Maine Feldspar Quarry

The Maine Feldspar Quarry is located in the East Mount Apatite Mining District, Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine, USA, at coordinates 44° 5' 16'' North, 70° 17' 29'' West. It’s part of the Oxford pegmatite field, a region known for its mineral wealth. Auburn, with a population of about 22,871 (2017), is 4.9 km from the quarry, with nearby towns like Minot (2.3 km), Lewiston (6.3 km), Mechanic Falls (8.4 km), and Poland (8.7 km). The area is surrounded by Maine’s natural beauty, including forests and the Androscoggin River, making it accessible for visitors.

This quarry is a paradise for mineral enthusiasts, hosting a wide range of minerals. Key finds include feldspars like albite (with varieties cleavelandite and zygadite), microcline, and orthoclase; tourmalines such as elbaite, schorl, rubellite, verdelite, and the striking watermelon tourmaline; and quartz varieties like citrine, milky quartz, rock crystal, rose quartz, and smoky quartz. Other notable minerals include beryl (aquamarine and morganite), spodumene, topaz, zircon, and rare phosphates like autunite, cassiterite, and pyrite. The presence of lithium-rich minerals like lepidolite makes it particularly appealing to collectors.

The quarry is a granite pegmatite, a coarse-grained igneous rock formed from the slow cooling of magma, allowing large crystals to develop. It’s part of the East Mount Apatite group within the Oxford pegmatite field, known for its lithium and rare element mineralization. This geological setting is ideal for finding unique mineral specimens, making it a hotspot for research and collecting.

Mining began in 1902 when the Maine Feldspar Co. leased the area, making it the largest commercial excavation at Mount Apatite. Feldspar was mined for the china and porcelain industry, with production reaching 150 tons monthly, transported to Topsham and processed at Littlefield Station (established 1906). Commercial operations ceased in October 1929, but the site’s legacy continues as part of Mount Apatite Park, where visitors can still collect minerals, echoing the tradition of miners selling specimens to collectors like John Towne of Brunswick, Maine.

The quarry has deep roots in Maine’s mineral collecting culture. Historically, miners sold gems and specimens, initially to John Towne and later through local dealers. Today, Mount Apatite Park offers hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, limited snowmobiling, and mineral collecting, with no fees or special permissions needed (follow City of Auburn Parks and Recreation rules). Nearby mineral clubs include the Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association (South Paris, 23 km), Kennebec Rocks and Minerals Club (Winthrop, 35 km), and Maine Mineralogical & Geological Society (Portland, 48 km), fostering a vibrant community for enthusiasts.

Auburn has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm summers (July/August highs 70-77°F/21-25°C) and cold, snowy winters (January/February lows 13-29°F/-10 to -1°C), with February seeing up to 4.72" (120 mm) of snow. The ecology likely features mixed New England forests (maple, birch, pine) and the Androscoggin River, supporting diverse habitats. While climate doesn’t directly affect pegmatite formation, it impacts accessibility, with snowy winters potentially limiting activities.