Calaveras River Canyon, Valley Springs area, Calaveras County, California, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Calaveras River Canyon | Canyon |
| Valley Springs area | Area |
| Calaveras County | County |
| California | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
38° North , 120° West (est.)
Estimate based on other nearby localities or region boundaries.
Margin of Error:
~54km
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Calaveras County Quartz with Epidote inclusions
QUARTZ
Short to long prismatic crystals common. Luster ranges from dull to glassy. Doubly terminated crystals, Tabular crystals and parallel growth aggregates occur frequently. Equant, pseudocubic crystals as well as choice fadens, both with Chlorite inclusions have been found, but these crystals are quite rare and highly prized.
Comments: Quartz crystals from the Valley Springs area are most sought after for their beautiful landscape-like inclusions of Epidote, Chlorite and altered matrixes in various combinations. Pockets are located in Lateritic soils derived from the decomposition of greenstones and are almost always completely collapsed - their contents sometimes scattered for several feet. It is unfortunate that this unique locality is closed to collecting due to large sub-divisions devouring the productive areas.
EPIDOTE
Primatic crystals from 2mm to 15mm with vertical striations and typical wedge terminations. Single crystals are found loose in pocket clay and as inclusions within Quartz crystals. Crystals are a deep olive green to light green in color. Also massive and massive crystalline. Less commonly found in pockets are unusual, dense groupings of unterminated crystals associated with Quartz. The terminations of these groups being found loose in the pocket clays and included within Quartz crystals. Epidote crystals from the Valley Springs area can be quite similar in habit to those from the New Melones Reservoir to the south.
CHLORITE
Deep green to unusual light olive green micro vermiform masses.
Found as inclusions within Quartz crystals and coatings on them. Commonly as multiple stage "phantoms". On rare occasions, Chlorite can also be observed coating the "threads" of faden Quartz crystals - thus making for very attractive and unusual rarities. Exposed chlorite on the surface of quartz crystals is often oxidized to an earthy brown.
ALBITE
Uncommonly found in pockets are small 2 - 6 mm opaque tabular, untwinned crystals of albite in groupings on matrix normally stained orange by iron oxide coatings.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) References: |
| ✪ 'Chlorite Group' Habit: Deep green to unusual light olive green micro vermiform masses. Colour: green Description: Found as Deep green to unusual light olive green inclusions within Quartz crystals - commonly as multiple stage "phantoms". On rare occasions, Chlorite can also be observed coating the "threads" of Faden Quartz crystals - thus making for very attractive and unusual rarities. References: |
| ✪ Epidote Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) Habit: Primatic crystals from 2mm to 15mm with vertical striations and typical wedge terminations. Crystals are a deep olive green to light green in color. Also massive and massive crystalline. Colour: green Description: Single crystals are found loose in pocket clay and as inclusions within Quartz crystals. Epidote crystals from the Valley Springs area can be quite similar in habit to those from the New Melones Reservoir to the south. Less commonly found in pockets are unusual, dense clusters of unterminated crystals associated with Quartz. The terminations of these groups being found loose in the pocket clays. References: |
| ✪ Quartz Formula: SiO2 Habit: Short to long prismatic crystals common. Luster ranges from dull to glassy. Doubly terminated crystals, Tabular crystals and parallel growth aggregates occur frequently. Colour: colorless Description: Quartz crystals from the Valley Springs area are most sought after for their beautiful lanscape-like inclusions of Epidote, Chlorite and altered matrixes in various combinations. Pockets are located in Lateritic soils derived from the decomposition of greenstones and are almost always completely collapsed - their contents sometimes scattered for several feet. It is unfortunate that this unique locality is closed to collecting due to large sub-divisions devouring productive areas. References: |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Shoofly-Olds Ferry DomainDomain
- Sierra Nevada BatholithVolcanic Arc
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Calaveras River Canyon, Valley Springs area, Calaveras County, California, USA