ANALCITE
isometric zeolite mineral; last zeolite to be deposited.
BLAINE• Golden Bell Mine in head of gulch containing Minnie Moore Mine near Bellevue
CUSTER• South of Challis
APATITE
Calcium phosphate
CUSTER• Blackbird Mining District
AQUAMARINEELMORE• Above Atlanta
AZURITE
Copper carbonate
ADAMS• Seven Devils Mining District
CUSTER• Alder Creek and Bayhorse Mining Districts
LATAH• Hoodoo Mining District
SHOSHONE• Little North Fork area near Kellogg and Mullan
OWYHEE• South Mountain area
BERYL - GREENLATAH• In pegmatites of the Levi Anderson, Muscovite and other mica mines near Avon
BERYL - DARK BLUEELMORE• In primitive area near Atlanta
CALCITE - FLUORESCENT
Calcium carbonate
CUSTER• Alder Creek, Bayhorse and Yankee Fork Mining Districts
CALCITE - RHOMBOHEDRONS
Calcium Carbonate
ADAMS• White Mountain Mine, Seven Devils Mining District
BLAINE• Hailey (Mineral Hill) Mining District
CALCITE - MASSIVE / GRANULAR
Calcium Carbonate
SHOSHONE• Sunshine, Bunker Hill, Hypotheek, Hecla, Standard-Mammoth and Hercules Mines, Coeur d'Alene Mining District
CASSITERITE
Tin Oxide
LEMHI• Silver Creek
• Panther Creek near junction of Moyer Creek, Cobalt area
OWYHEE• Along Jordan Creek near Silver City
CEYLONITE
Spinel
BLAINE• Wild Horse Canyon east side of Hyndman Peak
ADAMS• Rocky Flat area near New Meadows and Seven Devils Mining District
CHABAZITE
Form of Zeolite
ADAMS• Blue Jacket Mine, Seven Devils Mining District
BOISE• Warm Springs Creek area east of Boise
ELMORE• 5 miles below Glenns Ferry
CHALCEDONY - FLUORESCENTTWIN FALLS• Rabbit Springs on Idaho-Nevada border US 93
CHALCEDONY - VARIETIESCUSTER• Willow Creek Road south of Challis off US 93A
• Mahogany Creek in Pahsimeroi Valley and near North Fork of Lost River
OWYHEE• War Eagle and Florida Mountain areas near Silver City
BLAINE• Pole Creek Summit near Galena and south of Carey along Little Wood River
LATAH• Potato Hill
LEMHI• Parker Mountain Mining District
VALLEY• Yellow Pine Mining District
CHRYSOCOLLABENEWAH• Alder Creek
ADAMS• Arkansas Mine, et al., Seven Devils Mining District
LATAH• Hoodoo Mining District
SHOSHONE• Coeur d'Alene Mining District
CINNABARCUSTER• Alder Creek Mining District
VALLEY• Yellow Pine Mining District
WASHINGTON• Near Weiser
CRYSTALS - COBALTLEMHI• Blackbird Mining District
OWYHEE• Silver City area
CRYSTALS - QUARTZCUSTER• Near Bayhorse and in Yankee Fork Mining District
BENEWAH• Crystal Peak northeast of Fernwood
IDAHO• McKinley Gulch in Slate Creek and Ruby Meadows
OWYHEE• Long Gulch south of Silver City
VALLEY• Northwest of Donnelly
CORUNDUMOWYHEE• Near Silver City
CLEARWATER• Along Rhodes and Orofino Creeks near Pierce
VALLEY• Along Gold Fork Creek northeast of Donnelly
ADAMS• Rock Flat gold placers near New Meadows
IDAHO• Near (Resort) Burgdorf
DIAMONDSADAMS• Little Goose Creek area near New Meadows
DOGTOOTH SPAR
Calcite Crystals
IDAHO• Adjacent to US 95 midway between Riggins and Lucile
EPIDOTEADAMS• Peacock, Queen, Copper Boy and other mines, Seven Devils Mining District
CLEARWATER• Pierce area
CUSTER• Near Park Creek
LEMHI• Mackinaw and Carmen Creek Mining Districts
OWYHEE• Near Silver City
VALLEY• North of Paddy Flat Road northeast of Donnelly
• Deep Creek north of McCall
FELDSPAR - MOONSTONECAMAS• Near Fairfield
FELDSPAR - PALE YELLOWBOISE• Shafer Creek
FELDSPAR - CLEARFREMONT• Crystal Butte 18 miles north of St. Anthony
FELDSPAR - VARIETIESLEMHI• Blackbird Mining District
OWYHEE• Silver City area
FLUORITE - PURPLECUSTER• Empire Mine, Alder Creek Mining District
LEHMI• South of Meyers Cove
VALLEY• Stibnite
FOSSILS - SEE ZOISITE
GARNET - STARBENEWAH• Purdue Creek, vicinity of Bovill and Clarkia and along East Fork of Emerald Creek (US Forest Service fee)
GARNET - LIME SILICATEADAMS• Seven Devils Mining District
BEAR LAKE• Lanes Creek (NW 1/4, Section 9, Township 8 S, Range 43 E, BM)
CUSTER• Phi Kappa Canyon near head of Big Lost River
• Copper Basin at head of East Fork of Big Lost River
• Alder Creek Mining District near Mackay
