FIELD
TRIP REPORT
By
Kreigh Tomaszewski
Every few years my
siblings and I try to get together for a camping trip to keep in touch. We
normally camp in Michigan where we grew up, but this year it was off to the
White Mountains in New Hampshire where one of my sisters lives.
A thousand mile trip takes some planning, so I posted a query to the Drizzle
List for some collecting locations. Nate Martin from the Boston Mineral Club
invited us to join them for a trip to the Bumpus Mine in Maine. My sister made
reservations for us all at the Cold River Campground near Fryeburg making the
field trip convenient.
When vacation time arrived we drove to Herkimer, NY and spent the night. No
collecting, but we had breakfast at the Miners Den before we hit the road. When
we got to Lebanon, NH, our water pump in the van went out. We left the van with
a dealership, rented a pickup, and proceeded on to the campground.
We almost got there, but 113 had been washed out a few hours earlier from the
rains we had followed to the East Coast from Michigan. Geology happens. More
hours found us at the other end of 113 and we hit the campground just before 11
pm and set up camp. So much for planning to get to camp early so we could set up
before sunset. But it was clear and
the stars were outstanding.
The next morning we stopped at the tourist information center for shorter
driving directions back to Lebanon, to retrieve the van and return the rental.
The gentleman who helped us turned out to be a rockhound; he told us where to
find the local rock shop. We made it back
in time for dinner. You can't get there from here in NH, mountains get in the
way.
The next couple days were family reunion time as the local trails were explored.
Then it was Saturday morning, and we hit the road for the Bumpus Mine at 7. We
arrived at 8, and the gate was locked.
We went down the road to the next turnaround and came back to find the gate
open. The four of us from the Indian Mounds Club were the first to the mine. We
met the mine representative, and got to welcome the Boston Club to their own
field trip.
We were introduced to the mine's history and shown some classic specimens that
had come from the mine. We found out that the dumps had been turned with a dozer
the week before. We received a safety orientation, and signed waivers. We
helped our host put away the
outstanding specimens.
Most of us then grabbed our hard hats, flashlights, and collecting buckets, and
followed our host for an underground tour -- with collecting allowed from the
floor. A few went off to the dumps. Some took time to identify the unusual
wildflowers.
Most of the Bumpus was quarried following the pegmatite seam, but three tunnels
were dug. One tunnel is blocked, but two of the tunnels can be entered. The
first tunnel was quite short. The second was longer, and had a pool with minnows
in it. And then it was off to the dumps, with a half full bucket.
Collecting occurred. At least one beryl (aquamarine) was found (but not by
me), and I saw a couple specimens of Torbernite (and may have one micro). It was
a fun time collecting with the Boston Club, but we had to leave early afternoon
to get back to family at the campsite. I went 'home' happy with my finds. My
thanks to Nate and the Boston Club for
letting us collect with them.
Tuesday we went to the beach so our youngest could experience swimming in the
ocean. When my water bottle was empty I filled it with sand for my collection.
We noted a rock shop on the drive to the beach, and stopped on our way back to
pick up some thumbnails of local minerals.
But when we got to Fryeburg the local rock shop was closed. My wife suggested I
visit it the next morning, alone, before our planned hike after lunch. Everyone
was amazed she was sending me to a rock shop without supervision. I had the
pleasure of meeting Bob and Teresa Prouty, acquiring some specimens (including a
new mineral for my systematic collection), and discovering I was camping near
the Chatham North Star mine (aka, the Millard Chandler mine) that I could
collect at.
When I got back to the campsite we rustled up some lunch, and I proposed
visiting the mine on our way to the Emerald Pool, which was our planned
afternoon destination. The directions were good, and we had no problems finding
the dumps. It took us less than 15 minutes more to find the mine itself up the
hill. Two large caverns into the hillside. We collected from the floors.
My sister and her partner, who have been hiking and camping that area for over
twenty years, were absolutely amazed to find a new destination less than half a
mile from their favorite campground. Priceless!
We spent a good hour and a half collecting, and taking pictures, before moving
on for our hike and swim (to avoid the bugs). We didn't find any beryl, but we
did find a few almandines, and a bunch of fluorapatite, microcline, books of
muscovite (and some biotite), and quartz. It was much like the Bumpus.
When we got back to the Basin (Cold River Campground) again, I found we still
had some time before supper; I defied the bugs and went back to the mine for
some more collecting by myself. Still no beryl, but I found a couple unknown
micros I now think are bertrandite. I just hope I can get them trimmed out for
mounting without damage. Personally collecting
a new mineral for my collection was truely a rare treat!
The next morning we broke camp when the rain started at 5 am and headed back to
Michigan in the thunderstorms. It was a long drive. It was a great trip.
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