MINERALS AND ROCKS OF CASCO, MAINE 



By Celia M. Compton 



The mineral sections of Maine left undeveloped, es- 

 pecially the glacial and pigmatite section which has been 

 estimated as seventy miles long and forty miles wide, make 

 one feel a great responsibility, and as Casco is the center or 

 heart of it, one of these days, in the not far future, you will 

 hear something of its minerals and rocks and have many 

 more interested in its development. 



When I began my geological explorations and work, I 

 was obliged to go slow as I had not a single sympathiser in 

 the town. I soon found, within a radius of ten miles of 

 Casco Village, indications of mineral deposits and was thus 

 spurred on to renewed efforts. At White Oak Hill in Po- 

 land I found white quartz that tested a small per cent of 

 silver, but the ledges were too small to pay for working. 

 The Summit Spring House is made from the surface rock of 

 one of these ledges. 



One morning three ladies started out to follow a trap- 

 dyke. We traced it from the Summit House grounds, across 

 the road, through the woods, across a field, through a pas- 

 ture and into another piece of woods, where we were obliged 

 to tie pieces of red bandanna on the branches of trees, as a 

 guide in retracing our steps. We finally came to the "jump- 

 ing-off place," where we found a ledge of high grade feld- 

 spar and dug what some called "the wood-chuck's hole." 

 This was several years ago. Later mining was begun with 

 very satisfactory results, but the death of the owner resulted 

 in the working being abandoned. I am hoping that its 

 development will be renewed and my statement or predic- 

 tion — that the depth will bring forth a fine quality of feld- 

 spar and crystals of value and its length will connect with a 

 vein that will extend for a long distance — will be proven 

 true. 



Not far from this dyke I found a jasper ball, which, 

 when broken open with a sledge-hammer, disclosed to view 

 a pocket of jasper crystals. A beryl of rich lilac hue was 

 also found near here. 



On one occasion noticing a little lame chicken picking 

 up pretty stones, I decided to investigate the case more 

 thoroughly, so after her demise I found the gizzard con- 

 tained some very fine blue beryls or acquamarines. These 

 had been ground into unique shapes by the rubbing of the 



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