Witt Hill Chrysoberyl locality

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Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine, USA

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Key Information

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  • The Witt Hill Chrysoberyl locality is in Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine, USA, part of North America, known for its chrysoberyl gemstones.

  • It seems likely that the main mineral is chrysoberyl, with sillimanite also present, in a granite pegmatite setting.

  • Research suggests mining started in the 1870s under Nathaniel H. Perry, but it's probably not active today, serving as a collecting site.

  • Greenwood offers outdoor activities like skiing and hiking, with a historical connection to L.L. Bean, and has a humid continental climate with forests and lakes.

Geographic Location

The Witt Hill Chrysoberyl locality is situated in Greenwood, a small town in Oxford County, Maine, in the northeastern United States, part of the New England region. Greenwood is accessible via routes like Maine Route 26, near towns such as Bethel and Norway, and is close to attractions like Mount Abram Ski Resort and Noyes Mountain, which features the Harvard Quarry, popular among rock collectors.

Minerals and Geology

The locality is renowned for chrysoberyl, a rare gemstone, and also contains sillimanite, particularly in fibrous form, adding to its uniqueness. It lies within the Oxford pegmatite field, characterized by granite pegmatites, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks formed through anatectic processes, where country rocks partially melted.

Mining History

Historical records indicate the site was owned by Nathaniel H. Perry in the 1870s, suggesting active mining then. Today, it appears to be a collecting site for enthusiasts rather than an operational mine, though exact current status details are limited.

Local Culture and Climate

Greenwood, with around 774 residents, is known for outdoor recreation, including skiing at Mount Abram and hiking, with historical ties to Leon Leonwood Bean, founder of L.L. Bean. The climate is humid continental, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters, supporting a rich ecology of forests and numerous ponds and lakes.

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