Nashik District

Nashik District lies in the northwest of Maharashtra, part of the Deccan Plateau, with coordinates between 18.33° and 20.53° North latitude and 73.16° and 75.16° East longitude, at about 565 meters above sea level. It’s divided by the Godavari River, originating from Trimbakeshwar, and surrounded by the Satmala-Chandwad Range, part of the Western Ghats. Nearby, mineral enthusiasts might explore Jalgaon, known for heulandite, about 150 km east.

The district is rich in zeolites, including heulandite (second-best occurrence in India after Jalgaon), stilbite, and scolecite, formed from altered volcanic glass in basalt. Rarer finds include mozartite and powellite, with over 40 minerals listed on mindat.org. Unexpectedly, the variety includes colorful quartz forms, appealing to collectors.

Geologically, Nashik is dominated by basaltic rocks from the Deccan Traps, with some sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Mining history shows small-scale operations, likely from quarries for aggregates, yielding mineral specimens, though large-scale mining is less documented. The Gargoti Mineral Museum (gargoti.com) highlights this heritage.

Culturally, Nashik is steeped in Hindu mythology, linked to the Ramayana, and hosts the Kumbh Mela every 12 years. It’s known for Maharashtrian culture, with Marathi as the main language, and local dishes like Vada Pav. The climate is tropical wet and dry, with monsoons from June to September bringing significant rain, influencing mineral exposure through erosion.