Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-05
Maine Granite.

Here is another bulletin ffcm the
United States Geological survey. that
branch of the government scientific
service 50 ably presided over by George
Otis Smith. Il son of Maine. This time
the granite quarries of Maine are the
theme, the busy quarries which fur
nish the best building material to be
found in the country and whose annual
output is valued at 100000.
Grant,. is perhaps the most notable
surface rock of Maine. States, schists,
sandStoncs, and limestOnes OF various
types outcroD at many places, but the
mountains and hills of the interior,
from the giant katahdin down, and
many of the islands and headlands of
the coast. exhibit slopes and cliffs of
massive granite. Even where other
kinds of rock are exposed. abundant
granite bikes and quartz viers indi-
cate the presence of granite at no great
distance. The results of an investiea-
ton of the scientific and economic
features of the Maine GRANTEES, under
taken by the United States Geological
survey at the request of and in CO.
operation with the Maine State Survey
port just issued by the National Sur
vey as Bulletin NJ. 313.
Purely petrologic discussion of the
GRANTEES and associated rocks forms
NJ part of this report. and chemical
tests were made only as the chemical
composition might effect the durable
ity OF the stone. The observations on
the relations of the bands of knots to
flow structure in the granite, on the
parallclism of banding with sheeting
and rift. on the relation of shceting to
the surface of the rock, and on the
spacing and distribution of the joints
furnish data of high scientific value.
which can be used by the geOlogiSt
who is interested in the physics of in
trusion. Several of these same obser-
NdIloTS can bc utlUZcC DN quarry
superintendent also. For example.
the value of Il quarry site is largely
dependent on the joint system, and
an understanding of the distribution
of knots or other inlperfections in the
stone will guide quarry operations
The discussion II tn" cause OF the dis
Il al. 1,
practical value. as well as the suggts-
ton as to the use that can be made OF
granite so dscolOred.
The report proper is the work of
Prof T. Nelson Dale. who collected
the material for the local details and
descriptions of ouarries in three
months in laos during which time ne
visited 129 Maine quarries and pros
poets The paper is preceded by a brief
introduction. describing the geographic
distribution and general geologic rela-
tionS of the GRANTEES, by George Otis
Smith, now director of the survey.
who planned and directed the inrcsti
CATION. The arrangement of he data
presented by Professor Dale is believed
to favor its use by all classes Of read
"rS. tn" broader facts set forth in the
classih, alton and description of the
GRANTEES being separated from the local
details relating to Individual QIarrics.
The cndeavor has been to present all
of the essential facts relating to tn:
grantees of Main-, 50 that the report
will b.. of value to geological students,
as well as to architects, contractors,
and quarry owners.
Similar bulletins. describing tn"
GRANTEES of other parts of New Eng
laud. are now in preparation by Pro-
fesSor Dale, and taken together, these
will furnish an authoritative account
Of the GRANTEES of this area, which pro-
duces over 90 per cent of tn. granite
output of the entire country.