Rose Road Wollastonite Deposit, Pitcairn, New York
(Previously referred to as the Sugar Bush or Mulvany Property)
This location is (as of this writing) currently open to the public. The land owner charges a fee to go on their property and collect minerals. A nice diversity of crystals and unusual pseudomorphs can be found on this area of land. Titanite, diopside, feldspar and apatite are some of the more popular targets. Sometimes well formed pseudomorphs of various species after wollastonite are encountered. The site has been know since the 1800's so serious digging in soils and bedrock may be required to find material. It requires SERIOUS work to find good specimens at this site!
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OKI-493 Quartz and Diopside after Wollastonite Rose Road Wollastonite Occurrence, Pitcairn, New York. Until our 2009 field collecting efforts there were only approximately a dozen of these pseudomorphs known to exist, all in the possession of Dr. Steven Chamberlain of Manlius, New York. They were recovered loose from the soil at the southern most exposure of the dig site in the 1970s. During 2009 an extensive excavation of the rock below this area was conducted and specimens similar to those found weathered free were discovered in an enormous massive calcite filled fracture. Thirty days of mining, in which we processed approximately 2,000 cubic feet of calcite, produced several flats of fine specimens. So, obviously, they were not common. They present themselves as light to dark green, euhedral crystals, often still in massive a calcite matrix. Normally the color is a consistent shade and not mottled. The luster is usually quite high and exceptional for pseudomorphs. The surface texture ranges from grainy to glassy and small attached crystals of blue fluorapatite are sometimes present on specimens removed from the calcite. Naturally weathered free crystals never seem to have these accessory fluorapatite crystals. The wollastonite pseudomorphs occasionally are found in association with diopside and albite and are rarely found on the marble host rock as matrix specimens. Due to their rarity I will only be offering a few of these for sale. Research on these unusual specimens is being conducted and a follow-up publication is being prepared.
This 4.3 cm long example is an excellent representative of what we found. It is single terminated, a very green color (which implies that it is almost all quartz and very little diopside in composition), not excessively pitted and very well formed compared to most. A couple of patches of calcite, otherwise accessory mineral free. Unusually high luster and odd surface growth patterning. Nice and exceedingly unusual mineralogical specimen. 145$
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OKI-494 Quartz and Diopside after Wollastonite Rose Road Wollastonite Occurrence, Pitcairn, New York. Until our 2009 field collecting efforts there were only approximately a dozen of these pseudomorphs known to exist, all in the possession of Dr. Steven Chamberlain of Manlius, New York. They were recovered loose from the soil at the southern most exposure of the dig site in the 1970s. During 2009 an extensive excavation of the rock below this area was conducted and specimens similar to those found weathered free were discovered in an enormous massive calcite filled fracture. Thirty days of mining, in which we processed approximately 2,000 cubic feet of calcite, produced several flats of fine specimens. So, obviously, they were not common. They present themselves as light to dark green, euhedral crystals, often still in massive a calcite matrix. Normally the color is a consistent shade and not mottled. The luster is usually quite high and exceptional for pseudomorphs. The surface texture ranges from grainy to glassy and small attached crystals of blue fluorapatite are sometimes present on specimens removed from the calcite. Naturally weathered free crystals never seem to have these accessory fluorapatite crystals. The wollastonite pseudomorphs occasionally are found in association with diopside and albite and are rarely found on the marble host rock as matrix specimens. Due to their rarity I will only be offering a few of these for sale. Research on these unusual specimens is being conducted and a follow-up publication is being prepared.
