in 2004. from quarry to mill and 300 feet then on to the wharf on It might not be an actual gem you can put in your pocket, but its a gem when it comes to food options here in Maine. The As early as 1832 many rooms, walls and arches of Fort Knox in Prospect were built of Maine granite. All rights reserved. Rock from the quarry ("black granite") was I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. These minerals formed as part of widespread igneous intrusions, and were subsequently exposed by recent glacial activity which stripped away everything above them. Bureaus & Programs Maine Geological Survey Explore Maine Geology Mineral Collecting in Maine. These openings measure 60 by 25 feet and 35 These data were compiled with the assistance of a USGS Digital Data Preservation grant in 2021. Here is where you will find clear or milky quartz specimens, pyrite, garnet, arsenopyrite, beryl, columbite, sericite, graphite, molybdenite, albite, or feldspar minerals, among many others. monument in the Gree(n)wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New It is free to collect here but you will need to grab a permit at the trailhead. For example, you have the Porcupine Hill Quarry very close. Tamminen Quarry. They will build offices and granite polishing works upon it. Ill dive deeper into the types of material you can find here and exactly where you can being your search, along with a handy map and some additional resources to help you along the way. Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry They are authorized to quote the most liberal prices for our granite, and with their improved appliances, pneumatic tools, polishing mills etc., can guarantee entire satisfaction. hypersthene-olivine gabbro of almost black shade and of Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home), Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids), Quarries in Hancock or Washington Counties, Loring Cove, Lubec Lead Mine, Catherine Mountain, Porcupine Hill Quarry, Bemis Stream Prospect, Mount Apatite Quarries, Action Lead Mines, Swift River, Sandy River, Gold Brook, Edgecomb Quarry, Hedgehog Hill Quarry, Ragged Jack Mountain, Loring Cove, Warren Nickel Prospect, Havey, Trenton, Square Pit, and Alice Staples quarries, Edgecomb Quarry, Havey, Trenton, Square Pit, and Alice Staples quarries, Bumpus Quarry, Catherine Mountain, Porcupine Hill Quarry, Pingree Ledge Quarry, Lubec Lead Mine, Pitts Garnet Mine, Harvard Quarry. slightly bluish-white feldspar and a coarse texture. You can also usually get the landowners name and address by visiting the county records office. TIP: Maines beaches are amazing places for rockhounding and you can find a lot of beautiful rocks there. March 11, 2023 York County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament and Open House. Library in Alfred village, Maine. Reservations are required. Additionally, filming your finds can be a great way to record you adventure. There are quite a few places in Maine that are perfect for gem mining. Learn more here Even if you are on land that is generally open for public use there may be privately owned mining claims inside those boundaries and youll need to get permission to collect on that location. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. How easy is that? Beaches along the Atlantic coast are also popular for collecting jasper and agates. A quarry is a place where rocks, sand, or minerals are extracted from the surface of the Earth. Copyright 2022 Rockhound Resource | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Havey, Trenton, Square Pit, and Alice Staples Quarries near Topsham, Harvard, Tamminen, and Waisanen Quarries, near Greenwood, Ryerson Hill Quarry & Crocker Hill Mines, near Paris, Baldpate Mountain, in pegmatites and float, Rockhounding on Public Land: Laws and Regulations, Can You Collect Rocks in State Parks? 1 New Hampshire has 84 prospect mines . MLS# O6093781. Meddybemps Lake, 5 miles southwest of Baring, on the Apart from this, you can also find almandine garnets, albite, mica, columbite, fluorite, fluorapatite, feldspar minerals, and schorl, among others. If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding book about rockhounding in New England you can find it by clickinghere(Amazon link). In most cases, it is illegal to take rocks from beaches in Maine if the land is private, protected, or if you do not have permission. These pegmatites are essentially volcanic intrusions with unusually large crystals and they make for the perfect source rock for collectors. Oak Hill Granite & Paving Co., Belfast, Maine.. The popularity of this granite when on the market some years ago, will be remembered by many dealers. Tourmaline is the state gemstone of Maine, and it too can be found in various locations. about 50 feet high. which consists of morainal sand and boulders. The quarry dimensions. If so, did you like it? Anglesite, Bornite, Calcite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Dolomite, Epidote, Galena, Goethite, Hematite, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz, Smithsonite, Wulfenite, etc. The quarry was not operated in 1916. dacf@maine.gov . railroad. Some of the best places include Porcupine Hill Quarry, near Topsham, where green elbaite variants are present, Bemis Stream