Rutherford Mine Pegmatite Presentation #2 at Rockfish Valley Community Center.

In Rockfish University. J Scott Duresky, Presenter. For those of you who have seen an earlier version of this presentation, this one is substantially different, due to a number of new discoveries, and especially, in working with a long time collector in the pegmatite. The Rutherford Mine Pegmatite #2 in Amelia Courthouse, Virginia, until its permanent closure in 1998, was one of the most important pegmatites in North America for the collection of rare-earth and other rare and exotic species. It was also noted as one of the best worldwide sources of gem quality Spessartine Garnet crystals. Scott’s primary interest has been in the identification and confirmation of the individual members of the Pyrochlore Supergroup, as established by the International Mineralogical Association, that occurred in the pegmatite, as well as identifying many of the other species that occurred there. Tonight’s PowerPoint presentation represents the final results of Scott’s 11 years of research into the minerals of the pegmatite, and features many aesthetic photomicrographs from his colleague, Michael Pabst, and will highlight the discoveries they’ve made, as well as the conclusions that can be drawn from their research.