The fact of the matter is that there is a plethora of gemology-themed vacation destinations within the US that attract solo travelers and families alike!
Take your family, partner, and friend (or simply go alone) to a literal treasure trove full of diamonds, just waiting to be found.
In 1975, a visitor discovered a 16-carat wonder right here, while in 2015, an 8.5 carat diamond worth over $1 million was discovered. To date, over 30,000 diamonds have been found within the park. In addition, you have an appraiser available on site who can estimate the value of your precious findings!
Virginia
Looking for something a bit different?
Head on over to Morefield Mine in Amelia, Virginia. An excellent opportunity to put your mining skills to test—here, you’ll find an abundance of amazonite, topaz, garnet and other minerals!
Herkimer Diamond
New York
There’s more to the Big Apple than Broadway and pizza.
Crystal Grove Diamond Mine gives you a unique opportunity to discover gemstones within one of the busiest cities in the world.
Any specials on the menu?
Try the Herkimer diamonds and quartz—we hear they’re the real deal!
You also have the option to rent out your own prospecting tools. Pro tip: Keep a chisel and hammer handy to break down the rock—you’ll thank us later!
The US is an incredible place for gem-hunters and mineral collectors. And if you’re interested in expanding your collection, be sure to explore the rest of our blog for updates and insight on various new gem sites all over the region.
Honorable mentions include Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine in Montana and Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine in Nevada.
For more on gems and minerals, follow Howard Finsterman Minerals to discover a world of glittering marvels!
Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably know what birthstones are and how they are believed to help people in metaphysical healing and bringing good fortune with their unique properties. Each birth month has a different gemstone associated to it and a few months are even associated with multiple gems.
Birthstone of July
Ruby, known as the ‘King of Gems’ in ancient India, is the gemstone of folks born in July. Ruby is considered as one of the most prized of all gemstones and they are much harder to be found in large sizes than sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. Due to their rare occurrence, rubies are expensive and their prices increase exponentially with size.
The ruby is a type of mineral corundum that was discovered about 2000 years ago. Mineral corundums are found in many different forms, only the red one is called Ruby while all others belong to the family of sapphires.
The Benefits Rubies Are Believed To Bring Into the Lives of Their Owners
The word ‘Ruby’ comes from Latin and it means ‘red’. The most high quality rubies are found in Burma and Thailand.
Like all other birthstones, rubies are believed to bring many benefits, if worn by the people born in July. Some of these benefits are:
During ancient times, it was believed that rubies have amazing healing properties and can help prevent hemorrhages and cure inflammatory disease. Also, it was believed to soothe anger.
Europeans found rubies to bring health, wealth, love and wisdom to their owners.
According to a wide held belief during The Middle Ages, rubies have the ability to warn their owners about the upcoming problems so that they can figure out a way to deal with them. Whenever something bad is going to happen to their owners, rubies were believed to change their color to dark red or brown. This allows the wearer to prepare for the upcoming problem.
It is also believed to offer protection from all kinds of evils.
Burmese warriors had a strong belief that they became invincible in battles by wearing these precious red gemstones.
For the people born in July, ruby is believed to increase mental strength, courage and stamina.
They are also believed to fuel one’s creativity and motivation.
Rubies are also known to help in overcoming depression and eliminating fatigue.
According to experts, ruby has the unique property of helping its owner to achieve life goals by inciting refreshing and positive energy that motivates them to move forward in their lives.
It is believed that ruby helps in maintaining healthy blood vessels and, ultimately, normal blood circulation. It stimulates the pineal gland and is also linked to heart energy center.
Rubies are also widely associated with power, vividness and passion and the symbolic meaning of the gemstone’s red color is passion and love.
It would not be wrong to say that people born in July are lucky because they have got one of the most beautiful, valuable, unique and rare gemstones that look perfect no matter how you wear it.
The sky, planets and stars have been sources of wonder and inspiration for a large number of people for hundreds of thousands of years. Poets and writers have used the moon to symbolize beauty and scientists have studied the movements of stars and planets to find and study various laws of nature.
