yakker
Bronze Member
A Day's Outing...Interesting (photo-heavy)
Hi all! Still getting used to my new surroundings- still only here less than 6 months, so... Took a walk nearby at a reservoir tucked into the Blue Ridge foothills. I had been trying to do some research on what to look for and found a chunk of Virginia metabasalt epidote- and knew I'd seen some myself. Second coldest day of the year- always a good choice (not)! Wandered down to a wash area where the mountain rivers converge and flow into the res. Lots and lots of rocks. All sizes and shapes. Quartz, greenstone, and lots of other stuff I don't know yet. Next time I go, I'll be bringing a pick and knapsack. There were a couple big greenstones with very cool texture and 'grain'.
Nonetheless, I found what I believe to be (I think I have the right name) sepentinite? I know it's associated with greenstone, but I haven't seen anything on line justifying where I found it. My pics, as usual are less than great, but w/ glass and natural light- and a lamp at one point, I think I've been able to capture the color- which was a deep blue-green and very beautiful. Yes, this is all tumble, so no great crystals- although you can see some formations here and there if you squint... I want to head up-river and see where it's all coming from next time I go. We're in sub-zero wind-chill temps right now, so I'll have to wait a week before trying anything like that!- it's a wind-bowl and mostly shady on the east side of the Ridge. Anyway, here are my pics. If anyone can tell me what I've got- or what I might have, please- I could use the help.
First the epidote:
now, maybe this is what I think is in the serpentine family, maybe called serpentinite:
Associated rocks, not unusual, but cool.
Yes, some rocks are perched on other rocks for support. And yes, the glass distorted a couple shots...
Thanks for looking! Yakker
Hi all! Still getting used to my new surroundings- still only here less than 6 months, so... Took a walk nearby at a reservoir tucked into the Blue Ridge foothills. I had been trying to do some research on what to look for and found a chunk of Virginia metabasalt epidote- and knew I'd seen some myself. Second coldest day of the year- always a good choice (not)! Wandered down to a wash area where the mountain rivers converge and flow into the res. Lots and lots of rocks. All sizes and shapes. Quartz, greenstone, and lots of other stuff I don't know yet. Next time I go, I'll be bringing a pick and knapsack. There were a couple big greenstones with very cool texture and 'grain'.
Nonetheless, I found what I believe to be (I think I have the right name) sepentinite? I know it's associated with greenstone, but I haven't seen anything on line justifying where I found it. My pics, as usual are less than great, but w/ glass and natural light- and a lamp at one point, I think I've been able to capture the color- which was a deep blue-green and very beautiful. Yes, this is all tumble, so no great crystals- although you can see some formations here and there if you squint... I want to head up-river and see where it's all coming from next time I go. We're in sub-zero wind-chill temps right now, so I'll have to wait a week before trying anything like that!- it's a wind-bowl and mostly shady on the east side of the Ridge. Anyway, here are my pics. If anyone can tell me what I've got- or what I might have, please- I could use the help.
First the epidote:
now, maybe this is what I think is in the serpentine family, maybe called serpentinite:
Associated rocks, not unusual, but cool.
Yes, some rocks are perched on other rocks for support. And yes, the glass distorted a couple shots...
Thanks for looking! Yakker
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I was a good time. And if it weren't for the wind, I'd go out today (rats). I wish I could capture the clarity that I see on those pieces of 'serpentinite' (and it may not even be that...hmm) But between glare and a cruddy phone camera, I just couldn't do it. Thinking of sending a piece to BurntBear- see what he thinks. Good luck to you on your adventures!
