Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #bayoffundy

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Why is amethyst purple?
Most #amethyst forms when lava with gas bubbles in it hardens and creates rock with cavities (i.e. the lave crusts over before gasses in the lava can escape, leaving a hollow area inside the rock).
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia Image
The cavities fill with silica-rich liquid that contains trace amounts of iron. Over time, this liquid forms crystals that line the cavity walls. After crystallization, gamma rays, emitted by radioactive materials in the host rock, irradiate the iron to produce the purple color. Image
The word #amethyst comes from the ancient Greeks who thought it looked like wine and figured the gem prevented its wearer from getting drunk. “Amethystos” is Greek for "not intoxicated."
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia Image
Read 7 tweets
We love getting questions about #mining, #minerals and #geology! We were asked about #gemstones in #NovaScotia. Here’s our answer:

#nspoli #cbpoli #capebreton Image
Gemstones that are usually considered “precious stones” are diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. All other gemstones are considered “semi-precious” (i.e. agate, amber, amethyst, jade, pearl, etc.)
#nspoli #cbpoli #capebreton #NovaScotia Image
These definitions date from the 1800s and they are subjective, not scientific. There is not universal agreement with them, but we mention them to point out that there is usually a distinction made between precious and semi-precious stones.
#nspoli #cbpoli #capebreton #NovaScotia Image
Read 19 tweets
#NovaScotia has dozens of #manganese occurrences and had a bunch of mines in the 1800s and early 1900s, mostly along the south shore of the #BayofFundy.
Read this thread for details:

#nspoli @EastHantsChambr @EastHantsNS @KeithIrvingNS @JohnLohrMLA @mmillershubie @scottbrison ImageImage
For example, the Tennycape #manganese deposit (#HantsCounty, #NovaScotia) was discovered in 1861 and manganese was extracted from boulders overlying the bedrock in 1862.

#nspoli #NS #bayoffundy #hants Image
The actual Tennycape Mine opened in 1882 and became the largest official #manganese producer in #NovaScotia, with an estimated 4000 tons of ore reportedly extracted between 1880-1900.
#nspoli #ns Image
Read 9 tweets
We often tout #NovaScotia's amazing #geology but all four #Atlantic provinces have great geological sights - partly because we were all connected in supercontinent #Pangea 200-300 million years ago! We're going to talk about some spots in #NL, #NB and #PEI this weekend.
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This is #AtlanticCanada 10,000 years ago. #PEI was still connected to the mainland - no #ConfederationBridge needed! Sea levels are lower during ice ages because so much water is frozen. It wasn't until 5000 years ago that rising sea levels made PEI an island.
#nspoli #NovaScotia Image
#Newfoundland's #BellIsland had iron mines from 1895-1966. The #NovaScotia Steel and Coal Co. helped open the first one. The iron was made into steel in #Sydney, #CapeBreton. Steel is iron and carbon (which is derived from coal) so #CB coal and #NL iron were a good match!
#nspoli ImageImage
Read 5 tweets

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