Kerhonkson
Ulster County
New York
Kerkonson is a mono-mineralic locality, consisting of a steep hillside along Route 209 from which gypsum crystals are washed out during rainstorms.
Gypsum (var. selenite):
Crystals occur at this location as transparent, well formed crystals. The crystals average between 1 and 1.5cm in length, although specimens to 4cm in length have been recovered. Crystals are elongated parallel to {001) and commonly exhibit forms {010} (usually the dominant face), {110} and {111}. Skeletal or "hopper shaped" growth on {111} is not uncommon; this appears to be a growth rather than a dissolution phenomenon. Specimens frequently contain inclusions of clay which give them a grayish or reddish color. Fish-tail twinning has not been observed in any of the roughly 2,200 crystals examined by the author between 1966 and 1980.
Sources:
Russell, Daniel E.
Personal Observations 1966 to 1980
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