December 18, 2006

• Magical mystery tour

   

  
  

  another long geology post..

  
  

   

  
  

  this is for me actually

  
  

   

  
  

  but just in case some one actually has the time and interest I have included some backround stuff

  
  

  so that the casual reader would have some backround info

  
  

    to get the idea .....

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   Notes on the Ancient Amethyst ...

  
  

  found in the Thunderbay area of Ontario

  
  

   

  
  

  *Formed concurrently with the rock which contains some of the

  
  

  first signs of  life on this planet 

  
  

    

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   Amethyst, a variety of quartz, contains excess iron within its structure. When the atoms of iron are aligned, rather than scattered within the crystal, light passing through is seen as a purple color. The alignment of iron is caused by the emission of low-level radiation from the surrounding rocks. Amethyst has one unique property over the other forms of quartz that being,  it splits a single quantum of light  into two beams of light... this process is called double refraction and is totally amazing ...being that light itself is considered to be the 'smallest' of things...so perhaps we have a bit more to learn from this magic stuff.

  
  

    
  
  In Ontario the six-sided purple amethyst crystals formed by regional metamorphic processes are found in thin sheetlike deposits in crevices called veins and in vugs .....pockets within rock where trapped liquids and gases have created an environment suitable for crystal formation. When the growth of crystals occurs ... zoning takes place ... causing layers of different colors formed  by changes in the chemical  compositions of the fluids that formed amethyst. Thus no two amethyst crystals are alike in color or composition. One crystal can be uniform in color while another can vary from a subtle shade of lavender near the crystal base, to an intense, dark purple at its point.
  

  
  

   But how did it come to be?

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  The Process of external objects coming together to form a larger object is known as

  
  

  Accretion

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  The theory is that the solar system and all of the other solar bodies were formed by the force of gravity causing atoms to coalesce. When the mass was great enough the atoms of helium and hydrogen under the influence of gravity created the sun. The heavier elements were also drawn together by gravity and formed more dense smaller bodies called planets.

  
  

  Eventually most of the larger bodies coalesced into the planetary structures, but there are still "rogue" objects in the solar system (meteors, asteroids, and comets) From time to time two of these objects collide, the larger adds the mass of the smaller.

  
  

   

  
  

  As the earth grew in its early stages, it added mass from accretion. Eventually enough heavy elements were added and radioactive materials began to aid in the planet heating.

  
  

  This internal heating provided the energy necessary to begin the migration of the internal elements and chemical compounds. The heavier elements, like iron and nickel sank to the center, and the lighter materials, silicon, potassium, sodium, and aluminium rose to the surface.

  
  

  As the internal heating continued, gases (oxygen, water, nitrogen, and sulphur) were released from volcanoes and eventually created the atmosphere and the oceans. Oxygen combined with many of the lighter elements and formed SiO2 (silica) and other aluminium, and lighter-metal oxides. These were the building blocks of the crust.

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   Within the LITHOSPHERE the pressure and temperature produce rocks which are strong and rigid. Heat moves in this area via conduction.
  

  
  

   Within the AESTHENOSPHERE pressure and temperature produces weak rock structures that provide a base for convection. Hot mass can rise while cooler masses can sink. Inside the lower areas of the earth heat moves by convection.

  
  

   This is the process is called  PLATE TECTONICS. It supplies the driving force for "continental drift", "sea floor spreading" and the creation of "new rock".

  
  

  
  

  
  

   Within the AESTHENOSPHERE pressure and temperature produces weak rock structures that provide a base for convection. Hot mass can rise while cooler masses can sink. Inside the lower areas of the earth heat moves by convection.

  
  

   This is the process is called  PLATE TECTONICS. It supplies the driving force for "continental drift", "sea floor spreading" and the creation of "new rock".

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  Accreted Terrain builds  the continents we live on today 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  This next action picture portrays how crust was added to the north American plate 

  
  

  from 45 million years ago to Present  

  
  

  Layers of sedimentary rock were  accreted onto the continent. Carried toward shore atop the subducting Juan de Fuca Plate, the layers of rock are pulled beneath previous layers and wedged against the continental margin. Pressure from incoming and subducting layers creates thrust faults that help to uplift the Olympic Mountains. 

  
  

  One could consider the accreted terrain like a train with many cars destined for destruction; each piling up beneath the previous on the track. For a more naturalistic analogy: think of pond scum accumulating along the shore during a light breeze.

