Identity HelpInfo on dendritic jasp-agate from PA-MD Quarry?
Scored a flat if unusual jasp-agate at a local gem show today. It was collected from the Penn-MD quarry in the State Line Chromite District. The flat consisted of about 15 lbs. of small roughs that were from a vein of material that formed in serpentinite. It's orange-yellow in color with black dendrites. Under magnification, the structure is actually mossy orange-yellow masses filling clear chalcedony with black dendrites. There are both botryoidal and drusy lined cavities throughout. Is anyone familiar with similar formations from this area? Id love to know more about how it formed and what minerals are contributing to the orange inclusions and black dendrites. Thanks!
-Jeremy
Here's a macro photo and one under 50X microscope
Jeremy,
That's a nice score. I'm familiar with other quartz occurrences there, the pale Amethystine and green quartz found at Cedar Hill/PA MD Materials area quarry/s, but this stuff is actually new to me. Hope it works nicely for you, sure has a neat look to it!
MRH Thanks Mark,
I did a test grind/polish on a small piece and it worked up normally and took a pretty good polish. Hoping the brighter orange pieces work up as well. Time to cut some slabs and test it out!
-Jeremy