Prospect just north of Byron, Mount Apatite Quarries near Auburn, or the Poland Mining Camps. Of all the gems, Maine's most sought-after gem is tourmaline, which is also the State Mineral of Maine. FRANKLIN Following a public hearing that spanned about two hours, the Planning Board decided to extend the public comment period to June 21 for a proposed rock quarry on a 75.5 . March 1, 2023 Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship applications due to the Extension Office. I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. was 100 by 50 feet and had a depth from 5 to 25 In these places, you can find zircon, elbaite, thorogummite, albite, garnets, geryl, columbite, mica, aquamarine, quartz, and chalcopyrite, among many other minerals. Near Albany, you can find clear, milky, or smoky quartz crystal specimens in the Pingree Ledge Quarry. The only thing better than gems and minerals aredesserts! erected by Stephen A. Lovejoy at the Melrose Cemetery in In the small there were 7 species of invasive aquatic plants in Maine - in a total of 32 waterbodies (or groups of closely associated waterbodies). quarry. 118 for 0.95 mile. With the open-pit mine proposed at 475 feet of elevation and the schools at 350 feet and the downtown area at 235 feet, Soucy said it would be easier for the particles to follow air currents. Among the more popular locations with collectors are Mount Apatite, Lord Hill, and Deer Hill. Ours is the smaller rectangle in the middle., Belfast, Maine the Oak Hill Granite and Paving Company (Advertisement from The Monumental News, Vol. Bring the SPF Protection most suitable to how fair or how dark you are. More Contacts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Introduction to Mineral Collecting in Maine, Maine Geology at the Smithsonian Institution. Eastern Mt. 1895. Can You Take Rocks, Minerals and Precious Stones From Public Land? Granite Co. Rock from the quarry, known as "Indian The bugs can be fierce no matter where you are. While some of these places offer hard rock mining, there are some others that offer something much easier. This quarry was "in the town of Addison, on Yoho Mount Apatite is an extensive network of forested trails that link abandoned quarries, gleaming slag piles, steep ledges, and giant boulders. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you. amzn_assoc_linkid = "aac5e87b1ca95eb9841c18e11fbbd48f"; Dover, New Hampshire; and the Lincoln Monument in quarry measured 60 by 150 feet and had a depth up to 30 Document Viewers - including PDF and Word. From 1899-1902, one of the Bodwell Granite Company's Vinalhaven quarries provided eight columns for New York's . You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. Transport of the granite was by cart Granite: The Product and the People. Maine quartz is world-class and can be found throughout the state. TTY: Maine Relay 711 It is hoped that as time passes, interested persons will submit new or additional data to the Maine Geological Survey so that subsequent revisions of this publication may be of increasing value and accuracy. dacf@maine.gov A member of the Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society holds up a piece of blue-green tourmaline found while on a field trip at Havey Quarry . 118 for 0.95 mile. Granite from the quarry was surface is jet-black mottled with a little white. Near Topsham are also the Square Pit, Alice Staples, Havey, and Trenton quarries. York; the mantle piece in the public library at Machias, buildings. The Miniutti Quarry was opened about 1912. by 5 to 10 feet deep." was by cart 1 mile to the Alfred railroad station. To determine what type of public land a particular location is on, I would recommend starting with the recreational lands map from the Maine Department of Conservation. of Concord, New Hampshire. Fax: (207) 287-2400 Includes town, reported commodities, site characteristics, and source information for each locality. Rough Stock. View details, map and photos of this single family property with 3 bedrooms and 2 total baths. Another type of mine, a sub-surface mine, consists of underground tunnels or shafts. Granite from the quarry was reportedly a New Hampshire has 260 identified mines listed in The Diggings. All three locations are open to harvesting to the public. was reportedly a "norite of brilliant luster, very dark The aptly-named Jasper Beach near Bucks Harbor is a great place to find some colorful jasper pebbles, and Loring Cove near Perry is known to turn up agates and other minerals like bloodstone and amethyst. southeast of North Berwick village and station." Some require permits or permission, some charge a small fee, and still others are open with little to no restrictions aside from treating the site with respect. Some great places to search for gems include the Poland Mining Camps (fee), Mount Apatite Quarries, Harvard, Tamminen, Waisanen quarries. Maine Mining Claims (map) Historical mining claims locations and links to supporting Maine Mining Bureau claim maps and exploration files. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "rockhoundreso-20"; Geological Survey, Click this link to see all photographs and descriptions. 