Orthoceras (fossils)

Orthoceras was an ancient Mollusk that dated back to the Silurian age 400 million years ago. They are the ancestors to the squid and its nickname was straight horn because their characteristics were of being long and straight. These straight shelled nautiloids ranged from less than a centimeter to more than 10 feet in length. Orthoceras could crawl the ocean floors as well as float through the water by propelling its self. Orthoceras fills its chamber inside their shells with air then squirting jets of water out. This way they could feed on the ocean floor and feed while floating. Many of these occurrences have been found in Morocco, and N.Africa and among many other places around the world.

Quartz SiO2 Silicate Group, subgroup Quartz

Smoky Quartz

Quartz

Quartz Crystals
Blue Quartz

Quartz Crystals

Kyanite Al2SiO4 Silicate Group

Physical feature

1. Color- Pale blue, gray , white

2. Streak- White.

3. Luster- Pearly to vitreous.

4. Cleavage- excellent.

5. Transparency- Translucent to transparent.

6. Fracture- None.

7. Hardness- 4(c axis) 7(b axis).

8. Forms- Long, lath-shaped crystals.

Kyanite is a gray greenish-blue. This mineral consisting of aluminium silicate in crystalline forms occurs in metaphoric rock. Kyanite is a very high pressure mineral, which means under extreme pressure the sedimentary rocks will change into metamorphic rocks. Kyanite is used as a refractory. In our modern world we manufacture spark plugs and other heat resistant ceramics from the mineral kyanite. Its also said to have the power of creativity and give one a sense of being calm and tranquil. Many of these mineral occurrences happen in mica schist's. Kyanite can be associated with staurolite, garnet, cornudrum, quarts and micas. Found in Europe, Russia and the U.S.A. (N. Carolina).

Agate SiO2 Silicate group, subgroup Quartz

Physical features

1. Color- Variable.

2. Streak- None.

3. Luster- Waxy.

4. Cleavage- None.

5. Transparency- Translucent to transparent.

6. Fracture- Conchoidal with sharp edges.

7. Hardness- 7.

8. Forms- Cryptocrystalline silica filling geodes.

Agate is a very common silica rich mineral, that is of a microcrystalline variety of quartz, also known as chalcedony. Agate is well known for it's brightly color banding. The bands are created by traces of iron and manganese. Agate formations occur when there is water containing alkali and silica. Iron hydroxide attacks the surrounding magma (lava) which then loses water and begins to crystallize. Many agates can also be hollow, since deposition has not proceeded enough to fill the cavity. When this happens it's known as a geode. Agate are found among volcanic rocks and ancient lavas, and in cavities as a secondary mineral, often found in metamorphic surroundings like granite intrusions, also can be in some sediments worldwide.

Moonstones KAISi3O8 Silicate Group, subgroup Feldspar

Physical feature

1. Color- Colorless, yellow, with a sheen of blue or pink.

2. Streak- White.

3. Luster- Vitreous to silky.

4. Cleavage- Perfect.

5. Transparency- Semi-Transparent.

6. Fracture- Uneven to conchoidal.

7. Hardness- 6 to 6.5.

8. Forms- Are very massive.

Feldspar's are minerals which cover almost two thirds of all the rocks on the earth. They are made up of aluminum silicates. Moonstone is one of many gemstone variety that belongs to the feldspar family. Moonstone is a translucent orthoclase which diffracts reflected light, this is how the moonstone gives off a mysterious shimmer of light. Granite is highly rich in feldspar. The occurrences of moonstone happen in pegmatites. As residual liquids cool from magma (lava) igneous rocks form producing an ideal growing environments. Beaches also have ideal conditions for moonstones occurrences, due to their high specific gravity and resistance to weather. I personally have found many moonstones along freshwater beaches. Although India is know for their moonstones, occurrences happen all over the world.

Freshwater pearls CaCO3 Organics Group

Physical features

1. Color- White to greenish-blue, pink and black.

2. Streak- White.

3. Luster- Pearly.

4. Cleavage- None.

5. Transparency- Translucent.

6. Fracture- Breaks uneven.

7. Hardness- 3.5 to 4.

8. Forms- Oval.

Pearls form inside any living mollusks. Most commonly grown in oysters but also occur in conchs, clams and even mussels. Mollusks live in both subtropical and tropical waters. Pearls form when a particle of sand, or by any other irritant that gets trapped between the shell and the soft outer body parts of the mollusk. In order for the mollusk to ease the irritation it secretes narc. Some pearls may even form a cyst due to encystation, and as the narc continues to secrete around the irritated area, layers begin to build, and after about 7 years a pearl will form. Freshwater pearls are fished out of rivers in Europe and the U.S.A. These pearls (shown above) are from Asia.

Brachiopods- Microspirifer (Fossils)

Brachiopods were one of the most common marine animals throughout the Cambrian period 450 million years ago. These bottom dwellers had two shells or valves that are joined along a common hinge. Brachiopods could be found along the ocean floor, where they would attach themselves with a pedicle (a type of feeler) from their backs. Brachiopods eat their food by filtering water, like a pump, pushing it in and out of its shell. Many reefs are composed of Brachiopods and in other environments where shale is isolated. Brachiopods can be found in clay sediments and in muddy conditions around water. Even though Brachiopods still survive today, they prefer cool, deep water conditions, and can be very rare. Note:) If Brachiopods are preserved well they can have amazingly delicate spines on their twin valves. Known occurrences of Brachiopods are Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A. (North Atlantic coastline). Last year when visiting New York (Herkimer) I found many of these marine animals in the sediments along the West Canadian Creek.

Fern fossil

Fossils are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains of animals, plants and any other living organism. Ferns first appeared during the Devonian, in highly vast areas worldwide which were covered in dense forests. Overtime these fern trees formed what are known as carboniferous coal swamps. Fossil ferns may be abundant and can usually be found where the environment is acidic. Coal deposits are a great location for many plant fossils. Fern fossils range in color from brownish black, whit, gray and tan. Pyrite and Pyrophyllite are the cause for the white coloration of the fern. There are many plant fossil occurrences all over the world. Fern fossils can be found in mudstones and shale. Large amounts have been found in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.