There is another group of people that believe that the relationship between various stars and their movements affects human beings. They are known as astrologists.
Astrology: What It Really Is?
For a common person, astrology is all about zodiac signs. However, the sign is only a part of the wider field of astrology. In broader terms, astrology is defined as “a field that investigates and studies the influences of stars and planets on human life.”
According to the proponents and experts of astrology, a person’s life and personality is largely shaped by the positions and movements of stars, planets, sun and moon at the time of his/ her birth.
Astrologists study these very positions and movements to not only find out someone’s personality traits, but also to predict their future, in terms of finances, relationships, successes and failures and even health.
While some claim astrology as a field of pure science, others think it falls under the category of metaphysics because it deals with the non-physical entities.
Why Astrology Has Been So Popular?
Despite the fact that time and again, scientists have discredited astrology and its significance or relevance to human life, in any way, it has continued to appeal and fascinate millions of people all over the world. This is believed to be due to the very nature of human beings.
Humans have always wanted to be in control of their lives however, the unpredictable nature of human life is the greatest hindrance in this regard. Therefore, anything that in any way promises to remove this obstruction has always attracted humans. Since the ability to predict future greatly increases one’s control over life (as one could prepare for the upcoming things beforehand and could avoid unfavorable things and circumstances), it has captivated people’s’ attention since ages.
Types of Astrology
There are two key methods to study the positions and movements of stars and planets and the relationship between them, giving birth to two main types of astrological systems:
Western Astrology
The origin of Western astrology can be traced back to Babylonian and Hellenistic traditions. As evident from the name, it is largely practiced and followed in western countries. It mainly revolves around horoscopes and sun signs. It has often been criticized for having a limited approach; it only considers the position of sun at the time of a person’s birth to make predictions.
Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology traces its origin to ancient India, about 5000 years ago; this is why it is alternatively called Hindu or Indian astrology. It uses a holistic approach i.e. it studies the positions, and movements of both sun and planets, to calculate horoscopes, to interpret someone’s personality and to prophesize about people’s’ lives. Since Vedic astrology takes into account various factors, it is said to be more accurate than the Western astrology.
Considered as the ‘Science of light’, the Vedic astrology studies the connection between the human body and various celestial bodies of the earth’s solar system.
Gemstones
The lore associated with gemstones is as old as human beings. Not only gems have been associated with cultures, religions and various spiritual practices, they were also used for adornment and various medicinal purposes during ancient times. This is due to the belief that gemstones have various inherent qualities and can affect the personalities and lives of humans.
How Do We Define Gemstones?
Gemstones are usually inorganic minerals that occur naturally in the earth’s crust and are extracted, cut and polished to be sued for various purposes. Gemstones are known for their beauty and durability.
Thanks to the advancements of modern world, we now have some synthetic gems as well. Synthetic gems are those that are not naturally found, rather are prepared in labs. Since real gems tend to be really expensive, synthetic gems are considered as good, cheaper alternatives. They have properties similar to the real gemstones.
Gemstones and Astrology – The Connection
Gemology i.e. the “study (ethnic or scientific) of gemstones, has been an essential branch of applied astrology from the time immemorial
The connection between gemstones and astrology was first identified by the Vedic astrologists. They believed that each gemstone is ruled by a planet and if we could identify the position of planet in each person’s chart, and the planetary rulership of a gemstone, gems can be used for personal development, healing and for attracting positive energies.
It is believed that every living being produces some energy in the world. It is this energy field where our emotions, habits, beliefs and thought patterns reside. Gems are thought to affect that energy field and as a result a person’s’ mental and emotional energies. With time, these subtle effects of gems can cause long term changes in a person’s habits, emotions, thoughts etc.
However, to gain the benefits of gems, it is crucial that you use the right gemstone according to your ruling planet or horoscope.
Since only astrologers can understand the complex details associated with planets, their movements, relationships etc. and not many people understand the idea of ruling planet, they have used the horoscope system for gemstones recommendations.
