You might find also find this mineral in different shades of green: from light apple green to deep forest green.Īs for its value, chlorite is an important part of the Earth’s geological processes, marking where significant changes have happened in a rock’s life. They lend these rocks their green color and make them really special. This means that when heat and pressure change these original minerals, chlorite starts to form.Ĭhlorite is often found in metamorphic rocks, like schist and gneiss. It often shows up during the alteration of other minerals like mica and amphibole. Chlorite Quartz with Chlorite photo provided by Saphira MineralsĬhlorite is known for its beautiful green color, which makes it look like tiny pieces of leafy plants. If you explore the Gravel Bar Hollow and Brookdale Mine, you can find specimens of Galena. Where you can find Galena in Pennsylvania And if you’re a collector, its unique crystal shapes and shiny metallic luster will surely hook you. It’s also a significant source of silver, as it sometimes contains small amounts of this precious metal. Galena is the most important ore of lead, used in car batteries, protective shields for X-ray machines, and in the production of ammunition. It’s often silvery-gray or lead-gray, and its interesting cube-shaped crystals are always a fun surprise when found in the rocks! The galena found in Pennsylvania are found nestled in limestone or dolomite. As hot fluids from deep within the Earth’s crust rise and mix with these rocks, the cool temperatures cause lead and sulfur to combine and create galena. It usually forms in areas with lots of limestone or other sedimentary rocks. Recognized for its metallic luster and cube-like crystal structures, galena is a sight to behold. Galena Galena photo provided by Weinrich Minerals Stream gravels and fields to the northwest of Philadelphia.Fields and gravels of Waterside and Claysburg.Area washes, fields, and gravels of Allentown,.You can find chert in several specific areas in our state, including: Beyond that, collectors appreciate chert for its unique colors and textures. It’s also been used in fire-starting as it creates sparks when struck by steel. Native Americans treasured it because it can be chipped into sharp points for arrows and spearheads. Over thousands of years, this pile gets squished and heated up, which becomes chert.Ĭhert is valuable for its many uses. When diatoms die, they sink to the ocean floor and their remains pile up. This rock usually forms in ocean environments from the remains of tiny sea creatures called diatoms. Chert Chert photo provided by Illinois RocksĬhert is a rock that’s made up of tiny crystals of quartz, also known as silicon dioxide, that you’d need a microscope to see. You can find gem-quality Celestine if you explore Meckley’s Quarry near Mandata. Where you can find Celestine in Pennsylvania And for gemstone enthusiasts, polished pieces of this mineral are just breathtaking! So next time you come across a celestine specimen, remember: you’re holding a piece of Pennsylvania’s geological artistry that’s both incredibly useful and extraordinarily beautiful. That’s why it’s Pennsylvania’s official state mineral!īeyond its beauty, celestine is also a vital source of strontium, an element used in making glass for color television picture tubes and in fireworks for a brilliant red color. What makes it even more special is that each crystal can look like a perfect prism or a flat tabular shape, with striations running parallel to its length. Our state has its own version of celestine that showcases amazing shades of blue, white, or colorless. Over thousands of years, as water with strontium and sulfate seeps into the ground, the celestine starts to grow. It’s usually formed in sedimentary rocks, particularly limestone and dolomite, or in evaporative deposits. These requirements are subject to change without notice and may differ from what we state below.Īlways get updated information directly from the source ahead of time to ensure responsible rockhounding.Ĭelestine Celestite photo provided by and available for purchase at StonesOfHanselĬelestine, also known as celestite, is a spectacular mineral, cherished by many for its heavenly blue color.

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Shiny white gems found in backyard dirt