Feldspar Quarry

Near the beginning of the Northern Loop trail, it passes an old feldspar quarry. Feldspar is the most abundant mineral in granite, and in pegmatite the individual feldspar crystals can be very large. Feldspar was mined from pegmatite bodies like this in many places across southern Maine, and especially in the Topsham area, in the early 1900's. It was crushed and separated to be used in making ceramics or as an abrasive. By the mid-1900's, feldspar mining had moved to other parts of the country and the world, and the small Maine quarries became inactive.

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Current feldspar production and uses (U.S. Geological Survey)

Summit Lookout
North Bluff Lookout
South Ridge Lookout
Feldspar Quarry
Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks

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Last updated on September 3, 2008