Gemstones According To Sun Signs (Astrological Gemstones)
October – Opal, Watermelon Tourmaline, or Pink Tourmaline
November – Topaz or Citrine
December – Turquoise, Zircon, Lapis or Tanzanite
Final Word
Despite the fact that the roots of the connection between gemstones and astrology can be traced back to the ancient times, it is still not considered by many as having any scientific base. Therefore, different opinions and views exist with regard to the role gemstones and astrology plays in one’s life.
Are you a fan of relaxing, quiet time, spent in the outdoors? Are you an individualistic person, who enjoys bonding with others with similar interests and building connections?
Collecting minerals involves adventure, a connection with nature, spending time outdoors and then enjoying the collections created by others; hence building some interesting, possibly life-long connections.
Howard Fensterman is a NY lawyer, with a knack for mineral collecting. He has helped scores of collectors build and secure their personal collections and that makes him the perfect advisory for anyone just getting in the habit of mineral collecting.
He also suggests the following concrete steps to get your mineral collection off to a great start.
Invest In a “Field Guide”
Get a guide or catalogue that clearly defines the qualities of different mineral specimens along with clear pictures. Learn your way through these books and you will soon be able to recognize and class the minerals.
Check Out Museums and Other Collections
Books are great; but there is something immensely engaging about seeing mineral collections in person.
There is something so enthralling about the cuts, colors, lustrous finishes and shapes of an amazing specimen.
Find out if there are any public displays of mineral collections in your city and pay them a visit.
Attend Mineral Shows
Hundreds of mineral shows are held across the world each year. Try to get to a few once a year and you’ll love the atmosphere if you are a true mineral connoisseur.
Remember mineral shows aren’t just for buying raw-form minerals, but also precious jewelry and other items. These are also a good place to get an up-close and personal look at some beautiful specimens.
Go Field Collecting
True-blue mineral collectors can’t resist the charms of finding and collecting fine mineral specimen all by themselves. Go out in the field, visit an active or inactive stone quarry, or take a walk along a natural rock exposure for example, along a shoreline or in the woods. It’s easier to see the veins and pockets containing traces of minerals. And if you are lucky, you might even be able to prospect some beautiful precious/semi-precious stones for yourself.
Are you excited about making your first mineral acquisition? Keep visiting Howard Fensterman’s website here and be inspired by his lifelong passion for mineral collecting.
Interested in investing in Gold? Be careful! It isn’t always easy to tell a gold nugget from a copper nugget that has been polished to shine just like real ones. And then there is Fool’s Gold; this is simply the name given to some naturally occurring minerals such as chalcopyrite, bismutite and iron pyrite that look a lot like unpolished gold to the unsuspecting eye.
But there are some ways of testing the nugget and find out if it really is what the seller says it is i.e. gold! And in case you still can’t figure it out, it is always a good idea to consult with a mineral and precious metals expert to help you make the right decision.
As a connoisseur of the finer things in life, Howard Fensterman has a passion for minerals and metals.
According to the professional lawyer and gemstone authority, Howard Fensterman offers the following few ways of ensuring the authenticity of your gold nuggets.
Real Gold Is Heavy
Gold has a specific gravity of 19.3 g; this simply means that it is 19.3 times heavier than a corresponding volume of water. A nugget made of any other metal will feel a lot lighter than a real gold nugget. So if you have ever handled gold, let your intuition guide you on this one. Or better yet, get a weighing scale!
It Always Looks Amazing
Hold the gold nugget under a lamp. Look at it from various angles, turn it around and examine it properly. The color and lustrous shine of a gold nugget remains uniform, but Fool’s Gold will show variations and get caught out! The uniformity in appearance is the secret to figuring out if you have a real gold nugget or not.
Gold is Tough
Try hammering a nail into the gold nugget. Don’t worry; if it really is gold, you don’t run the risk of damaging it. Because if it cracks or crumbles away, it’s not gold.
Real gold can’t be broken away that easily, it may best or dent slightly but it sure won’t crumble under a hammer.
Do the Nitric Acid Test
This is the most effective, foolproof test we have to date. Drip just one drop of nitric acid (be careful) on the nugget. If it fizzes into green foam, it isn’t gold but copper instead. On the other hand, if the nugget is entirely unaffected by the nitric acid, the Gold Nugget is good.
