[Rockhounds] Field Trip Report

[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. We shared meals and campfires. 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.

Kreigh

P.S., Nate emailed me that late in the day one of the Boston Club
members found a 5 inch partial beryl crystal in the dumps.