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Anita Bay, Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, Southland District, Southland Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Anita Bay | Bay |
| Milford Sound | Fjord |
| Fiordland National Park | National Park |
| Southland District | District |
| Southland Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
44° 35' 23'' South , 167° 47' 44'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Kรถppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Milford Sound | 435 (2011) | 13.1km |
Bowenite is a hard compact variety of the serpentinite species antigorite. It was named by James D Dana in 1850 for George T. Bowen who studied it in 1822.
Jade in New Zealand goes by the name Greenstone or Pounamu, and most is nephrite. It was collected by Maoris to make tools and ornaments, and is still seen commonly for sale as jewellery in New Zealand. There are several unofficial sub-titles for the various types of nephrite found in the country. The bowenite is lumped into this, however it is a different composition to nephrite. The Maoris call it Tangiwai (tear water) named after a Maori legend, where a chief found his wife turned to bowenite on Mitre Peak at Milford Sound.
Hand specimens are clear olive-green to bluish-green, with a splintery fracture, and small opaque inclusions. Epidote and talc can be found included. Microscopically it is a dense mesh of minute needles of colourless transparent serpentine, occasionally small unaltered olivine cores, and some chromite grains.
Water worn pebbles are found at the eastern end of the beach as light greenish grey serpentine, with small veins of bowenite running through the pebbles. The bowenite is flaky with numerous flaws. One site has been found 800 feet up the steep hill side, consisting of yellow clay containing bowenite boulders. Material is being eroded down stream and eventually reaches the shoreline.
The site can only be accessed by boat. The material is the property of the Ngai Tahu, a business and cultural organisation for South Island Maoris. Collecting of bowenite without their permission is illegal, and can result in prosecution.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
4 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:
| โ Antigorite Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| โ Antigorite var. Bowenite Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 Description: The Anita Bay greenstone is known as Tangiwai by the Maoris. The term means "tears that come from great sorrow". |
| โ Chromite Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| โ Epidote Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| โ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' |
| โ 'Serpentine Subgroup' Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| โ Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| โ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| โ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| โ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| โ | Antigorite | 9.ED.15 | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| โ | var. Bowenite | 9.ED.15 | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Unclassified | |||
| โ | 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | - | |
| โ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | โ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | โ Antigorite var. Bowenite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| H | โ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | โ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | โ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | โ Antigorite var. Bowenite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| O | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | โ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | โ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| O | โ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | โ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Mg | โ Antigorite var. Bowenite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Mg | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | โ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | โ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | โ Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | โ Antigorite var. Bowenite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Si | โ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | โ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | โ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
| Si | โ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | โ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | โ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | โ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | โ Fayalite-Forsterite Series | |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian Plate
- Takaka terraneVolcanic Arc
New Zealand
- South IslandIsland
- Southern AlpsMountain Range
Pacific PlateTectonic Plate
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