The Last Word
As the value of gold continues to increase, so does the temptation for scoring a good deal on gold nuggets. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
If you’d like to obtain more specific information about the qualities of gold, check out Howard’s article the history and scientific background of this amazing mineral.
Do you know that according to an estimate, each person living in the United States of America uses around three million pounds of metals, minerals, and rocks for one purpose or another?
While we know that minerals, metals and rocks are important parts of our daily lives, the figures are surprising, right?
Carl Ege from the Utah Geological Survey seemed to know this already. This is why, in his book “What are Minerals Used For?” he said that majority of people are not aware that minerals are important part of our everyday life.
Before we delve into the details of what role minerals play in our daily life and how they are used, let’s first understand what minerals basically are?
The Word Mineral
As we all know, the word ‘mineral’ is used in daily life for referring to two different substances; dietary minerals and elements that are found inside the earth. This article, however, is targeted towards the second type of minerals.
How Do We Define Minerals?
Minerals are natural, homogenous substances that have crystalline structure and are found inside the earth’s crust. In simple words, they can be understood as naturally occurring elements.
The International Mineralogical Association put forward a standard definition of minerals in 1965. According to it, “a mineral is a chemical compound or an element that is formed as a result of various geological processes and features a crystalline structure”.
The above given definition tells us that a naturally occurring substance must fulfill the following criteria in order to be considered as a mineral:
It is formed naturally, as a result of various geological processes. There is no such thing as a synthetic mineral. Even gemstones that are prepared in the lab are not considered minerals, for example cubic zirconia.
It occurs in solid state. A mineral does not exist in any other state, but solid only.
The crystalline structure is another criterion that a substance must fulfill in order to qualify as a mineral. Each type of mineral is formed by unique geometric arrangement of atoms that gives them a different crystal structure.
As DNA is the basic structure of human cells that differentiates each person form the other, a mineral is identified by its chemical composition. Each type of mineral features a unique chemical composition that differentiates it from other members of the mineral family.
How Do We Classify Minerals?
Mineral classification is a highly difficult process due to their abundance. A large numbers of minerals i.e. more than 4,600, according to the International Mineralogical Association, have already been discovered while the process of finding more is still going on.
For identification and classification of minerals, following characteristics are taken into account:
Color
Luster
Streak
Hardness i.e. its resistance to scratching
Density
Transparency or Clarity
Cleavage and fracture i.e. its breaking pattern; whether it breaks along smooth lines or unevenly.
Specific Gravity
Crystal structure
Categories of Minerals
Once a mineral is identified by taking into account the above mentioned factors, it is categorized either as a silicate or nonsilicate, according to its chemical composition
Silicate Minerals
Silicate Mineral Author: Lloyd.james0615 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysocolla.jpg#filelinks
These are most commonly found minerals; they make up almost 90% of the earth’s crust. Silicate minerals contain oxygen and silicon as basic materials and are usually formed as a result of the natural process of the cooling of melted rocks.
Non-silicate Minerals
Non-silicate minerals also make a large group. They are sub-divided as:
Oxides
Sulfides
Sulfates
Carbonates
Organic Minerals
Native Elements
Non-silicate minerals are formed as a result of different natural processes:
As a result of the process of mineral decomposition
Due to cooling of magma
Evaporation of water from earth that leaves behind the crystals of minerals
Ten Commonly Used Minerals
Last August, we discussed the most commonly used minerals and how they are used. Now, we will elaborate on them some more, as well as additonal common elements in the mineral category. Despite the fact that thousands of mineral have so far been discovered, not all of them are being used by human beings. Only 100 minerals are commonly found due to their abundance and as many as 40 have diverse usages in our daily lives.
Here, we are highlighting the ten minerals that we commonly use in everyday life:
Aluminum
One of the most abundantly found metallic mineral inside the earth’s crust, Aluminum is widely used in various industries. Its biggest use is in the manufacturing of airplanes and automobiles. Around 25% of aluminum is used is canning and bottling industries, whereas 14% is used for electrical and building purposes.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a class of minerals that include six fibrous minerals. They are, actinolite, chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite, tremolite, and anthophyllite.