  
  

   As the topmost layer of the sea floor is scraped off and crumpledon to the North American Plate, the lower branch dives beneath Olympic creating heat and pressure that form the volcanoes of the Cascades.  

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  Which being us to the point of all of this ..

  
  

  How was this unique crystal from Thunderbay   

  
  

  created through billions of years of evolution? 

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  This is a diagram of the original volcanic land mass of the North American continent

  
  

  and shows how land was added to it's mass

  
  

  The crystal you see above and the ones you will see below

  
  

    formed in the yellow zones being accreted on American  protocontinent

  
  

  Their approximate age ..perhaps 2.5 Billion years old

  
  

  

  
  

    North American Continent evolved by accretion

  
  

  (from Earth's Dynamic System (6th ed.), by Hamblin, Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992).
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

   Precambrian shield areas of the world. Dark areas have generally exposed Precambrian rocks. In the stippled areas, shields are generally covered by uncontorted and nearly flat-lying younger strata (from The Changing Earth - Introduction to Geology (2nd ed.), by Mears, Jr., D. Van Nostrand Co., 1977).
  

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  Generalized scheme of Precambrian provinces of North America

  
  

  (from The Changing Earth - Introduction to Geology (2nd ed.), by Mears, Jr., D. Van Nostrand Co., 1977).
  

  
  

   

  
  

  So lets have a look at the mine in Canada  

  
  

  where this most ancient of rock comes from

  
  

  And more importantly... thanks to Howard

  
  

  Where your truly will be spending a few weeks 

  
  

  Mining this summer

  
  

  ~!YES!~

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  Its hard to tell but in the fore ground  

  
  

  this is a tremendous clay covered treasure of elestial Amethyst

  
  

  about 257 lbs ...value in dollars.... well in the Thousands ...but actually priceless

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  here is a shot of one of  the veins...

  
  

   OK now lets look at The Thunder bay area

  
  

  Ontario Amethyst
  Geology of Amethyst in the Thunder Bay area

  
  

  Amethyst veins in the Thunder Bay area occur in parallel to subparallel vein systems. Veins strike northeast and east, parallel to major Keweenawan faults. The best amethyst crystals occur in vugs and the largest vugs occur at the intersection between the northeast and east trending faults and fractures. There is a spatial relationship of amethyst deposits north of Thunder Bay to the 060^o regional unconformity/vein system that stretches from Northern Light Lake in the southwest to Kabamichigama Lake in the northeast. This regional system also hosts silver, lead and zinc mineralization.
  
  Because, in the Thunder Bay area, amethyst formation is restricted to near-surface conditions, the amethyst occurrences are located within 50 meters of the subhorizontal unconformity between the Archean and Proterozoic rocks shown on the map and cross-section below.

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

   The unconformity has also acted as a mechanism for concentrating radioactive minerals essential in the formation of the purple color of amethyst.

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  Geology map and legend of the Thunder Bay area from Geology of Ontario map 2542. Amethyst is currently being produced in Area 1 centered on Pearl, Ontario. Amethyst occurrences have also been found in Area 2 northeast of Nipigon

  
  

   

  
  

  Precambrian

  
  
  

  Proterozoic

  
  
  
  

  Keweenawan (0.9 - 1.6 billion years old)
  31abcd mafic and related intrusive rocks
  29ab Osler Group; mafic and felsic volcanic rocks and associated sedimentary rocks
  28 Sibley Group; sedimentary rocks
  
  Paleoproterozoic (1.6 - 2.5 billion years old)
  22a Animikie Group; sedimentary rocks
  
  Unconformity
  

  
  

  Archean (2.5 - 3.4 billion years old)
  15 massive granodiorite to granite intrusive rocks
  14 diorite-monzonite-granodiorite intrusive rocks
  13 muscovite-bearing granitic intrusive rocks
  12 foliated tonalite intrusive rocks
  11 gneissic tonalite intrusive rocks
  10 mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks
  9 coarse clastic sedimentary rocks
  7 sedimentary rocks
  6 felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks
  5 mafic to intermediate volcanic rocks

  
  

   

  
  

  Schematic cross-section showing geologic relationships
  of Archean and Proterozoic rocks north of Lake Superior.