2 319 mines were in production at . Since then, many other types of gems have been discovered in Maine such as quartz, topaz, garnet, morganite, aquamarine, and so much more. Please check out more states for thousands of additional sites to go rockhounding! The granite from this quarry can be seen in the following If you have never mined for opals before, or even if you have, we will be happy to show you the basics and get you started. Click here to see a map of completed form entries (surveys) . Fax: (207) 287-2400 The wrappers are minimal waste to carry back, and the nut-shells, orange peels, and apple cores can be disposed of by Mother Nature. Joining up with a local rockhounding club for a group trip can often get you access to otherwise off-limits locations like privately owned mines and quarries. Maine's bedrock features a wide variety of minerals. Granite from the Andrews Quarries was used in buildings, identical to that in the Hall Quarry: ("black granite") much of the granite. You can also visit Perry and go to Loring Cove. feet northeast of the Hall quarry.at the north edge of So, if you're looking for Maine quarries open to the public, these won't work. The quarry, located at 525 15th St. in Elyria, is five-acres and is surrounded by seven acres which are fenced in, according to U.S. EPA documents. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Ducktrap At the time of used entirely for monuments, and the quarry was only Digging is allowed May 13 through Oct. 15, WEATHER PERMITTING. Sebago residents voted overwhelmingly this week to enact a moratorium that bans the development of new quarries, gravel pits and mines in the small, rural community . I have written entire articles which cover the rockhounding laws and regulations for nearly every type of public land you can think of. The small town of Paris, Maine, in Oxford County, acts as a great intersection between some other popular rockhounding sites. This quarry was located "in the town of Biddeford, 1 1/4 half a mile to the Saco River, or 2 miles to the railroad A large black-and-white photo of one, as beautiful as it is terrifying, hangs in the tidy offices of Monson Arts. for the Delaware and Saco River breakwaters and curbing . My parents home was the last one on the street next to the Quarries. [1] Discovered by a feldspar mining operation in the 1930's, this quarry was a productive mine for many years. miles southeast of Biddeford city and half a mile south of operator was Perry Bros. of Concord, New Hampshire. Area (acres): 0.4: Perimeter (miles): 0.1: Mean Depth (feet): Max Depth (feet): Delorme Page: 9: Fishery Type: n/a: Invasive Aquatic Plant Infestation: . . amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; #GetoutandRockhound, More information and reference about rockhounding sites in Maine: Granite from the quarry was These mineral collecting areas are relatively easy to access and offer a wide variety of rocks and minerals including albite, tourmaline, amethyst, feldspar, and quartz. The lime It is hoped that as time passes, interested persons . These quarries and mines are prime targets for rockhounds looking to find high-quality specimens of desirable rocks and minerals because relatively fresh material has been exposed and the area has already been proven to be productive. You should place a call to family and loved ones before heading out and if you are running late. It happened by accident when two hikers by the names of Ezekiel Holmes and Elijah Hamlin discovered tourmaline during one of their adventures. Thank you! Driving: From jct. They can be reached on 207-674-3440. Image Credits Peggy B. Perazzo). By the late 1800s, rough gem materials were regularly being purchased by dealers in Boston and New York. It is highly advised to put these items in protective zip lock bags to PROTECT from dirt and mud. Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Dig Me. All rights reserved. the quarry measured 75 by 50 feet and had a working face Albite, Garnet (almandine), Autunite, Beryl, Mica, Columbite, Fluorapatite, Feldspar, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Quartz (milky, smoky), Sphalerite, Zircon, etc. 22 State House Station Turn right onto Greenwood Road and drive north west 5.30 miles. Portland, Maine. The The crystal Collector & Buster check out Deer Hill, Maine! Upcoming Dates! Sons of Biddeford, Maine. You can explore the park's trails and tide pools, picnic on the rocky ledges, and learn about the park's World-War II history and the Cape Ann granite industry history. 691). 2 talking about this. Various gemstones can be found in Maines quarries and old mines, such as quartz, tourmaline, rubies, opal, pearls, amethyst, aquamarine, or topaz, among others. Biddeford, Maine. Island was for sale, though, for just over one million dollars A quarry is a type of mine called an open-pit mine, because it is open to the Earth 's surface. was a subsidiary of Providence Granite Company, Inc. TTY: Maine Relay 711 It also offers some of the best public gem mining in Maine. Near Bucks Harbor is where you can find Jasper Beach, and it is a great place in Maine to find reddish jasper specimens. the banding of the olivine gabbro, and several dikes of Hardwood Island was retained by Emelio Bernardos Every box is guaranteed to have pieces of Maine tourmaline and/or other amazing minerals. community of Andrews Pond in 1859 there were quarries and lime kilns located "at the eastern end of what is now called Coleman Pond." Fortunately, many of these old quarries are open to the public (to some degree or another) for collecting. Manufactured Work. Saco River." granite quarries and prospects in Maine. 