We all have heard about asbestos being used for insulation due to its heat resistant property. However, it is also used in manufacturing of cement sheets and pipes, various friction products, paint filler, chemical filters, gaskets, etc.
Although asbestos is dangerous for human health, it is used because the minerals can easily be converted into flexible, strong, and heat resistant, fibers.
Beryllium
Beryllium is an important mineral for aircraft and defense industry because it’s light, yet very strong alloys are used in aircrafts manufacturing. The mineral is also used in bronze metallurgy, as a deoxidizer, in fluorescent lights and X-ray tubes. However, Beryllium is a highly toxic mineral.
A widely used precious gemstone emerald also belongs to the category of Beryllium.
Copper
Copper is another highly useful mineral that is widely used in a range of industries. From jewelry, electric wires, cables and machinery to plumbing, transportation and in making of currency, copper is abundantly used by humans in manufacturing of products that are used on a daily basis. Since copper is a good conductor of electricity, it is widely used all over the world in electrical industry.
Clays
Different types of clay minerals are used in the manufacturing industries. From household products, such as crockery, and pottery, to sanitary products, tiles, firebricks, fire clay and various construction materials, clay minerals play the key role. Additionally, they are used to make certain products that are very commonly used in everyday life, such as paper and rubber.
Gold
Gold is one of those minerals that everyone is aware of. Apart from its key usage i.e. to make jewelry, gold is also used for making medals, coins, computer circuitry, for electroplating, for manufacturing certain applications used in aerospace industry, and for various electronic and scientific instruments.
Gold is also used in the field of dentistry for making artificial replacement teeth. Gold is an easily malleable metal that adds value and diversity to its usages.
Iron Ore
Manufacturing of steel is the biggest purpose Iron ore is used for. The fourth most abundantly found element in the earth’s crust is also used for making auto parts, magnets, catalysts and numerous other metallurgical products. Modern world largely owes its development (in terms of construction and production) to the Iron ore.
Iron ore makes up the 5% of earth’ crust.
Lead
Do you know that the United States is not only the biggest producer, but also the recycler and consumer of lead?
It is mainly used in manufacturing of ammunitions, nuclear shielding, containers, television tubes, ceramics, batteries and in the construction industry. Previously, lead was also used in manufacturing of household utensils, in pencils and paints, but these uses have largely been terminated because of its harmful effects. Upon contact, Lead can poison food and water.
Quartz
Quartz is the name that has been given to a family of rocks. Silica (a type of Quartz) is the most abundantly found mineral on earth. In crystal form, it is highly popular as semi-precious gemstones. These include smoky quartz, amethyst, rose quartz and citrine. It is also used for manufacturing of paints, glass, precision instruments, watches, abrasives and silicon semiconductors.
Quartz can generate electricity when mechanical stress is applied thus, it is use to make oscillators, pressure gauges, wave stabilizers and resonators. Also, it is used in making pictographic lenses, prism and heat ray lamps.
Date: 1977. From the Gem and Mineral collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Credit: Dane A. Penland (Smithsonian Institution). Public. Resource.Orgis licensed under CC BY 2.0
The Treasure Hunt
We all have played treasure hunts in our childhood and there are no two views about the fact that we all loved those exciting, adventurous, and rewarding games.
How about playing a treasure hunt to find real gems?
Put simply, gem hunting is a treasure hunt, but one that is performed at an advanced level, utilizing modern tools and professional techniques.
Most everyone loves to look at these shiny, sparkling stones. But, unfortunately, hunting for minerals isn’t as easy a sport as our childhood treasure hunts were.
As someone rightly said, it is like playing the geological lottery. If luck is on your side, you may find some precious gems without hunting for days, but if luck isn’t kind to you, you may hunt for days on end. Even if you use the most advanced tools and machinery, you might only end up getting your hands on a few semi-precious gemstones.