GARNET - ROSE-RED
BROWN-RED
CLEARWATER• Rhodes Creek, Orofino area, near Clearwater River
• Pierce area
NEZ PERCE• Clearwater River near Lewiston
GARNET - REDSHOSHONE• Canyon Creek
• Purdue Creek
GARNET - PURPLE-REDOWYHEE• Silver City area
GARNET - YELLOW-GREENWASHINGTON• Iron Mountain northeast of Weiser
GARNET - RED-PINKADAMS• White Monument, Peacock and Copper Key mines near Kinney Point
IDAHO• On main Salmon River 10 miles above Riggins
HEDENBERGITE & ILVAITEOWYHEE• South Mountain Mining District
HEMATITE - PEBBLESBANNOCK• Lane's Creek gravel bars
BOISE• Boise Basin placers
HEMATITEADAMS• Rock Flat on Goose Creek
CUSTER• In dumps of copper mines, Alder Creek Mining District
LATAH• Iron Mountain 20 miles north of Moscow
WASHINGTON• Iron Mountain
JADEFREMONT• Bitch Creek north of Tetonia
JASPER - RED WITH GREEN MALACHITEBEAR LAKE• Hummingbird Mine area in Paris Canyon near Montpelier
JASPER - BRUNEAUOWYHEE• 50 road miles south of Bruneau in Bruneau River Canyon
JASPER - VARIETIESBLAINE• South of Carey along Little Wood River
CUSTER• Crane Creek Reservoir area, 12 miles south of Challis along US 93A
• Alder Creek Mining District near Mackay
OWYHEE• West of US 95 south of Homedale near Idaho-Oregon border
WASHINGTON• Signal Light 10 miles northwest of Weiser
• Beacon Hill near Weiser
KYANITESHOSHONE• Goat Mountain and Blackdome Peak area
MALACHITEADAMS• Seven Devils Mining District
BEAR LAKE• Hummingbird Mine in Paris Canyon
CUSTER• Alder Creek Mining District
FREMONT• Skull Canyon area two miles east of Kaufman
LATAH• Hoodoo District
SHOSHONE• Coeur d'Alene and adjacent mining districts
MARCASITELEMHI• 1 mile south of Salmon
OWYHEE• Associated with silver mines near Silver City
SHOSHONE• In the Gold Hunter Mine, Coeur d'Alene Mining District
MORDENITECUSTER• 15 miles south of Challis
LEMHI• Near Salmon
MYRMEKITEVALLEY• Yellow Pine Mining District
NAUMANNITECUSTER• Yankee Fork District
LEMHI• Parker Mountain Mines, Gravel Range Mining District
OWYHEE• DeLamar Mine on Florida Mountain near Silver City
OPAL - FIRECLARK• Spencer Opal Mine near Spencer (private - fee charged)
GEM• Lava beds of Squaw Butte, Emmett area, and Black Canyon Dam
LATAH• 5 miles south of Forney on Opal Creek
OWYHEE• Near Givens Hot Springs, Oreana and on the west side of Squaw Creek
OPAL - BANDEDCUSTER• 3 miles west of Challis
OWYHEE• Squaw Creek
OPAL - HYALITENEZ PERCE• Near Lewiston area
OPAL - COLORED
GEM• Red to salmon-pink to whites and pale blues along Willow Creek near Emmett
OPAL - VARIETIESLEMHI• Pahsimeroi Valley near May
OPAL - COMMONCUSTER• Poison Creek
LATAH• Moscow Opal Mines
LEMHI• Panther Creek
• Pahsimeroi Valley near May
NEZ PERCE• Clearwater River Valley
OWYHEE• 17 miles south of Marsing
• Castle Creek
• Mule Springs
• Givens Hot Springs area
OPALIZED WOODGOODING• Clover Creek area
LATAH• Potlatch River Canyon, Kendrick area
OWYHEE• Few miles southeast of Hwy 95 at Idaho-Oregon state line in Coal Mine Basin (black opalized wood found in sandstone formation)
PROUSTITEBLAINE• Pilgrim Mine near head of Beaver Creek
BOISE• Banner Mining District
BUTTE• Hub Mine, Lava Creek Mining District
OWYHEE• War Eagle Mountain and Florida Mountain area near Silver City
SHOSHONE• Big Creek area
PETRIFIED WOODCUSTER• Willow Creek Road south of Challis off US 93A
• Malm Gulch area
LINCOLN• Clover Creek
OWYHEE• West of DeLamar off Jordan Valley Road
• Middle reaches East Fork of Bruneau River
• 9 miles south of Bruneau east of US 51
• Sands Basin
WASHINGTON• Manns Creek area near Weiser
• Sage Creek near Weiser
• Crane Creek area
PETRIFIED WOOD - BLACKOWYHEE• Coal Mine Basin on US 85 south of Marsing
• Middle reaches East Fork Bruneau River 9 miles south of Coal Mine Basin on US 85 south of Marsing
• Clover Creek area
WASHINGTON• Sage Creek northwest of Weiser
PYRITEBLAINE• Hailey Gold Belt
BOISE• Quartzburg area
LEMHI• Mackinaw Mining District
SHOSHONE• Coeur d'Alene Mine District
QUARTZ - CRYSTALSBLAINE• Pole Creek tributary of Little Wood River
