Fieldtrip Report:
New England Trip By Lawrence Davis and Steve Bonney
The Clark Hill Quarries in East Hampton, Connecticut were the destination for day three. These quarries include the Nathan Hall Quarry and State Forest #1 Quarry. Both require a state-issued collecting permit. The Nathan Hall Quarry, pictured here, had been dug extensively since Steve was last there.
Pale green apatite crystals from the Nathan Hall Quarry. This is only the second time Steve has found apatite crystals in vugs there.
Muscovite crystals in a Nathan Hall Quarry vug.
Nathan Hall Quarry columbite.
Day four was a travel day to Maine. Steve spent a few hours checking out Mt. Apatite Park in Auburn, Maine where he collected as a child (many, many years ago). This city park allows access to the Maine Feldspar Quarry, pictured here, and the Greenlaw Quarry.
The dumps from the Maine Feldspar Quarry are extensive and will have to wait for another day when there is more time for some careful digging.
Next stop was the Poland Mining Camp in Poland Maine, home away from home for the next few days and an opportunity to collect at multiple exciting locations, many of which are still being actively mined. Hostess Mary Groves likes lodging guests to eat dinner with the other guests the evening before their collecting starts. It was difficult to sleep in anticipation of day five.
Several other members joined Steve, along with other guests of the Camp on day five at the Havey Quarry in Poland, Maine. Paula traveled all the way from Florida to experience collecting in Maine. Here is a portion of the Havey Quarry looking towards the Berry Quarry.
Any pegmatite lover would be excited upon seeing boulders of lepidolite stockpiled by the miner. Lepidolite is associated with highly mineralized portions of pegmatites and is often associated with gem pockets.
Havey Quarry lepidolite.
Havey Quarry elbaite (tourmaline). |
