Rocks and Minerals 2021
A New Hope
The Rocks and Minerals class of Fall, 2021 taught by Sarah Hall has created an exhibit in the Dorr museum showcasing their collections. These collections are samples of a range of rocks and minerals found in Maine which, when viewed, show the incredible and fascinating world of geology. Should you like to learn more about the places the class collected from, this website is a supplement to the map placed in the Dorr museum.
Oh, the Places You'll Go
In total, the class collectively went to fifteen different locations throughout Maine. Both near and far, these locations have a specific story to tell. Bellow, you will learn more about what makes each location special to collect from.
This map shows all of the locations collected from in Maine. Click the icon in the bottom left corner to see a list of the locations.
Pike Industries Quarry
This image shows the class collecting samples from the Pike Industries Quarry
Pike Industries Quarry is an active mining site and the rocks and minerals mined are used as ingredients for pavement. The quarry is located on an igneous bedrock which has formed as a pegmatite. These pegmatites are incredibly special since the minerals were able to form large crystals. In this location students were able to find minerals like muscovite, garnet, quartz, and microcline felspar.
Havey Quarry
This image shows the outcrop of Havey Quarry
Still active, Havey Quarry was originally used to mine feldspar. However, when large deposits of tourmaline was found, the operation switched to looking for other various minerals. This location is especially nice since its pegmatite was able to form large and euhedral crystals, many of which are gem quality. Students were able to find minerals like garnet, black and green tourmaline, lepidolite, and vivianite.
Mount Apatite
Warren Nickel Prospect
This image shows students scouting the area for bedrock
The Warren Nickel Prospect is an old abandoned quarry. However, there is still bedrock which can be mined. This location has a metamorphic bedrock and its protolith is sulfidic which means that the minerals that form here are mostly sulfides. The sulfides students were able to find here include pyrite and chalcopyrite.
Simonton Corners Marble Quarry
This image shows students collecting marble from the Simonton Corners Marble Quarry
Now abandoned, the Simonton Corners Marble Quarry is now a preserve.
