A VISIT TO THE MINERAL-PRODUCING REGIONS OF 

 NEW ENGLAND 



By GEORGE P. MERRILL, 



Head Curator, Dcpartmoit of Geology, U. S. N^ational Miiseuin 



To inspect certain of the well-known mineral regions of New Eng- 

 land with a view to future explorations, rather than to acquiring 

 new materials, I made a somewhat hurried trip through parts of Maine, 

 New Hampshire, and A^ermont. 



Leaving the Isle of Springs, where T had heen passing a few weeks' 

 vacation, I proceeded hy train and auto to Andover, Maine, where 

 under the guidance of Mr. A\\ D. Nevel I was ahle to study the 

 pegmatite deposit in the adjoining town of Newry. This proved to he 

 a typical case of feldspathic replacement as made known through the 

 researches of Doctor Schaller. and was of ]iarticular interest not only 

 hecause of its green and pink tourmalines, lepidolite, and large 

 amhlygonites, l)Ut also l^ecause it is the only deposit worked for the 

 rare mineral pollucite, a silicate of caesium and aluminum, which was 

 at one time considered to he of promise as a source of caesium salts 

 for use in the manufacture of radio apparatus. From Andover I 

 proceeded to the well-known and historically interesting gem locality 

 at Paris Hill in the same State. Mining operations were quiet, so that 

 opportunity was oiTered only of examining a large series from former 

 workings, including one of the finest green heryls known, which had 

 already heen sold to Harvard University. From Paris Hill I pro- 

 ceeded to an inspection of certain localities in New Hampshire, mak- 

 ing my headquarters at Canaan with side trips to the desired points. 

 Old workings in Grafton and Acworth were visited which were noted 

 in the past as producers of gigantic Iieryls. Both localities proved of 

 exceptional interest, l)Ut it was not deemed advisa1)le to attempt under 

 existing" conditions the extraction of any of the crystals, owing to their 

 inaccessihility and the consequent cost. From Canaan, I went to 

 Bellows Falls, Vermont, and through the courtesy of the officials of 

 the Board of Trade was enahled to visit several of their feldspar 

 prospects. The mines, though producing feldspar and quartz in com- 

 mercial quantities, were singularly harren of other desirahle minerals. 



