Stony Creek Quarry (Norcross Granite Gneiss Rock Quarries; Castellucci Quarry), Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Stony Creek Quarry (Norcross Granite Gneiss Rock Quarries; Castellucci Quarry) | Quarry |
| Branford | Town |
| New Haven County | County |
| Connecticut | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
41° 17' 12'' North , 72° 44' 33'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| New Haven Mineral Club | New Haven, Connecticut | 16km |
| Lapidary and Mineral Society of Central Connecticut | Meriden, Connecticut | 28km |
| Long Island Mineral & Geology Society | Jamesport, New York | 40km |
| Bristol Gem & Mineral Club | Bristol, Connecticut | 46km |
Mindat Locality ID:
47228
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:47228:2
GUID (UUID V4):
b815cdfa-8490-4f4b-beee-8f4cf7c4a58e
A granite deposit/quarry located 6.1 km (3.8 miles) E of Branford, on private land. Originally operated by the Norcross Brothers Company. It opened in 1887 and still operating as of 2023, with operations gradually progressing northward. The current Stony Creek Quarry works the Neoproterozoic Stony Creek Granite, which is used for construction, monuments and aggregate.
"The Norcross Quarry, in the township of Branford, about 1 and 1/4 miles north of Stony Creek Village, is well worth a visit. A spur of the railroad runs near the railroad station at Stony Creek to the quarry. Along this spur are numerous large blocks of discarded quarry material. The operators discard the coarse and irregular portions and these are of particular interest in studying and collection specimens of minerals. Besides crystals of quartz, feldspar, and muscovite, specimens of magnetites, limonite, apatite, pyrite, zircon and occasionally calcite, epidote and zoisite may be obtained"
The pluton is bordered by the Plainfield Formation, which includes quartzite and calc-silicate units plus gneiss and amphibolite. An exposure of calc-silicate rock next to the granite contains salmon calcite, quartz, epidote, scapolite, grossular, fluorapatite, pyrite and opal-AN. All units are intruded by Permian Narragansett Pier Granite/pegmatite.
Workings include surface openings. There are 2 quarry sites. The older, lower quarry is 450 feet long N-S, 200 feet wide, and as much as 65 feet deep. The upper quarry is 100 feet N and is 500 feet long N-S, 100 feet wide, and as much as 40 feet deep.
Production data are found in: Dale, T.N. (1911).
Production information: Figures are lacking but production of good building stone was large.
Reserve-resources data: Figures are lacking but a large volume of rock remains.
Analysis results: SiO2: 72.73%, Al2O3 & FeO: 16.95%, CaO: 1.05%, MgO: trace, K2O: 8.15%, Na2O: 0.90%, loss 0.22%.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
16 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| β Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) |
| β Albite var. Oligoclase Formula: (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| β Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Habit: cleavable masses Colour: salmon orange Fluorescence: orange-red best under SW UV Description: Primary material as cleavable masses in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. Secondary material in clefts with quartz, chalcedony, and talc, mostly naturally dissolved away. |
| β Diopside Formula: CaMgSi2O6 Habit: grains Colour: dark green Description: Found in a calc-silicate rock assemblage in the Plainfield Formation next to the granite. Species inferred from the properties, color and chemistry of the assemblage. References: |
| β Epidote Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) Colour: olive green Description: Granular material a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β Fluorapatite Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F Habit: elongated grains Fluorescence: yellow under SW UV Description: As grains in the granite and in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β Grossular Formula: Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 Habit: dodecahedral Colour: dark brown Description: Crystals and grains in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β 'Limonite' |
| β Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 References: |
| β Microcline Formula: K(AlSi3O8) References: |
| β Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 References: |
| β Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O Habit: thin films Colour: colorless Fluorescence: green under all UV wavelengths Description: Coating fractures in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β Opal var. Opal-AN Formula: SiO2 · nH2O Habit: thin films Colour: colorless Fluorescence: green under all UV wavelengths Description: Coating fractures in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β Orthoclase Formula: K(AlSi3O8) |
| β Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Habit: cubic Description: Tiny crystals in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β Quartz Formula: SiO2 Habit: elongated prisms Colour: colorless to gray Description: Most material occurs as primary grains in the granite gneiss, but crystals to 1.5 cm can be found in clefts with calcite, chalcedony, talc and stilbite. Also massive material in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β Quartz var. Chalcedony Formula: SiO2 Habit: massive Colour: pale orange Description: Late cleft-filling material with quartz, talc and probably calcite that later dissolved away. References: |
| β 'Scapolite' Colour: very pale green Fluorescence: magenta-red under SW UV Description: Massive to granular material in a calc-silicate assemblage in the Plainfield Formation adjacent to the granite. References: |
| β 'Stilbite Subgroup' Formula: M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O Habit: half or complete bow tie aggregates Colour: brown Description: Microcrystals in clefts with quartz and talc. References: |
| β Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 Habit: spherical microaggregates Colour: pale green Description: As microaggregates in clefts with quartz, calcite, chalcedony, stilbite and as films along sheared fractures. References: |
| β Zircon Formula: Zr(SiO4) Description: As grains in the granite and pegmatite. References: |
| β Zoisite ? Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| β | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| β | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| β | var. Chalcedony | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| β | Opal var. Opal-AN | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O |
| β | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 Β· nH2O | |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| β | Fluorapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| β | Grossular | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| β | Zircon | 9.AD.30 | Zr(SiO4) |
| β | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| β | Zoisite ? | 9.BG.10 | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| β | Diopside | 9.DA.15 | CaMgSi2O6 |
| β | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| β | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| β | Microcline | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| β | Orthoclase | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| β | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| β | var. Oligoclase | 9.FA.35 | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Unclassified | |||
| β | 'Stilbite Subgroup' | - | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] Β· nH2O |
| β | 'Limonite' | - | |
| β | 'Scapolite' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | β Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | β Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| H | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | β Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | β Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | β Quartz var. Chalcedony | SiO2 |
| O | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| O | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | β Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| O | β Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | β Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | β Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | β Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | β Albite var. Oligoclase | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| O | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | β Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | β Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| O | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | β Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| O | β Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | β Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | β Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | β Albite var. Oligoclase | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Mg | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | β Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | β Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | β Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | β Albite var. Oligoclase | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Al | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | β Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Al | β Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | β Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | β Quartz var. Chalcedony | SiO2 |
| Si | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Si | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | β Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | β Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | β Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | β Albite var. Oligoclase | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Si | β Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | β Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | β Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| Si | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | β Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Si | β Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | β Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | β Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| K | β Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | β Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Ca | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | β Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Ca | β Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Ca | β Albite var. Oligoclase | (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8] |
| Ca | β Zoisite | (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | β Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Zr | Zirconium | |
| Zr | β Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
Other Databases
| Link to USGS MRDS: | 10068042 |
|---|
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Carolinia DomainDomain
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