Datolite
Posted by: Raymond McDougall on 05.04.2023 | Filed under:

Datolite

Specimen # 201205
Mineral: Datolite
Location: Luck Goose Creek Plant, Leesburg, Loudoun Co., Virginia, USA
Size: 8.8 x 7.0 x 2.7 cm

Description

Detailed Description

A gorgeous datolite from Leesburg, Virginia, with sharp, lustrous crystals ranging from translucent to water-clear transparency. In excellent condition.

This locality has been known by various names over the years, and is only one locality that has been known by the “Goose Creek” name. Now known as the Luck Goose Creek Plant, it was formerly the Virginia Trap Rock Quarry. To add to the naming complexity, the late mineral collector Donald “Buck” Keller sold specimens labeled the “Virginia Crushed Stone” or “VCS” or “VACS” quarry – this is now known to have been his code for the Luck Goose Creek Plant (which at the time was the Virginia Trap Rock Quarry).

I note that the hue of these datolite crystals varies a bit depending on lighting source – they are very lightly coloured, and in some lighting they look a bit more yellow-green tinted.

A beautiful specimen from the Virginia suite of the John S. White Collection (catalogue # 22-2-10), it was originally collected by Buck Keller, and John acquired it from The Arkenstone, and originally the specimen was collected by Buck Keller.


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