Wasson Bluff, Two Islands, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, Canadai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Wasson Bluff | Cliff (Active) |
| Two Islands | Community |
| Cumberland Co. | County |
| Nova Scotia | Province |
| Canada | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
45° 23' 30'' North , 64° 14' 31'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Cliff (Active) - last checked 2022
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Parrsboro | 1,472 (2014) | 6.7km |
| Springhill | 3,940 (2008) | 32.4km |
| Wolfville | 3,523 (2008) | 35.6km |
| Hantsport | 1,253 (2008) | 36.6km |
| Kentville | 12,636 (2014) | 40.2km |
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 ElementsMineral 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 DiagramDetailed 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 References: |
| ✪ 'Chabazite' Habit: rhombohedrons, simple penetration twins, rare contact twins Colour: salmon orange, red, pink, white References: Locality descriptionIdentification: Visual Identification Emmons, Ebenezer (1836) Notice of a scientific expedition. American Journal of Science and Arts, 30 (2) 330-354 |
| ⓘ '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. References: |
| ⓘ 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 References: |
| ⓘ 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 References: |
| ⓘ 'Wad' Description: Some chabazite specimens show a thin black coating of wad. References: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Cuprite | 4.AA.10 | Cu2O |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Celadonite | 9.EC.15 | K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Saponite | 9.EC.45 | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Vermiculite | 9.EC.50 | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| ⓘ | Natrolite | 9.GA.05 | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Thomsonite-Ca | 9.GA.10 | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| ⓘ | Analcime | 9.GB.05 | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| ⓘ | Laumontite | 9.GB.10 | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| ⓘ | Chabazite-Ca | 9.GD.10 | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| ⓘ | Clinoptilolite-Ca | 9.GE.05 | Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O |
| ⓘ | Heulandite-Ca | 9.GE.05 | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| ⓘ | Stilbite-Ca | 9.GE.10 | NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O |
| ⓘ | Stellerite | 9.GE.15 | Ca4(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
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Celadonite | K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| H | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Stellerite | Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O |
| H | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| H | ⓘ Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Clinoptilolite-Ca | Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O |
| H | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| H | ⓘ Stilbite-Ca | NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Celadonite | K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| O | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Stellerite | Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O |
| O | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| O | ⓘ Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Clinoptilolite-Ca | Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O |
| O | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| O | ⓘ Stilbite-Ca | NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Na | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Stilbite-Ca | NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Celadonite | K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Mg | ⓘ Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Al | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Stellerite | Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Clinoptilolite-Ca | Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Stilbite-Ca | NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Celadonite | K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Stellerite | Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Clinoptilolite-Ca | Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Stilbite-Ca | NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Celadonite | K(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 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Stellerite | Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Clinoptilolite-Ca | Ca3(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Heulandite-Ca | (Ca,Na)5(Si27Al9)O72 · 26H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Stilbite-Ca | NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72 · 28H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Celadonite | K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Cu | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
Other Databases
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasson_Bluff |
|---|---|
| Wikidata ID: | Q16902987 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
- Bay of FundyBay
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Fundy basinBasin
- Meguma DomainDomain
- Meguma TerranePassive Margin
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
References
Jackson, C.T.; Alger, F. (1832) Remarks on the Mineralogy and Geology of the Peninsula of Nova Scotia. E. W. Metcalf and Co.
Phillips, William, Alger, Francis (1844) An Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy (5th ed.) William D. Ticknor & Co., Boston, MA. pp.239-241
Sabina, Ann P. (1964) Rocks and minerals for the collector: Bay of Fundy area. Paper 64-10. Geological Survey of Canada 96 pp. doi:10.4095/101010
Gregory, Gardiner (1966) Mineral Hunting in the Parrsboro, Nova Scotia Area. Rocks & Minerals, 41 (2) 85-91 doi:10.1080/00357529.1966.11765526
Pe-Piper, Georgia, Miller, Lisa (2002) Zeolite minerals from the North Shore of the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia. Atlantic Geology, 38 (1) 11-28 doi:10.4138/1252
Jänchen, Jochen, Bish, David L., Möhlmann, Diedrich T.F., Stach, Helmut (2006) Investigation of the water sorption properties of Mars-relevant micro- and mesoporous minerals. Icarus, 180 (2). 353-358 doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2005.10.010
Wasson Bluff, Two Islands, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, Canada