Maine Collecting Sites
Maine Collecting Sites
Mineral Collecting at the Bumpus Quarry, Albany, Oxford County, Maine
Albite, Almandine (Garnet), Beryl, Rose Quartz, Shorl (Black Tourmaline) and Many Other Minerals
This quarry produced some of the worlds largest beryl crystals the biggest being extracted in 1949. It was 27' long and tapered from 4.5' at one end to 9" at the other end. It is an excellent location for the beginner and advanced collector as there is an abundance of crystals and other mineral specimens in the dumps.
Source: Jon Ciemiewicz 6/3/96
JonCIEMO@aol.com
Directions: From the town of Bethel, Maine at the junction of Routes 2 and 5 head south on Route 5 for about 7.7 miles. This quarry is south of the Songo Pond mine which is also on Route 5 at the south end of Songo Pond. This is an easy access site as it is directly adjacent to the road and the dump digging is reasonably easy without many large boulders to move easy.
Collecting: There are good crystals of all the above mentioned minerals scattered though out the dumps. The best beryl is located near the chained off entrance to the property on the right by the big pine tree and the best rose quartz is at the back end of the quarry near the cliff. The rest of the minerals are scattered throughout the area. This collector has been able to acquire several nice pieces of beryl ranging from green to golden in color, unfortunately none of it is facetable. The rose quartz tends to be massive with little crystal structure but does not tend to fade when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. The albite tends to also be massive but diligence can produce nice crystalline cleavelandite. Shorl crystals are scattered about and included in some of the milky quartz, however, they tend to be brittle and crack very easily when trying to extract them from the matrix.
Permission: Permission to collect must be obtained from and a collecting fee paid to Rodney Kimball, Box 6, West Bethel, ME 04217. Telephone (207) 836-3945. Mr. Kimball has an antique shop on the north side of Route 2 at the west end of the town of West Bethel. He is usually there on weekends but it is best to call ahead.
Suggestions: Tools required are a shovel, three tined hand rake, sifting screen and rock hammer. Don't forget goggles and gloves and insect repellent. Also bring water both for washing potential specimens and for drinking. There may be water in the pit at the back end of the quarry in which specimens can be washed off.
Credit: Thanks to the members of the Nashua Mineral Society for providing the locations of numerous sites that this collector has submitted, including this one.
Mineral Collecting at Sanford, York County, Maine
Vesuvianite crystals and Other Minerals
These crystals are to be found in three pits all within a few hundred meters of each other.
Source: Jon Ciemiewicz 11/9/97
JTC@sprintmail.com
Vesuvianite Crystals range in size from 1/2" to 3" in size and are considerably exposed in pits one and three. Pit three has had considerable collecting done in the past couple of years and there is significant new structure exposed. The collecting site is in a wooded area just off of School street in the town of Sanford, Maine
Directions: From Sanford town center take School street heading east. The collecting area is on the north side of School street about one mile after passing the VFW. There is a dirt road that leads back into the woods which is usually blocked off by a large log which is directly across the street from a white two story house. Park here off of the road and take the short easy walk back to the pits. Another approach to the site is from the intersection of Routes 4 and 109 southeast of town. From this intersection go north about 0.6 miles on Route 4 and turn left onto School street. The collecting area will be on the right about 1 mile from the intersection. The first pit is on the right of the trail /woods road about 500' off of the road, the second pit is about 200' further on the left on a trail that departs from pit one and the last pit another 600' beyond it. The last pit is located at the end of the trail and caution should be taken not to fall in although it is easily seen from the trail. There is a town dump a few hundred yards beyond the last pit (not a mineral collecting place).
Collecting: The best Vesuvianite crystals are hidden in a calcite matrix and very difficult to spot at the site. If significant calcite blobs are found bring them home and soak in white vinegar which will leach off the calcite and expose any Vesuvianite hidden inside. There is however significant collectable crystal structure that has been exposed in the third pit and the first pit has an exposed face that has been worked for decades. There are crystals from this site in major collections throughout the US and they have been collected here since the late 1800's.
Suggestions: A crack hammer, chisels and some wedges will easily break out pieces of the Vesuvianite to bring home. Don't forget goggles and gloves for protection. There are no known restrictions on collecting in this area but the pits are just beyond the back yards of some newly built homes. Try to be courteous to the home owners and not make too much noise at times when people wouldn't like to be disturbed. That way the site may remain as an open collecting area.
Songo Pond Mine Near Bethel, Maine
Aquamarine
Source: Rocks-and-Fossils Mailing List 6/6/95
D. Ferro
Go over the border to Maine, to the town of Bethel. We found the owner of the Songo Pond Mine to be one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet, and with minimal chipping and digging, I found a 2" dia. piece of aquamarine (not gem quality, but it was a neat find. This was last September.
Hermit Island, Small Point, Maine
Almandine Garnet in Mica Schist
Source: John Hann
jmh@dneuro.com
Directions: Abundant crystals in mica shist outcroppings along beaches, especially at low tide.
Crystals range from 2-3 mm to 1 cm. Quality ranges from poor to good. Many crystals have been worn smooth or have been weakened from the ocean. However, in some places the garnet frequency is so dense that the combined mica schist and garnets would make a nice display piece.
bkeller@rockhounds.com 11/17/97