So before we get into discussing the details of gem hunting, let us take a look at some basic information regarding these beautiful and colorful minerals of nature.
How Do We Define a Gemstone?
Rose Quartz Healing Gemstone
Even though human beings have been hunting and pursuing gems for thousands of years, we still lack a proper definition of them.
Coming up with an appropriate label has been challenging, not only for laymen but also for lexicographers (linguistic experts who compile the dictionaries).
While the above-mentioned factors determine the value of these entities, there is no universal measurement or classification system in place for any gemstone except the diamond.
Due to the absence of a uniform classification system, some gems are not considered as precious as diamonds even though they are much rarer than diamonds. Following are some of the highly rare gems:
Red beryl. Photo: Rob Lavinsky. Photo: Wikipedia, CC
Red beryl
Alexandrite
Musgravite
Painite
Poudretteite
Jeremejevite
Benitoite
Grandidierite
Tanzanite
Synthetic Gemstones – A Cheaper Alternative
Thanks to the advancements in technology, we now have synthetic gemstones. These are made in a laboratory but mostly contain the same chemical properties as the natural ones. In fact, if you put one synthetic and one natural gemstone next to each other, they will be hard to tell apart.
They make a good option for those who are only concerned about appearance and not the veracity of the mineral. Synthetic gems sometimes may have fewer blemishes than real ones. Not to mention they are much cheaper.
Top Places to Go For Gem Hunting in the US
Azurite specimen from the Morenci mine, Morenci, Arizona, USA. Photo: Wikipedia CC
Gem hunting is an exciting family activity. This is why many people include a gem-hunting adventure in their vacation plans. If you want to experience the adrenaline rush by finding precious gems at places where you least expect them, then take a look at the following list to learn about the places considered amazing for gem hunting:
Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas
Emerald Hollow Mine, North Carolina
Cherokee Ruby Mine, North Carolina
Gem Mountain, North Carolina
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine, Montana
Diamond Hill Mine, South Carolina
Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine, Nevada
Woodward Ranch, Texas
California State Gem Mine, California
Whenever you plan to go gem hunting, make sure to check the legalities before you start the hunt at a location, apart from those that are specifically meant for the purpose and are open to the public. This is important to ensure that you do not end up being arrested for violating laws or trespassing. Unless you have permission, you can hunt for gems on any private or public property.
Join a Club!
There are many mineral clubs you can join. In New York State alone, there are 15 locations throughout the state.
Final Note
Gem hunting is an exciting, adventurous, and rewarding activity that can be taken upon both as a career and for recreational purposes. So, let loose your inner explorer and experience the exhilaration this amazing activity has in store for you.
Gorgeous gems like diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires are usually unearthed in places like India, East Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Myanmar. The truth is, there are mines all over the US where amateur mineralogists can go and dig for gems themselves. These following mines are family friendly and some even feature on site gemologists that will analyze your findings.
Crater of Diamonds State Park
Located 120 miles from Little Rock, this 37-acre field found in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, was once a gem creating a volcanic crater. The Crater of Diamonds State Park lets you rent shovels, buckets, and knee pads for your diamond searching quest. Any shiny gems you find can be appraised on site and are yours to keep. The park’s many visitors have so far found over 30,000 diamonds. Most of them have been small but recently in June 2015, one lucky visitor found an 8.52 karat stone, worth about $1 million. Your chances of finding diamonds here are high, and the park also provides camping sites and is open year round.
Emerald Hollow Mine
The Emerald Hollow Mine is found in Hiddenite, North Carolina. It is the only emerald mine in the US that is open to the public. For a small fee, you can do your own digging here. The mine is open year round and features beautiful scenery. Located on 70 acres, you can not only find emeralds but also sapphire, tourmaline, garnet, topaz, and aquamarine. If you don’t feel like digging, the mine also offers unsifted buckets ranging from $5 to $1,000 that are enriched with gems for you to sift through and find.
Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine
The Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine is found in Virgin Valley, Nevada. The mine is open only May through September and you are expected to bring your own buckets and mining equipment. Digging for opals here is hard work, but it can pay off big time. Opals valued up to $50,000 have been found here. A camping site is found 5 miles away that offers outhouse facilities and a swimming pond. Other than opal, gold has also been found in this mine. The mine offers two digging options. A hefty fee of $600 will allow you to dig through a virgin ground load that has been excavated that morning. A $100 fee will give you access to a tailings load. Tailings are previously mined loads that are a great place for newer diggers to start with lots of material to sift through. Small hand tools for cutting through bigger rocks are available to borrow on site.
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established in 1946 in an effort to stockpile uranium. Experts and amateurs used radiation detectors to confirm uranium deposits in Utah and so began the uranium boom. By 1955, 800 mines produced high-grade uranium ore, with Utah alone providing nine million tons of ore. After eight years, the AEC had more than enough reserves and ended their program. Left behind were hundreds of abandoned uranium mines. That didn’t stop air and water from finding its way into the mines and helping create new minerals.
Recently, a graduate student from Notre Dame, Travis Olds, has discovered three new uranium minerals. Olds studied uranyl mineral compounds to learn where these radioactive materials are found and how they change in different environments. Just this past year, Olds found new uranium minerals while exploring the old uranium mines in Utah. Along with a small team that includes scientist Owen Mills and Shawn Carlson, they characterized the new minerals.
Leesite, the first new mineral discovered is like uranium rust, containing uranium and oxide layers as well as potassium. Leesite occurs in tiny, bright yellow stacked blades and radiating needles. It also forms powdery masses that rest against companion minerals, mostly gypsum. Due to its structure and chemistry, it belongs to the schoepite mineral family.
The second discovered mineral, leószilárdite, is a pale yellow carbonate formed through uranium ore interacting with air. It was found in the Markey Mine in Red Canyon. Its bladed crystals are barely visible in hand samples. It was named after Dr. Leo Szilard, a Hungarian-born physicist that worked with uranium and constructed the first neutronic chain reactor.
The last uranium mineral discovered is redcanyonite. It was named after where it was found, in the Blue Lizard Mine in Red Canyon. This ultra rare mineral can only form in organic-rich layers that produce ammonium with access to manganese ions. This rare uranium mineral is not water soluble since it is a sulfate, unlike leószilárdite. Its color ranges from orange to red-orange.
These unusually large and spherical boulders are found lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the coast in New Zealand. The boulders are concretions made by the cementation of the Paleocene mudstone that was exhumed by coastal erosions. The boulders are estimated to have taken about 5 million years to form. After being analyzed, the boulders were found to be made of mud, fine silt and clay, cemented by calcite.
Giants Causeway
In Northern Ireland, the Giants Causeway is an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. These columns are the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and vanish into the sea. Similar basalt columns are found in Iceland, near the town of Vik. These perfectly hexagonal forms are typically found near sources of water, most commonly along coastlines or near streams and rivers.
Cave of the Crystals
Located a thousand feet under Naica mountain in Chihuahua, Mexico, the Cave of Crystals is a cave connected to the Naica Mine. The main cave contains massive selenite crystals, some of the largest natural crystals ever found. Hydrated sulfate gypsum is believed to have crystallized at a very slow rate over half a million years to form these huge crystals. Currently, only scientists are able to visit the Crystal Cave. Other caves continue to be discovered beneath Naica, including the Queen’s Eye, Candles Cave, Ice Palace, and Cave of Swords.
Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills is a geological formation in Bohol province in the Philippines. There are around 1,700 of these conical karst hills spread over an area of more than 20 square miles. They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season and look like endless rows of chocolate kisses, giving the hills their name. The conical and symmetrical rolling hills are actually grass covered marine limestone.
Salar de Uyuni
Found in southwest Bolivia, Salar de Uyuni Is the world’s largest salt flat at 4,086 square miles. It contains around 10 billion tons of salt. The salt flat is located near the crest of the Andes, at an altitude of 11,995 feet above sea level. The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes about 42,000 years ago. The Salar contains large amounts of sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, and borax. Currently, it holds between 50-70% of the world’s lithium reserves.
