Detailed information
Species
Stilbite-Ca
Dimensions
74 x 106 x 78
mm
Weight
464 g
Locality
Thomaston Dam Thomaston, Litchfield County Connecticut, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
The Thomaston Dam zeolite occurrence in Connecticut, USA is a really unusual geological situation, with zeolites in mica schist rather than basalt. Specimens like this cabinet-sized Stilbite-Ca were collected during the 1950s and 1960s when, in response to severe flooding, the dam was constructed and a railroad diverted. It was in the cutting of the new railroad that impressive zeolites were found. Collecting has long since been banned in the area meaning that the only specimens to come available are those from older collections when they are recycled. This rich vein section of Stilbite-Ca comes from David Hardman's collection and features well crystallized creamy white Stilbite-Ca crystals to over 1.5 cm in length with a fine pearlescent lustre protruding into the centre of a cavity in the middle of the vein. Many of the crystals are terminated, but some merge as both side of the cavity join. There is some minor abrasion to crystals at one end of the vein, but this remains a very fine example from this important East Coast zeolite occurrence.