Irish Canyon, Moffat County, Colorado, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Irish Canyon | Canyon |
| Moffat County | County |
| Colorado | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
40° 47' 16'' North , 108° 44' 17'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Once a large limestone ridge that was carved out into a canyon by the flows of the nearby Vermillion Creek. Perhaps one of, if not the most impressive Natural Areas in Western Colorado. The limestone plays host to calcite crystallization throughout. Large caverns can be found throughout the canyons interior. Calcite crystals take my formations in the locality, the most intriguing are botryoidal or "balls" of Calcite. An easy spot for kids to explore, right off the road. The location of the famed "Colorado Diamond Field Hoax" of the late 1800's.
!Please use extreme caution if you visit this locality! There are high cliffs, steep drops & difficult terrain as well as rattlesnakes & mountain lions. Note this is now a designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern, partly due to the unique geologic features, and collecting is not permitted.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ✪ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Habit: Calcite Crystalization in multiple formations. Small Boytroidal "balls" of Calcite are of the lesser found habits of the Calcite in this locality. Colour: White, Clear Fluorescence: Pink Description: Irish Canyon is a large Limestone Ridge that was created by the flows of the nearby Vermillion Creek. The Limestone plays host to a variety of Calcite formations. Mass Calcite replacement can be found in multiple locations throughout the Canyon and Canyon walls. Multiple large Caverns can be found throughout the Canyon interior. Location of the infamous "Diamond Field Hoax" of the late 1800's. Also rumored that Billy the Kid hid some of his lifted loot in the Canyon. References: |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O References: |
| ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O References: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | var. Selenite | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Brown’s Park BasinBasin
- Middle Rocky MountainsOrogenic Belt
- Mojave DomainDomain
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Irish Canyon, Moffat County, Colorado, USA