This 2.4 cm long crystal is an excellent representative of what we found. It is double terminated, a medium green color, not excessively pitted and very well formed compared to most. It remains in a matrix of massive calcite which allows it to sit nicely for display. Overall size is 4 x 3.4 x 3.2 cm. There is what looks like a small contact on one exposed edge of crystal but this could very well just be a poorly formed face which is common with the wollastonite found at this locale. Nice and exceedingly unusual mineralogical specimen. 180$
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OKF-588 Diopside on Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. A very nice specimen which displays only moderately well. It is a substantial specimen measuring in at 7.5 x 6.2 x 4 cm with 2 primary double terminated diopsides to 7 cm each. They are fairly well coated by albite overgrows which distract from the quality of the diopsides. Floater with only a small area of contact on the backside involving two of the diopsides. Brown areas are goethite after pyrite. 200$
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OKF-606 Titanite on Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. A great matrix titanite of exceedingly high luster and perfect form. It lies embedded in the feldspar matrix showing great contrast due to the color differences. The crystal measures 2.7 cm long. Two other minor crystals are present near the top and on the side of the specimen. Cheap! For a nice NYS titanite of this high a quality. 90$
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OKF-603 Diopside on Albite (var. Antiperthite) with Quartz and Diopside pseudomorphs after Wollastonite (minor titanite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. This is the best specimen from the locality which I have offered for sale. The diopside crystals are a fantastic rich green color, high in luster and most all are double terminated reaching 2.5 cm each. They are slightly morphed but far less so than is usual for the Pitcairn occurrence. The albites are better than usual too. There are a couple partially formed wollastonites that are replaced by quartz and one replaced by quartz and diopside both. This is a rare floater which measures 7.3 x 5.5 x 4.3 cm. There is one small diopside with a cleave otherwise totally damage free and very displayable. You will find a few small double terminated titanite crystals on the albite and diopside crystals too but they are small. One could search a lifetime at this locality to find a comparable specimen. In hand you will see that this is a fantastic specimen. Certainly museum quality. 490$
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OKF-600 Diopside on Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. One of the better high luster specimen from this summer long dig. The specimen measures 7.4 x 5 x 4.5 cm and has 3 primary diopsides to 5 cm each. The biggest crystal sits up high on the specimen, is double terminated and nice in form. Some terminations are very nice some crude. The feldspars are crude as is almost always the case at this local. This is an important specimen which is almost never available for sale. The folks who find nice ones like these almost always keep them. This is better than most museum pieces form this local. Better in person. I was lucky enough to find many of the best specimen ever recovered from this locale so I obviously need to part with some of them. Sits great, views well from all sides and is damage free. 175$
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OKF-598 Titanite Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. From the same pocket which produced what I believe to be the best titanite ever found in New York State! This is a fine cluster of deep brown crystal in parallel growth. 3.9 x 3 x 1.8 cm in size with a basil contact. Tiny bit of diopside on one edge. Far better than most for the local and damage free. This is expensive for a titanite but these are nearly impossible to find in this quality. It is an open site so if you try your luck you’ll see this is true. Actually, good New York State titanites from anywhere are rare. An outstanding example….80$
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OKF-365 Diopside and Albite (var. Antiperthite) Rose Road Locality, Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Scott Wallace, Summer 2006. This group of highly lustrous crystals measures 4.5 x 4.1 x 3.6 cm overall. There are four primary crystals in the cluster, all of which are doubly terminated. There are two small attachment marks on the backside of the piece which will never be visible when displayed properly. I worked all summer in 2007 at this classic location in seldom found pieces this clean. This one is among the best miniatures to be found from this site and few will be released to the public. This is an excellent one to grab up at this price. An fine miniature for $65.
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OKF-366 Diopside and Albite (var. Antiperthite) Rose Road Locality, Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, Summer 2006. This group of highly lustrous crystals measures 7.2 x 5 x 3.6 cm overall. There are several beautifully formed albite crystals to 2.7 cm each as well as numerous poorly formed ones composing the matrix of this specimen. The diopsides are to 3.7 cm each and in decent form. They are best viewed from the back of the specimen but some stick out above the albite crystals for a nice color contrast. I worked all summer in 2007 at this classic location in seldom found pieces this clean. A couple contacts mostly to the back of the specimen. Very seldom are the albite crystals from this locality so well defined. A fine, very displayable, small cabinet specimen….. $70
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OKE-419 Diopside and minor Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. “Lunch Break Pocket” Collected by Michael Walter, 2006. This pocket will be well documented in future literature. Good specimens from this site are few and far between even though the site has been active since the mid-1800s. This piece is composed of a 6.2 cm double terminated crystal and other smaller ones of fine luster and form. Albites are poorly formed as well as backside of specimen. Front side offers a fine display which shows what some of the best New York State diopsides look like. An example worthy of a top collection of East Coast Classics. 220$
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OKE-407 Diopside and minor Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2006. Good specimens from this site are few and far between even though the site has been active since the mid-1800s. This piece is composed of two nice diopsides to 4.3 cm each which each have one nice clean termination and one extremely crude termination. This big, translucent, high luster crystal has a crust of secondary diopside on one side and minor quartz pseudomorphing on its base. This is an excellent miniature with nice aesthetics and no damage. 75$
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OKE-410 Diopside and minor Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2006. Good specimens from this site are few and far between even though the site has been active since the mid-1800s. Exceptional grouping of great diopside crystals to 3 cm on white albites (to 2.3 cm each). 9 x 6 x 5.5 cm in size and sits beautifully for display. An excellent display specimen which is exceedingly difficult to find on site. 85$
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OKB-632 Diopside and Albite Pitcairn, New York. Deep green, 3.4 cm double terminated diopside on calcite and albite. Reattached to matrix. Showy. 30$
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OKB-633 Diopside and Albite Pitcairn, New York. Wonderful green crystals to 2 cm each. 34$
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OKB-634 Diopside and Albite Pitcairn, New York. Nice grouping of green crystals with largest being over 4 cm and double terminated. 45$