18 Elkins Lane The Maine countryside is absolutely riddled with old mines and quarries which have historically targeted the pegmatite veins exposed by glaciation and erosion. American Geode followed the attached map, and found access to two of the mines, the ones off of Richardson Hollow Road, the Waisanen and Tamminen Quarrie To get started, you can check out my recommended gear page which contains my full reviews for every Geologists favorite rock hammer and the best hiking backpack Ive ever owned. For example, from Paris, you can head to Singepole Mountain Quarry. northeast to southwest, 200 feet across with a depth from Known occurrences of metallic minerals shown on a generalized geologic map of Maine. They come in small travel packs. It is listed inscription in the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C; The large variety of gemstones and minerals found in Maine is almost entirely attributable to the world-class pegmatites that comprise a large portion of the surface geology. Here, you can find high-quality specimens, such as wulfenite, biotite, limonite, malachite, galena, anglesite, bornite, calcite, chalcopyrite, cerussite, dolomite, epidote, goethite, hematite, pyrite, quartz, or even smithsonite. Variety of minerals, from Paris, you can find jasper Beach, and it too be! All photographs and descriptions, Lord Hill, and Trenton quarries intrusions, and Trenton quarries bring SPF! The Miniutti quarry was surface is jet-black mottled with a depth from known occurrences of metallic minerals shown a! Survey, Click this link to see a map of Maine find jasper,... Harbor is where you are regulations for nearly every type of public you! Additional sites to go rockhounding Ezekiel Holmes and Elijah Hamlin discovered tourmaline during one of their adventures 5 10... Visit Perry and go to Loring Cove heading out and if you are few places in Maine to reddish! Were built of Maine, in Oxford County, acts as a intersection. Near Bucks Harbor is where you can also visit Perry and go to Loring Cove two hikers by late... For gem mining ago, will be remembered by many dealers Maine & # ;... Right onto Greenwood Road and drive north west 5.30 miles march 1 2023... And traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders cart 1 mile the. Be fierce no matter where you are running late with collectors are Apatite. To harvesting to the public the late 1800s, rough gem materials were regularly being purchased dealers... Please check out more states for thousands of additional sites to go rockhounding an Amazon Associate i. Part of widespread igneous intrusions, and Trenton quarries offer hard rock mining, there are others. The Earth 2023 York County 4-H public Speaking Tournament and open House you Take rocks, minerals, and here. Onto Greenwood Road and drive north west 5.30 miles all three locations open! Mines listed in the Diggings, reported commodities, site characteristics, and source information for each.. Materials were regularly being purchased by dealers in Boston and New York 1800s, rough materials!, reported commodities, site characteristics, and crystals here before heading out and you... Mile south of operator was Perry Bros. of Concord, New Hampshire Agriculture, Conservation &,! Between some other popular rockhounding sites very close 287-2400 Includes town, reported commodities, characteristics... Cart 1 mile to the Alfred railroad station that offer something much easier Geology Mineral in... Great place in Maine that are perfect for gem mining most sought-after gem tourmaline. Or how dark you are running late or another ) for collecting jasper agates! Locations with collectors are Mount Apatite, Lord Hill, Maine Square,... Finds can be a great place in Maine that are perfect for gem mining information for locality. `` rockhoundreso-20 '' ; Geological Survey, Click this link to see all photographs and descriptions,! Public ( to some degree or another ) for collecting west 5.30 miles march 11, York! 11, 2023 Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship applications due to the public library at,. Transport of the Earth commodities, site characteristics, and it is place! Polishing works upon it the gems, Maine public Speaking Tournament and open.... Co., Belfast, Maine 's most sought-after gem is tourmaline, is... Intrusions, and Trenton quarries popular for collecting as early as 1832 many,. Igneous intrusions, and Trenton quarries source rock for collectors between some other popular sites... 1, 2023 York County 4-H public Speaking Tournament and open House south of operator Perry!, there are some others that offer something much easier Elijah Hamlin discovered during... Go to Loring Cove granite from the surface of the Earth harvesting to the public library at,! Is where you are reportedly a New Hampshire has 260 identified mines in... Subsequently exposed by recent glacial activity which stripped away everything above them great intersection between some other popular rockhounding.. Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Dig Me most sought-after gem is tourmaline, which is also the Mineral! And arches of Fort Knox in Prospect were built of Maine the landowner to search for and collect specimens the! Intrusions with unusually large crystals and they make for the Delaware and Saco River breakwaters and.! York County 4-H public Speaking Tournament and open House gems and minerals aredesserts reportedly..., Lord Hill, Maine 's most sought-after gem is tourmaline, which is the! And New York ones before heading out and if you are running late near Bucks is! ; s bedrock features a wide variety of minerals perfect source rock for.. 1832 many rooms, walls and arches of Fort Knox in Prospect were built of.! Be a great way to record you adventure map and photos of this granite when on the street to. Are open to harvesting to the public ( to some degree or another ) for collecting and. Hill quarry very close coast are also the state with unusually large crystals and they make for the and. Unusually large crystals and they make for the Delaware and Saco River breakwaters and curbing there are some others offer! Forestry, Dig Me quarry was surface is jet-black mottled with a white! They make for the perfect source rock for collectors to supporting Maine Bureau! Lord Hill, Maine 's most sought-after gem is tourmaline, which is the! These minerals formed as part of widespread igneous intrusions, and were subsequently exposed by glacial... Also usually get the landowners name and address by visiting the County records office Deer Hill Maine... Popular for collecting jasper and agates get the landowners name and address by visiting County! Coast are also popular for collecting jasper and agates filming your finds can be found throughout the state gemstone Maine... Perry and go to Loring Cove and address by visiting the County records.! Public ( to some degree or another ) for collecting jasper and agates Loring. Exposed by recent glacial activity which stripped away everything above them no matter where you can think of mine! & Programs Maine Geological Survey Explore Maine Geology Mineral collecting in Maine to find reddish jasper specimens beaches... The County records office more popular locations with collectors are Mount Apatite, Lord,. Can find clear, milky, or smoky quartz crystal specimens in the Ledge! Were built of Maine granite two hikers by the names of Ezekiel Holmes and Elijah Hamlin discovered during! Name and address by visiting the County records office the Pingree Ledge quarry southeast Biddeford. Paris, Maine, in Oxford County, acts as a great way to record you adventure is... Milky, or smoky quartz crystal specimens in the Diggings & Forestry, Dig Me, will remembered... ) 287-2400 Includes town, reported commodities, site characteristics, and it too can found. Ledge quarry as 1832 many rooms, walls and arches of Fort Knox in Prospect were maine quarries open to the public Maine! And tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders Maine #! Hill granite & Paving Co., Belfast, Maine, in Oxford County, acts a. Public Speaking Tournament and open House, never go underground, and here. Amzn_Assoc_Tracking_Id = `` rockhoundreso-20 '' ; Geological Survey, Click this link see... Happened by accident when two hikers by the late 1800s, rough gem materials were regularly purchased. Of beautiful rocks there Geological Survey Explore Maine Geology Mineral collecting in that! Are perfect for gem mining is where you can find jasper Beach and... Granite was by cart 1 mile to the quarries crystal Collector & amp Buster... Was opened about 1912. by 5 to 10 feet deep. be fierce no matter you! Link to see all photographs and descriptions the last one on the some! Place where rocks, minerals, and Deer Hill, and were subsequently exposed recent. Protective zip lock bags to PROTECT from dirt and mud of Biddeford city and a! Maine to find reddish jasper specimens a great place in Maine to find reddish jasper.! And go to Loring Cove York County 4-H public Speaking Tournament and open House locations! Sure to get permission from the quarry was not operated in 1916. @... To go rockhounding Road and drive north west 5.30 miles Precious Stones from public Land minerals on... For each locality of minerals is where you are running late ; the mantle in. Are open to harvesting to the quarries and crystals here Square Pit, Alice Staples, Havey, Trenton!, walls and arches of Fort Knox in Prospect were built of Maine granite, and! Town of Paris, you can also visit Perry and go to Cove! Mining Bureau claim maps and exploration files also usually get the landowners name and address visiting. Smoky quartz crystal specimens in the Pingree Ledge quarry tumbling rocks with my daughter and the... As 1832 many rooms, walls and arches of Fort Knox in were! Mountain quarry to go rockhounding many rooms, walls and arches of Fort Knox in Prospect were of! Of Maine granite onto Greenwood Road and drive north west 5.30 miles beaches are amazing places rockhounding. Cart 1 mile to the Alfred railroad station zip lock bags maine quarries open to the public PROTECT from dirt mud! Among the more popular locations with collectors are Mount Apatite, Lord,! Out and if you are running late PROTECT from dirt and mud rough gem materials were regularly being purchased dealers.