Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-09-24
Pdris--Uf. Mica.

Pdris--uf. Mica.
The Boston Advertiser gives the follow.
ing report of DR.. fiamlin's remarks on the
minerals oil our section, nj the Science
Convention at Salem recently.
Tourmalines of great perfection and
variety of colors have been found at Mr..
Mica, in the State OF Maine. This little
hill-which is perhaps one of the most re.
markablc mineral localities on the globe
since. nearly forty varieties have been
found there within an area of thirty feet
square,; one Of northern spurs of streak
ed mountain in the town of Paris. in Ok
ford County. The mineral deposit was
discovered in 1920 by Hon. +. L. Hamlin
and DIR. Ezekiel Holmes when students.
and whilst searching for minerals. At
that time about 30 crystals Of tourmaline
some Of which were quite perfect 10 form
of fine color and limpidity, were picked
up ON top of the ledge or found in The
earth which had accumulated around It's
base Since this period the place has
been visited by mineralogists from time
TO time and the entire deposit blasted out.
Some magnificent crystals OF rare per-
lection of form and of beautiful colols
have been found there Some of these
CRYSTALS were several ounces in weight
several inches in length and more than
an inrh in diameter. Some were red at
one extremity and green ut the other
Others were red within and green ut The
circumference. Superb stones of this de-
scription and arrangement Of colors, but
oil less size, have also been discovered
there. and they called forth the remark
from the Elder StiIlman that they were
incomparably fine and without parallel
in the world Nearly all the varieties Of
this remarkable gem have been found at
Mt. Mica, the clear light green, like
those from the dolomites of 81. GOthard,
the pink of Elba, the white and yellow
of Ceylon, the dark smoky green and blue
of Brazil, the lighter blue of Sweden, and
the fine red and green Of Siberia. In
some OF the crystals the red passes into
blue, and the blue into black or into
green; in others the white changes into
red, green or blue, exhibiting many IN
tcrmeliate shades. Generally the tran
sitions and gradations of color are impcr-
ceptible rs they pass from one into the
other, but in some crystals the line Of
demarkation is well defined.
The tonrmalincs of Mt. Mica occur in
n coarse granite resting mica schi>t,
anil were probably deposited from above
and iron solution. The granite appears
in layers, and the tourmainc streak
penclratcs across and through them with
out any reference to seam. Coarse and
opaque crystals Of several inches in
diameter, and nearly foot in length, are
found in the albitc and masses quartz,
but all the fine and transparent prisms
have been found in cavities whose walls
were composed of smoky quartz and
albite. In those cavities which have been
found of size varying from few inches to
several feet in length, the tourmalines
appear either loose in the disintegrated
cookeite or arising from the interior walls
and sometimes penetrating crystals oi the
matrix. A few feet below the surface the
tourmaline streak disappears and the
walls show quartz. albite or granite des-
,i,ute of other minerals The superficial
degree OF deposit Is not confined to the
tourmainc alone but i, noticed with most
of the other gems.
Within the past two weeks, some Lew
iston men have been blasting here for Mi
ca to use in coal and wood stoves, and
have procured considerable quantity
well adapted to their purposes. The
blasting has disclosed many gems, some
fine specimens OF which have been shown
us by Mr.. Bowker