Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Sunshine Mining District, Utah County, Utah, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Little Green Monster Variscite Mine | Mine (Reclaimed) |
| Clay Canyon | Canyon |
| Fairfield | Town |
| Sunshine Mining District | Mining District |
| Utah County | County |
| Utah | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
40° 16' 33'' North , 112° 10' 10'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Mine (Reclaimed) - last checked 2019
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | 130 (2017) | 6.7km |
| Cedar Fort | 383 (2017) | 7.9km |
| Cedar Valley | 871 (2013) | 9.8km |
| Eagle Mountain | 27,332 (2017) | 14.4km |
| Saratoga Springs | 25,407 (2017) | 23.9km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Tooele Gem & Mineral Society | Tooele, Utah | 30km |
| Rockhounders Outreach for Community Knowledge | Sandy, Utah | 43km |
| Timpanogos Gem & Mineral Society | Provo, Utah | 44km |
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Clay Canyon Deposit, Clay Canyon Variscite Mine
A former underground phosphate/gemstone deposit/mine in altered limestone. Also named "Clay Canyon Varischite Mine" (Wilson, 2010).
This was the locality that produced the many fine examples of variscite cherished by collectors. It was actively mined by Ed Over in 1937 (and 1938?) with the help of Arthur Montgomery. The material is distinctive when compared to variscite from other localities. The polished nodules always exhibit a rind of yellow crandallite with not infrequent lines of more yellow crandallite bisecting in places the green variscite. Often, too, there will be additional little spheres of grey-green wardite present as well. Fine polished slices and half nodules of this material will bring more than a thousand dollars.
Note: Very little of the locality can be found today. The entrances to the mine and the dumps have been bulldozed to match the contour of the surrounding hills. GPS coordinates are approximate.
This was the locality that produced the many fine examples of variscite cherished by collectors. It was actively mined by Ed Over in 1937 (and 1938?) with the help of Arthur Montgomery. The material is distinctive when compared to variscite from other localities. The polished nodules always exhibit a rind of yellow crandallite with not infrequent lines of more yellow crandallite bisecting in places the green variscite. Often, too, there will be additional little spheres of grey-green wardite present as well. Fine polished slices and half nodules of this material will bring more than a thousand dollars.
Note: Very little of the locality can be found today. The entrances to the mine and the dumps have been bulldozed to match the contour of the surrounding hills. GPS coordinates are approximate.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
16 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Alunite Formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Crandallite Formula: CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| ⓘ Englishite Formula: K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| ⓘ Fluorapatite Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F |
| ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite Formula: Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O) References: |
| ⓘ Gordonite Formula: MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ Goyazite Formula: SrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| ⓘ Hydroxycalcioroméite Formula: (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+,Ti)2O6(OH) |
| ⓘ Hydroxylapatite Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| ⓘ Kolbeckite Formula: ScPO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' |
| ⓘ Millisite Formula: (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| ⓘ Montgomeryite Formula: Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| ⓘ Overite Formula: CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ✪ Variscite Formula: AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Wardite Formula: NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Hydroxycalcioroméite | 4.DH.20 | (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+,Ti)2O6(OH) |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Alunite | 7.BC.10 | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Crandallite | 8.BL.10 | CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| ⓘ | Goyazite | 8.BL.10 | SrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| ⓘ | Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O) |
| ⓘ | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3F | |
| ⓘ | Hydroxylapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Kolbeckite | 8.CD.05 | ScPO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Variscite | 8.CD.10 | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Gordonite | 8.DC.30 | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Overite | 8.DH.20 | CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| ⓘ | Montgomeryite | 8.DH.25 | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| ⓘ | Englishite | 8.DH.55 | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| ⓘ | Millisite | 8.DL.10 | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| ⓘ | Wardite | 8.DL.10 | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Crandallite | CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| H | ⓘ Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Goyazite | SrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Kolbeckite | ScPO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Hydroxycalcioroméite | (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+,Ti)2O6(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| H | ⓘ Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Overite | CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Wardite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O) |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O) |
| O | ⓘ Crandallite | CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| O | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| O | ⓘ Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Goyazite | SrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Kolbeckite | ScPO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Hydroxycalcioroméite | (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+,Ti)2O6(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Overite | CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Wardite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O) |
| F | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Wardite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| Mg | ⓘ Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| Mg | ⓘ Overite | CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Al | ⓘ Crandallite | CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| Al | ⓘ Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Goyazite | SrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| Al | ⓘ Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Overite | CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Wardite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O) |
| P | ⓘ Crandallite | CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| P | ⓘ Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| P | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| P | ⓘ Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| P | ⓘ Goyazite | SrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| P | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| P | ⓘ Kolbeckite | ScPO4 · 2H2O |
| P | ⓘ Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| P | ⓘ Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Overite | CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| P | ⓘ Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| P | ⓘ Wardite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Alunite | KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| K | ⓘ Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| K | ⓘ Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O) |
| Ca | ⓘ Crandallite | CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Ca | ⓘ Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Hydroxycalcioroméite | (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+,Ti)2O6(OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Millisite | (Na,K)CaAl6(PO4)4(OH)9 · 3H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Overite | CaMgAl(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| Sc | Scandium | |
| Sc | ⓘ Kolbeckite | ScPO4 · 2H2O |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Hydroxycalcioroméite | (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+,Ti)2O6(OH) |
| Sr | Strontium | |
| Sr | ⓘ Goyazite | SrAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Hydroxycalcioroméite | (Ca,Sb3+)2(Sb5+,Ti)2O6(OH) |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10108909 |
|---|
Mindat Articles
Clay Canyon & the Little Green Monster Variscite Mine by Dave CrosbyOther Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Basin and Range BasinsBasin
- Mojave DomainDomain
- Northern Basin and RangeWide Rift
- Oquirrh BasinBasin
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Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Sunshine Mining District, Utah County, Utah, USA