IDAHO• Near Warren
OWYHEE• At mines near Silver City
SHOSHONE• On O'Donnell Creek near Stocking Meadows
VALLEY• Green Mountain area
QUARTZ - CLUSTERSSHOSHONE• Gem, Burke, Murray and Delta areas
QUARTZ - SMOKEYELMORE• Dismal swamp northwest of Rocky Bar
LEMHI• Along Bandy Creek
VALLEY• Paddy Flats, Big Creek near Cascade
QUARTZ - GEODESCUSTER• Upper Valley of Lost River
OWYHEE• DeLamar Silver Mine area
WASHINGTON• Northwest of Weiser
QUARTZ - PSEUDOMORPHICBUTTE• Lava Creek Mining District
OWYHEE• War Eagle and Florida Mountain areas near Silver City
RHODOCHROSITEKOOTENAI• Conjecture Mine south of Lakeview (REMARKS: PINK)
LEMHI• Blackbird Mining District and Kitty Burton Mine in Indian Creek District
RHODONITEADAMS• South of New Meadows
RUBIESADAMS• Placer deposits near New Meadows in Adams and Valley counties
CLEARWATER• Clearwater Drainage near Pierce
OWYHEE• DeLamar - Silver City area
VALLEY• Placer deposits near New Meadows in Adams and Valley counties
SAPPHIRESADAMS• Rocky Flat area near New Meadows
CLEARWATER• Rhodes Creek near Pierce
• Orofino Creek near Pierce
VALLEY• East slope of Brundage Mountain
SILLIMANITE
Fibrolite
LEMHI• Salmon River below Salmon
NEZ PERCE• Clearwater River Valley above Lewiston
• Big Eddy of Clearwater River above Spaulding
STAUROLITEBENEWAH• 5 miles up Carpenter Creek from junction with St. Maries River
SHOSHONE• St. Joe Basin and along St. Joe - Clearwater Divide
STILBITEADAMS• Blue Jacket Claim, Seven Devils Mining District
BLAINE• Minnie Moore Mine near Bellevue
CUSTER• North side of Galena Summit
THULITE
Pink-colored Zoisite
ADAMS• Seven Devils Mining District
THUNDER EGGS - AMETHYST LINED
WASHINGTON• Beacon Hill, Hog Creek, Weiser area
THUNDER EGGS - QUARTZ LINEDBUTTE• Antelope Creek, Arco area
• Road Creek, Arco area
TWIN FALLS• Rabbit Springs, US 93 Idaho-Nevada border
TOPAZELMORE• Dismal Swamp 9 1/2 miles northwest of Rocky Bar
TOPAZ - BLUEVALLEY• Along tributary of Paddy Creek in Paddy Flat area on Gold Fork Creek
• Donnelly area
TOPAZ - YELLOWCLARK• Camas Creek
TOURMALINEBLAINE• South flank Hyndman Peak
BOISE• Boise Basin area
CLEARWATER• Pierce area
LATAH• Avon area
LEMHI• Blackbird Mining District
VALENCIANITE
Adularia
CUSTER• Yankee Fork District
LEMHI• Gravel Range and Parker Mountain District
OWYHEE• War Eagle and Florida Mountain near Silver City
WILLOWHITEADA• Longhair Mine north of Eagle
ZEOLITES
CUSTER
• Various locations
An interesting group of hydrated aluminous silicates.  Occurs as amygdular fillings in vesicles in basalt or amiosite flows; also as geode filling.  Thought deposited by hot waters at time of cooling of magmas.  Various locations in Owyhee and Custer counties.
OWYHEE• Various locations
ZIRCONIDAHO• Streams draining Idaho batholith, principally the American River near Elk City
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)ADAMS• Seven Devils Mining District
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
CAMBRIAN
BONNER• In limy rock along southeast side of Pend Oreille Lake
GOODING• West rim of Snake River Canyon near Hagerman
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
MARINE
OWYHEE• 9 miles south of Bruneau and to right of US 51
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
TEMPSKYA
BONNEVILLE• 13 miles northwest of Hermans on Willow Creek
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
TRILOBITE
VALLEY• South Fork of Gold Creek
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
GRAPTOLITES AND INVERTEBRATES
BLAINE• Trail Creek east of Sun Valley
CUSTER• Shelves of Lost River Range
• Bayhorse area north of Clayton
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
MOLLUSKS
CUSTER• Bayhorse area
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
FISH
CUSTER• Lost River Range near Mackay
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
MASTODON & MAMMOTH
LATAH• In sediments of Snake River Plain as far north as Palouse Hills


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