Post by 150FromFundy on Jul 11, 2010 8:16:56 GMT -5
Malignant Cove, Nova Scotia
Laura and I spent a few days and nights touring around Cape Breton Island, which is at the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia. The island has about 12 distinct bedrock formations ranging from the late Carboniferous period (300 million years ago) back to the Precambrian period (greater than 540 million years ago). Ancient seafloors and continental shelves have collided thrusting them into mountains, which were subsequently eroded by several glacial advances and retreats. The area is also highly faulted with numerous igneous intrusions and the contact metamorphism associated with that.
In addition to being rich in geology, the area is also rich in beauty and culture. Where there are only specimen photos, the collecting sites were masked by fog, drizzle, and rain. When the skies permitted, I included some location photos so you get a better sense of the collecting experience. This will take a number of posts given that we made so many stops and found so many specimens. Want to follow along?
Just before leaving Mainland Nova Scotia, we stopped at Malignant Cove. Malignant Cove is composed of bedrock from the early Ordovician period (470 million years ago) to the middle Cambrian period (500 million years ago).
Epidote is a yellowish green and may be massive or fibrous with a vitreous lustre. It is often associated with quartz and pink feldspar (orthoclase) producing mottled or veined patterns.
Calcite associated with Epidote fluoresces bright pink under short wave UV light, but I can’t prove that yet. I’m working on a light.
Epidote and some Unidentified Finds
Epidote, Quartz and Feldspar on black volcanic base rock
Epidote, Quartz and Feldspar on black volcanic base rock
Epiote and Quartz
Calcite
Well, that’s it for stop one. Drizzle and fog prevented any scenic photos here. There will be many more stops along the way if you are interested.
Darryl.
Laura and I spent a few days and nights touring around Cape Breton Island, which is at the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia. The island has about 12 distinct bedrock formations ranging from the late Carboniferous period (300 million years ago) back to the Precambrian period (greater than 540 million years ago). Ancient seafloors and continental shelves have collided thrusting them into mountains, which were subsequently eroded by several glacial advances and retreats. The area is also highly faulted with numerous igneous intrusions and the contact metamorphism associated with that.
In addition to being rich in geology, the area is also rich in beauty and culture. Where there are only specimen photos, the collecting sites were masked by fog, drizzle, and rain. When the skies permitted, I included some location photos so you get a better sense of the collecting experience. This will take a number of posts given that we made so many stops and found so many specimens. Want to follow along?
Just before leaving Mainland Nova Scotia, we stopped at Malignant Cove. Malignant Cove is composed of bedrock from the early Ordovician period (470 million years ago) to the middle Cambrian period (500 million years ago).
Epidote is a yellowish green and may be massive or fibrous with a vitreous lustre. It is often associated with quartz and pink feldspar (orthoclase) producing mottled or veined patterns.
Calcite associated with Epidote fluoresces bright pink under short wave UV light, but I can’t prove that yet. I’m working on a light.
Epidote and some Unidentified Finds
Epidote, Quartz and Feldspar on black volcanic base rock
Epidote, Quartz and Feldspar on black volcanic base rock
Epiote and Quartz
Calcite
Well, that’s it for stop one. Drizzle and fog prevented any scenic photos here. There will be many more stops along the way if you are interested.
Darryl.