Mount Apatite Mine
Work began at the Maine Feldspar Quarry
early in the 1900 era.
Coutesy U.S. Geological Survey D.B. Sterrett 503
Present.....
Mount Apatite is actually a group of quarries, Maine Feldspar
and Greenlaw Quarries are owned by the city of Auburn. Entrance to
Mount Apatite Park is off of the Steven Mills Road Extension.
The Parks Department asks that you park at the ballpark as no
motor vechicles are allowed in the park. At the main entrance you
will see a gate with a large stop sign, this is the main access road.
From the gate, it is a 1/4 mile hike to the main quarry.
The Maine Feldspar Quarry is the larger quarry with dip, and the
Greenlaw Quarry is hollow and spread out. The quarry is about 20 feet
deep, so young children should not be there unsupervised. There are
ledges in the area that are quite steep.
The park is open year round from dawn to dusk. There is no over-
night camping, fires, or swimming allowed. Only hand tools are permitted,
which can be used to a depth of two feet in exposed mineral areas.
Anything you may discover,
you can take home with you.
What has been discovered..... Past..... Did you know there is a history of Mount Apatite? Exploratory
mining of this area began as early as 1868. In the early 1900's it
was a big mining operation, mined for it's feldspar. Other minerals
to be discovered there have been apatite, garnet, quartz crystals
and beautiful tourmaline gems.
One such story is as follows:
"The tourmaline pocket found by the miners in 1927 is
absolutely unforgetable. They had approached an area in the
ledge which appeared to contain a large quartz pocket. To
avoid having to spend a great deal of valuable time clearing
out this pocket area, the miners exploded six cases of dynamite
in the outer reaches of the pocket.
To their horror the explosion resulted in a showering of
bits and pieces of tourmaline that covered a wide area of the
quarry. Judging from the size of the fragments, it seemed likely
that this pocket contained some of the largest and finest
tourmaline crystals ever found at Mount Apatite. It soon became
obvious that gem watermelon crystals predominated in the pocket
contents. The miners also picked up gem tourmaline pieces that
were an inch or larger in size." from: Maine's Treasure Chest
Author, Jane Perham By the time this photo was taken in June of 1913,
a tremendous amount of feldspar and a small quantity of
gem material had been removed from the Maine Feldspar
Quarry
Coutesy U.S. Geological Survey D.B. Sterrett 503 Future.....
In 1991 there was a Mount Apatite study done, commissioned
by Mayor Trafton, due to a grant issued by the Land & Conservation
Act. An advisory committee was put together on how to best use the
park.
Since then, there has been a multi-use trail built which is 3.1
miles long,for hiking and cross-country sking. The Snowmobile Club keeps
the trail groomed in the winter.
There is a trail map available at the Parks & Recreation Department,
and also a manual on trail etiquette and park guidelines. New signs have
been posted in park, and a new trail will be built, defining the boundaries
of quarry.
For more history about Mount Apatite Mine
visit the Auburn Historical Society
For more information about Mount Apatite Mine
contact the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department
at (207) 784-0101
Mount Apatite Mine is truly one of
Auburn Maine's wonderful treasures!
