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Tourmaline
A prismatic mineral of various colours that occurs in igneous and
metamorphic rocks. Some tourmaline is used as gemstones.
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Black tourmaline crystals occur in a pinkish granite pegmatite rich in
K-feldspar. (Trinity Bay, Bonavista Bay).
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Barite
Barite (BaSO4) is a white, heavy mineral and the main ore of barium; it is
used in drilling muds, paints, chemicals and TV screens.
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Barite vein (light) cutting bedded sedimentary rocks. (Cross Point, near St.
Bride's).
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Gypsum
Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is a soft, white mineral consisting mainly of
calcium sulphate formed in hot climates during the evaporation of sea
water. Gyspum is used in making wallboard (gyproc), plaster of Paris
and portland cement.
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Hills underlain by white gypsum. Gypsum from the Flat Bay deposit in
western Newfoundland is used in the manufacturing of gyproc wallboard
and cement in Corner Brook and is also exported to the United States.
(Fischells Brook, near Flat Bay, western Newfoundland).
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Gold
Gold (Au) is a precious metal used in jewellery and bullion and has
many industrial and medical applications.
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An occurrence of gold in quartz. This is a common association for
gold, however, visible gold is rare and most gold is detected by
chemical analyses. (Paymaster Mine, South Porcupine, Ontario).
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Malachite
Malachite, a copper carbonate, occurs mostly as a secondary copper
mineral. Copper most frequently occurs as a sulphide (e.g.,
chalcopyrite - CuFeS2) but exposure to water and oxygen causes it to
oxidize and to combine with other minerals such as carbonate.
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Malachite occurring as stains along fractures in sedimentary rocks.
(Freshwater Bay, Bonavista Bay).
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Rusty Zone (Pyrite)
Pyrite (FeS2) is a very common iron sulphide. It has a bronze
appearance and is commonly referred to as "fool's gold". It oxidizes
readily and forms rusty or gossan zones. Because pryite is often
associated with valuable minerals, such as copper, it is often used as
an indicator of the presence of these valuable minerals.
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A rusty zone caused by the oxidation of pyrite developed in schistose
volcanic rocks. (Hare Bay, Bonavista Bay).
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Chromite
Chromite ((Mg,Fe)Cr2O4) is important as a source of chromium. It is a
very valuable mineral and does not occur in very large quantities. It
is used to make stainless steel and to chrome-plate metals.
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Chromite pod (black) in altered ultramafic rocks. (Gander River area).
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Sulphur
Sulphur (S) in its native or elemental form. Sulphur is used in
fertilizer and chemicals.
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Native sulphur in silicified felsic volcanic rocks that are 490
million years old. It is rare for sulphur to be preserved in its
elemental form in such old rocks. (Red Indian Lake, central
Newfoundland).
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Fluorite
Fluorite is a relatively soft mineral made up of calcium fluoride
(CaF2). It is important as a source of the element fluorine and as a
metallurgical flux in the manufacture of aluminum.
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Fluorite can be found as massive ore or crystals, as shown, it was
mined for a number of years at St. Lawrence. (St. Lawrence, Burin
Peninsula).
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Dimension Stone
Dimension stone is any natural building stone that may be cut to
specific size requirements. It can be rough or finished stone. Stone
quarried in Newfoundland has been used in the St. John's Court House,
the CN railway station, Cabot Tower on Signal Hill, the Anglican
Cathedral, a number of local lighthouses and many more buildings
around St. John's.
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Grey granite blocks in a recently developed quarry. (Seal Cove,
Fortune Bay).
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