  
  

  Figure is from Amethyst Deposits of Ontario, Geological Guidebook No. 5 by Max
  Vos published by the Ontario Division of Mines in 1976 (currently Mines and Minerals Division,
  Ministry of Northern Development and Mines).

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  OK enough geology for now

  
  

  When you get The raw Amethyst all cleaned up

  
  

  it looks like this

  
  

  And the magic begins to emerge

  
  

  

  
  

   This one is called a Rose

  
  

  

  
  

  this is a perfectly terminated single point

  
  

   Canadian amethyst elestial lightbrary  recordkeeper

  
  

  crystal weighing 

  
  

  5 Lbs!!!!  

  
  

  

  
  

   I need to learn how to photograph these better!

  
  

  the deep purple just isn't showing up!

  
  

   

  
  

   Why is the age of these crystals significant?

  
  

  because every band and etching  within the crystal  

  
  

  is a record keeper of changes in earth history

  
  

   

  
  

  just as tree rings reflect changes in climate 

  
  

   holding one in your hand ...

  
  

  well  its as if 

  
  

  you can feel it's  presence  and be apart of it

  
  

   

  
  

  No other stone has affected me quite like this  before

  
  

   

  
  

   This is Howard's picture of both crystals 

  
  

  2 perfectly  terminated single point Canadian

  
  

  amethyst elestial lightbrary  recordkeepers

  
  

  crystal weighing  5 and 4  Lbs!!!! ...

  
  

   

  
  

   
  

  
  

  CANADIAN" SMOKEY PHANTOM"

  
  

  AMETHYST ELESTIAL LIGHTBRARY

  
  

  6.25 Ozs

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  ROYAL PURPLE CANADIAN ELESTIAL JACOBINA AMETHYST POINT

  
  

  7.5 Oz

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

   SMOOTH TUMBLED CANADIAN AMETHYST ELESTIAL MASSAGE GEM

  
  

  

  
  

   RARE! ANCIENT CANADIAN ELESTIAL AMETHYST GENERATOR  2 Lbs  10 Ozs

  
  

   
  

   
  

  
  

  
  

  RARE! ANCIENT CANADIAN ELESTIAL AMETHYST GENERATOR

  
  

  3 lbs  

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   Canadian Amethyst JACOBINA ELESTIAL LIGHTBRARY crystal 

  
  

  12.75 Oz

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  

  
  

   INCREDIBLY ENCODED CANADIAN AMETHYST RECORDKEEPER POINT

  
  

  1 lb 45oz

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   ELESTIAL AMETHYST CLUSTER RECORDKEEPER 

  
  

  a whopping 15 lbs!

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  "DESTINY'S ROSES"

  
  

  CANADIAN ELESTIAL AMETHYST WUNDERBAR!

  
  

  5 lBS  14 5/8 oZS

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

  SMOOTH TUMBLED CANADIAN AMETHYST ELESTIAL MASSAGE GEM

  
  

   1 Lb 4.5 Ozs

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  

  
  

   CANADIAN PINK AMETHYST MULTI ELESTIAL LIGHTBRARY POINT  

  
  

  1 Lb 6.5 Ozs

  
  

    

  
  

   
  

  
  

  CANADIAN AMETHYST CRYSTAL HATCHING THRU ELESTIAL SHELL!

  
  

  
  

   11 7/8 oz

  
  

  
  

  
  

  17 LB CANADIAN ELESTIAL AMETHYST "GENERATING STATION"  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  ABOUT THE GLOVE... FREEZING BUT BEAUTIFUL IN CANADA!!

  
  

  

  
  

   If your curious ...on average  

  
  

  I payed a bit less than 10 dollars a pound 

  
  

  for the the lot

  
  

  Is that a good deal?

  
  

  No it's not

  
  

  It's totally fantastic

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  I have come to the conclusion from getting to know Howard better

  
  

  as strange as this is in our world today

  
  

  He is not selling these to make a ton of money

  
  

  Each piece is listed

  
  

  STARTING AT  1 penny

  
  

  he is simply sharing the wealth

  
  

   

  
  

  Get then while you can folks

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  canada_rocks3852

  
  

   

  
  

  Thanks to

  
  

   http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/mines/ims/amethyst/ame04-properties_e.asp#top

  
  

  for both their information and maps... 

  
  

   

  • 3:00 pm
  • 16 Comments