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Stafford, Tolland County, Connecticut, USAi
Regional Level Types
StaffordTown
Tolland CountyCounty
ConnecticutState
USACountry

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Stafford is a town in Tolland County settled by European immigrants in 1719. The community consists of the downtown area of Stafford Springs and the more rural villages of Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow, Village Hill, and West Stafford.

Geologically, the western half of town is underlain mostly by the Glastonbury and Monson orthogneisses of the Bronson Hill island arc Terrane, with the metavolcanics and metasediments of the Great Hill syncline in the middle of it; the eastern half is underlain mostly by metasedimentary Brimfield Schist and Mount Pisgah member of the Littleton Formation - part of the Central Maine oceanic Terrane. Metamorphism, deformation and thrust faulting were caused by the Acadian and Alleghenian Orogenies. Brittle faulting happened during Fundian extension of the late Triassic/early Jurassic. This event opened spaces in the Clough Quartzite for the famous quartz crystals of West Stafford to form in.

Stafford was a major producer and smelter of bog iron ore. According to Harte (1944):
In 1779, the Phelps blast furnace at Stafford Hollow started operation, and it is said to have furnished cannon and cannon balls to the Colonial Army, besides camp kettles and pots. Twenty years later, in nearby Hydeville, the Lafayette furnace was blown in; it was said to have been the first Connecticut furnace to cast stoves...Phelps and Lafayette exhausted the local ore they were using, and closed in 1840.


Another historically important resource in town was spring water - particularly for spa use as reported by Shepard (1837):
The most important springs in the State are those of Stafford. Ample accommodations here exist for invalids, and during the warm season they are a favorite resort. No perceptible escape of gas from the water was observed. The sides of the reservoir were lined with a thick flocculent precipitate of the oxide of iron...


Both the bog ore and the iron oxy-hydroxides precipitating in the spas result from oxidation of the abundant iron sulfides in the extensive Brimfield Schist. Groundwater in this formation carries much ferrous iron (Fe2+) weathered out of the sulfides, which is soluble in the low-oxygen subsurface environment. Once exposed to the oxygen-rich atmosphere, it converts to extremely insoluble ferric iron (Fe3+) and precipitates out as goethite.

Stone quarrying occurred mostly in the 19th century for building and paving stones, mostly in the Clough Quartzite, Middletown Formation and Glastonbury Gneiss, all in western Stafford. The Skyline Quarry is an active stone quarry near West Stafford working the Clough Quartzite and Middletown Formation.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

21 valid minerals.

* - Minerals that have never been found, but their existence is inferred in some way (e.g. from pseudomorphs)

Detailed Mineral List:

Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
Almandine
Formula: Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3
'Amphibole Supergroup'
Formula: AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
Habit: tabular
Description: Tabular crystals to 3 cm that were epimorphed or encrusted by drusy quartz before later naturally dissolving away leaving voids.
Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Colour: White
Description: Occurring as a compacted vein up to 5 cm
'Chabazite'
Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
Habit: massive
Colour: black with slight bluish iridescence
Description: mm-scale grains and irregular masses with sphalerite in albite/quartz/muscovite host. The sulfide grains are embedded in the silicates suggesting the former are primary.
'Chlorite Group'
Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fluorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F
Habit: elongated prismatic
Colour: white to pale green
Fluorescence: yellow under short wave UV
Description: Small crystals in gneiss.
Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
Habit: encrustations
Colour: dark brown
Description: Dark brown encrusting layer typically covering the quartz when found, usually cleaned off.
Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
'K Feldspar'
'K Feldspar var. Adularia'
Formula: KAlSi3O8
Kyanite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
Laumontite
Formula: CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Prehnite
Formula: Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Habit: stubby prismatic, complex parallel-growth, corn cob
Colour: colorless to milky (typically in an outer zone)
Description: large complex crystals to 10 cm or more, smaller crystals radially encrusted acicular laumontite creating coarse columns of crystals
Quartz var. Amethyst
Formula: SiO2
Quartz var. Milky Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Habit: stubby prismatic, complex parallel-growth, corn cob
Colour: colorless to milky
Description: large complex crystals to 10 cm or more, smaller crystals radially encrusted acicular laumontite creating coarse columns of crystals
Quartz var. Smoky Quartz
Formula: SiO2
'Scapolite'
Habit: elongated prismatic to massive
Colour: white, pale pink to peach
Description: Crude crystals and masses in calc-silicate assemblages in the metamorphic rocks.
References:
Harold Moritz CollectionIdentified by Harold Moritz: Visual Identification
Schorl
Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
Habit: rounded grains
Colour: yellow
Description: mm-scale rounded, clear grains with chalcocite in albite/quartz/muscovite. Sulfide grains are embedded in the silicates suggesting the former are primary.
Staurolite
Formula: Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH)
References:
'Stilbite Subgroup'
Formula: M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
Sphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Arsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Goethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
Magnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
Ilmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
Quartz
var. Amethyst
4.DA.05SiO2
4.DA.05SiO2
var. Smoky Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
var. Milky Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Anhydrite ?7.AD.30CaSO4
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
Fluorapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3F
Group 9 - Silicates
Almandine9.AD.25Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Kyanite9.AF.15Al2(SiO4)O
Staurolite9.AF.30Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH)
Epidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Schorl9.CK.05NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Actinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Prehnite9.DP.20Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Muscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Albite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Laumontite9.GB.10CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Unclassified
'K Feldspar
var. Adularia'
-KAlSi3O8
'Amphibole Supergroup'-AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
'Chabazite'-
'Chlorite Group'-
'Stilbite Subgroup'-M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
'Scapolite'-
'K Feldspar'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
H Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
H Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
H GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
H LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
H MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
H PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
H SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
H StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
H Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
BBoron
B SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
CCarbon
C CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
O Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
O K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
O AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
O Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
O Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
O AnhydriteCaSO4
O AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
O CalciteCaCO3
O Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
O FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
O GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
O IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
O KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
O LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
O MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
O MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
O PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
O QuartzSiO2
O SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
O Quartz var. Smoky QuartzSiO2
O StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
O Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
O Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
FFluorine
F Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
F FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
NaSodium
Na AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Na SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
MgMagnesium
Mg Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
AlAluminium
Al K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Al AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Al Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Al AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
Al Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Al KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Al LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Al MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Al PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Al SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Al StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
Al Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
SiSilicon
Si Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Si K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Si AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Si Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Si Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Si AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
Si Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Si KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Si LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Si MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Si PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Si QuartzSiO2
Si SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Si Quartz var. Smoky QuartzSiO2
Si StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
Si Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
Si Quartz var. Milky QuartzSiO2
PPhosphorus
P FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
SSulfur
S AnhydriteCaSO4
S ArsenopyriteFeAsS
S ChalcociteCu2S
S PyriteFeS2
S SphaleriteZnS
ClChlorine
Cl Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
KPotassium
K K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
K MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Ca Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Ca AnhydriteCaSO4
Ca CalciteCaCO3
Ca Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Ca FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Ca LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
Ca PrehniteCa2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
TiTitanium
Ti Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Ti IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
FeIron
Fe Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Fe ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Fe AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
Fe Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Fe GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Fe IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Fe MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Fe PyriteFeS2
Fe SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Fe StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
CuCopper
Cu ChalcociteCu2S
ZnZinc
Zn SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
As ArsenopyriteFeAsS

Fossils

This region is too big or complex to display the fossil list, try looking at smaller subregions.

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford,_Connecticut
Wikidata ID:Q2305713
GeoNames ID:4843553

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas that Intersect

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate

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