1906 saw the first commercial operation of the deposit, when Mr. Thomas Morrison employed six men to extract 200 cu. At the Goulding-Keene Quarry the deposit is about 80 ft. long by 60 ft. wide with a 40 ft. face. It is located in the side hill on the west bank of the York River. Grey nepheline and white plagioclase include deposits of blue massive sodalite. At Egan Chute sodalite occurs in irregular masses in gneiss.
Sodalite cuts very nice gemstones.
Gemstones related to the mineral nepheline are of special interest to Canadians, since they are relatively exclusive to this country and sodalite is the best known. Macmillan Publishing Company. How to Study Them. Miscellaneous Report 39 - Rocks and Minerals for the Collector. 1986. Metz, R. Gems and Minerals in Color.