Wake County Epidote

[arappaho]

I was out a couple weeks ago helping a buddy gather soapstone
for sculpting and I stumbled across this chunk of rock with these
huge Epidote crystals on it.





I didn't really know what it was until I got it home and cleaned it up.
That's when I noticed some golden rutiles under the epidote layer,
so I had to take a closer look. Here are some pics of the rock now.







Trying to get a shot of the Golden Rutile needles on the right side
in this pic.



And the epidote needles coming off the massive clump on top.



This rock was found in a pile of dirt and rock next to a catch basin
in a residential development I have permission to collect in. I've
been back to see if there is anymore on the surface, but didn't
find any. I believe the pile of rocks came from on site, but am not
100% sure. It could have been brought in, but I think the source
is right there somewhere. I'm going to ask the developer the next
time I see him.

Thanks for looking,
Joe

[41dave]

Joe,

are we sure it's rutile and not more of the same....smaller epidote needles such as the last picture? I'm guessing the latter, but I will pass judgment until I get my own eyeballs on it

-Dave

[arappaho]

Hey Dave,

Yeah, Scott asked the same question. There are real nice epidote
needles throughout, but they're green. The golden ones I have
to assume are rutile. You really got to look at the stuff in good
sunlight to see them. I'm going to try and cut/cab some areas with
both type of needles in it. Maybe then I can get a decent pic of it.

Joe

[nose2ground]

I never knew rutile could be golden, but have seen lighter epidote that came close. Regardless, great find Joe, and great pics!

[kap]

I have some of the Quartz with the golden needles they make awesome cabs!
Keith

[ncbbqnut]

Joe,

If those needles weren't golden I would say they might be Byssolite, a variety of actinolite comprised of free-growing, often matted, hair-like fibers (according to Mindat.org).

Epidote and Byssolite can often be found together. I remember a large discovery made of these two minerals during the construction of the new alignment of NC 226 northeast of Spruce Pine in the late 1960s. The local rockhounds quickly collected all of the incredible cabinet specimens in a couple weeks. The DOT delayed construction along that stretch so the 'hounds could do their thing. I bet that would never happen today!

Nice specimens, as usual.

Dennis

[lee]

Joe:

Again, you have shown that you are a true rock hound by finding this great specimen. I did not know we had such large crystals of epidote in this area. Your collection has gained some great pieces with the addition of these beauties.

[arappaho]

Thanks Lee, I was equally surprised to see epidote crystals that
large from Wake Co. Come on by and take a look at 'em sometime.

Joe

[leonardo]

I've been looking for soapstone in SC...does anyone know where I can find some......Joe; if you found some up there let me know.

thank you'''

[arappaho]

Yes, Leonard, there are areas with "soapstone", which is actually
talc, in the Piedmont and Mountains from VA to GA. There are all
different types with different mixtures of other minerals in them.
There is also "steatite" in VA.
You can spot most of the areas where it can be found if you study
the geologic maps and look for mafic or ultra mafic outcrops. Or
Google soapstone and see what you come up with. I've heard people
on the board talk of finding it along some of the lakes in GA.
The stuff we were collecting the other day is actually a chlorite
schist with a lot of talc in it.
Most all of it is good easy carving material because you can use
regular old woodworking tools, saws, files, knives, on it.
PM me if you want me to send you some.

Joe

[carnelianpete]

Joe,
Nice find dude!!!!. You are braver than I am. I am not so sure I would have sliced that puppy. Can't wait to see some of the cabs you mentioned. Hope they come out well. Thanx for the post. Keep 'em coming.

Pete

[arappaho]

Nothing brave about it, Pete. I just had to see what the "innards"
looked like.

[rockshine]

Looking at the epidote crystal, I remarked to myself how similar to Chunky Gal Zoisite they appeared so I chased down some classifications and compositions. Both are sorosilicates, almost the same general composition except epidote has some Fe+++. Under the DANA classification system, zoisite is a subgroup of the epidote group.

[arappaho]

That is interesting, rockshine. Now I have to look up what
sorosilicates are. I wonder if those "needles" could actually be
considered zoisite crystals? Because I got a chance to look at them
closer in the sun today, and I guess they aren't rutile afterall.
I guess they're just yellow-ish epidote needles.
Don't tell Scott and 41dave. I'm going to keep telling them they're rutile.

Joe