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⇱ Wasson Bluff, Two Islands, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, Canada

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

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
45° 23' 30'' North , 64° 14' 31'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Cliff (Active) - last checked 2022
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):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Swan's Creek; Wasson's Bluff


A shoreline exposure, only accessible at low tide. The rock alternates between red sandstone and grey 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 (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia_Environmental_and_Heritage_Acts#Special_Places_Protection_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: 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

Entries shown in red are rocks recorded for this region.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 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.
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
Habit: Simple flat rhombs.
Colour: White, colorless.
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Habit: Many habits. Crystals associated with the orange chabazite tend to be steep scalenohedrons.
Colour: White, gray
ⓘ Celadonite
Formula: K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
✪ 'Chabazite'
Habit: rhombohedrons, simple penetration twins, rare contact twins
Colour: salmon orange, red, pink, white
References:
Locality descriptionIdentification: Visual Identification
ⓘ 'Chabazite var. Phacolite'
References:
Locality descriptionIdentification: Visual Identification
✪ 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.
ⓘ 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.
ⓘ Clinoptilolite-Ca
Formula: Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Description: See analysis W180, originally cited as W108
ⓘ Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
ⓘ 'Gmelinite Subgroup'
Habit: rhombohedral habit, up to 2cm, with large triangular faces; many crystals have the interior dissolved
Colour: dark salmon red
ⓘ Heulandite-Ca
Formula: (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
ⓘ 'Heulandite Subgroup'
Formula: (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
ⓘ Laumontite
Formula: CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Colour: White
ⓘ Native Copper
Formula: Cu
Description: Specimens are generally poor. Good sharp micro crystals have been found included within analcime.
ⓘ Natrolite
Formula: Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Habit: Sprays, balls and jackstraw arrangements of delicate crystals. Curved crystals have also been found.
Colour: colorless, white
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Saponite
Formula: Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘ Stellerite
Formula: Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
ⓘ Stilbite-Ca
Formula: NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
ⓘ '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
ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca
Formula: NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Colour: White
Description: Micro clusters.
ⓘ Vermiculite
Formula: Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘ 'Wad'
Description: Some chabazite specimens show a thin black coating of wad.

Gallery:

ⓘ 'Gmelinite Subgroup'
(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2Oⓘ 'Heulandite Subgroup'
M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2Oⓘ 'Stilbite Subgroup'

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

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

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Hⓘ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Hⓘ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Hⓘ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Hⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Hⓘ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Hⓘ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Hⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hⓘ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Hⓘ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Hⓘ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Hⓘ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ CupriteCu2O
Oⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Oⓘ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Oⓘ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Oⓘ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Oⓘ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Oⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oⓘ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Oⓘ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Oⓘ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Oⓘ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
NaSodium
Naⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Naⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Naⓘ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Naⓘ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Naⓘ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Naⓘ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Naⓘ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Mgⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Mgⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Alⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Alⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Alⓘ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Alⓘ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Alⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Alⓘ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Alⓘ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Alⓘ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Alⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Alⓘ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Alⓘ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Alⓘ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Alⓘ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AnalcimeNa(AlSi2O6) · H2O
Siⓘ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Siⓘ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Siⓘ NatroliteNa2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siⓘ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Siⓘ Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Siⓘ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Siⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Siⓘ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Siⓘ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Siⓘ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Siⓘ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
SSulfur
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
KPotassium
Kⓘ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Kⓘ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Caⓘ LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Caⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Caⓘ StelleriteCa4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O
Caⓘ Thomsonite-CaNaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O
Caⓘ Chabazite-Ca(Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O
Caⓘ Clinoptilolite-CaCa3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O
Caⓘ Heulandite-Ca(Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O
Caⓘ Stilbite-CaNaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O
FeIron
Feⓘ CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2
Feⓘ SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Feⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuⓘ CupriteCu2O
Cuⓘ Native CopperCu
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4

Other Databases

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

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate

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