Log In
Masslite Quarry, Plainville, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Masslite Quarry | Quarry |
| Plainville | Town |
| Norfolk County | County |
| Massachusetts | State |
| USA | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
42° 0' 52'' North , 71° 21' 23'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Plainville | 7,817 (2017) | 2.3km |
| North Attleborough Center | 16,796 (2017) | 5.4km |
| Wrentham | 11,251 (2017) | 6.3km |
| Cumberland | 34,843 (2017) | 8.2km |
| Franklin | 30,636 (2017) | 8.3km |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Massachusetts Mineral Club | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 32km |
| Rhe Island Mineral Hunters, Inc. | Warwick, Rhode Island | 35km |
| Boston Mineral Club, Inc. | Boston, Massachusetts | 45km |
| Worcester Mineral Club | Worcester, Massachusetts | 46km |
A slate and concrete aggregate quarry located about 1 1/4 mile NW of Plainville. Started about 1935. Workings were 700 feet long by 60 feet wide and 40 feet deep (or high at the face). Mostly a location for Carboniferous (Westphalian C) plant fossils and trackways. Many undetermined sulphates are found in a thick coal seam.
There are multiple levels, and the level searched is crucial as to which type of fossils will be found. The level that is at about the same elevation as the entrance contains white plant imprints on dark gray rock. These rocks are not hard to find but are definitely the minority, and are found in the rock piles leaning against the quarry wall at the opposite side of the entrance. White strip-like calamites leaves are very prevalent and are often exposed, a perfect flag for a fruitful rock worth splitting. Directly above this plant area, but at the top level, there are light gray or light brown (oxidized surface?) rocks that contain rather small footprints of reptiles and amphibians. These rocks are also in a pile leaning against the quarry wall, but unlike the plant rocks, are the only type present. Most levels, especially all those beside the top one, contain interesting quartz crystals as well as other inorganic minerals.
Plants and footprints are the most common fossils found, but insects among others have been reported. The plant fossils are especially interesting because the rock is fairly highly metamorphosed, causing the plants to be white and the rocks to often contain graphite or quartz crystals. The footprints are in more standard sedimentary rock and are often somewhat difficult to discern. One must remember that this quarry is still actively mined, so it is off limits except for Sundays and likely holidays. The walls are sheer and rocks can fall, so keep a safe distance from them.
There are multiple levels, and the level searched is crucial as to which type of fossils will be found. The level that is at about the same elevation as the entrance contains white plant imprints on dark gray rock. These rocks are not hard to find but are definitely the minority, and are found in the rock piles leaning against the quarry wall at the opposite side of the entrance. White strip-like calamites leaves are very prevalent and are often exposed, a perfect flag for a fruitful rock worth splitting. Directly above this plant area, but at the top level, there are light gray or light brown (oxidized surface?) rocks that contain rather small footprints of reptiles and amphibians. These rocks are also in a pile leaning against the quarry wall, but unlike the plant rocks, are the only type present. Most levels, especially all those beside the top one, contain interesting quartz crystals as well as other inorganic minerals.
Plants and footprints are the most common fossils found, but insects among others have been reported. The plant fossils are especially interesting because the rock is fairly highly metamorphosed, causing the plants to be white and the rocks to often contain graphite or quartz crystals. The footprints are in more standard sedimentary rock and are often somewhat difficult to discern. One must remember that this quarry is still actively mined, so it is off limits except for Sundays and likely holidays. The walls are sheer and rocks can fall, so keep a safe distance from them.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
9 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Clinochlore Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 References: |
| ⓘ Graphite Formula: C References: |
| ⓘ Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O References: |
| ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O References: |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' |
| ⓘ Native Sulphur ? Formula: S8 References: |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 References: |
| ⓘ Siderite Formula: FeCO3 References: |
| ⓘ Tremolite Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 References: |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
| ⓘ | Native Sulphur ? | 1.CC.05 | S8 |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | var. Selenite | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Tremolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Clinochlore | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Graphite | C |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Native Sulphur | S8 |
| S | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Gypsum var. Selenite | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Avalonia TerraneVolcanic Arc
- Carolinia DomainDomain
- Narragansett BasinBasin
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
Masslite Quarry, Plainville, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA