Mining Operations at Mount Mica & Orchard Pit Mines, Oxford County, Maine.

 
Blue tourmalne crystals from pockets 1 and 4 of 2008. Largest crystal 10cm.


 The Mount Mica Mine - On-Line Record of the Mining and Specimens.
Paris, Oxford County, Maine.
Mining in 2008 - Descending Time Line
• Freezing cold but productive January
Mining in 2007 - Descending Time Line

• More Finds wrap up the 2007 season

 Oct, Nov, Dec

• Working the Pocket

 July, Aug, Sept Page 2

• Finally, another decent pocket

 July, Aug, Sept Page 1
• Pocket 3 produces some fine gem April-June Page 3
• Another pink quartz pocket April-June Page 2
• A great pink quartz pocket April-June Page 1

Mining in 2006 -Descending Time Line
• October..more pockets with pink quartz October, December
• Chamber 3 was the best Sept. October Page3
• We work a second Chamber Sept. October Page2
• A truly remarkable pocket by any measure Sept. October Page1
• A few more gem pockets June, July, Aug Pg 2
• Our idea about the zones appears to stand up June, July, Aug
• Mining in the zone of the original discovery? March, April, May

Mining in 2005 - Descending Time Line

• Deja Vu all over again Nov, Dec and Jan
• On the trail of a large pocket ( 4 Pages) July August
• More pockets and massive mineralization May June
• Winter loosens its grip ..and we start March April
• We continue to work  pocket 28 of '04 January
Mining in 2004 - Descending Time Line
• Another special find
Late December
• Amazing elbaite
December
• A BIG pocket Nov/Dec
• A small pocket
November
• We explore the lithia zone October
• Pocket 25 (page 2 of above) October
• A pink tourmaline pocket August-September
• We work pocket #11 July
• The pocket zone continues (4 pages) June
• We find a large pocket (4 pages) May
• We begin mining in the Mt. Mica March-April
• Lithium rich zone March-April
Mining in 2003
• We move to Mt. Mica Mine August
• More pockets found September-October
Tucson Case
View the Coromoto Minerals Case at the 2005 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show  


The Orchard Pit Mine - On-Line Record of the Mining and Specimens.
Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine.
Mining in 2003
• A Chilly Start March-April
• Finally Beryl in Vugs May
• A Big Pocket June-July


Mining in 2002
• Season Starts Early,
"Chasing the Pegmatite" 		March
• More Phenakites May-June
• A repeat of the '99 Pocket System July
• The trend is our friend August
• The pegmatite 'hots' up September
• More Blue Beryl October
• More Pockets November


Mining in 2001
• Mining Season Starts Late May
• Pegmatite Widens July
• Apatites and Beryls August
• More Apatites September-October
• Rose Quartz Nov, Dec


Mining in 2000
• The 2000 Season Specimen Gallery
• Orchard Mine: Getting Ready for 2000
• Gem Pockets May
• Gem Pockets June
• More finds, 3 pages August
• A lot of hard work! September
• Seasonal Wrap Up October-November
• Picture review of the pockets.
• Pocket Zone Diagrams - 2000


Mining in 1999
• The 1999 Season Specimen Gallery
• 1999 Orchard Pit Pegmatite Map May


Mining in 1998
• The Orchard Pit 1998 - Our First Season
Learn many lessons; Pockets of golden beryl, aquamarine, and phenakite. Pegmatite undergoes a remarkable change.


Mining in 1997
• The Orchard Pit 1997
We pay for a few sessions in the Orchard
• The Orchard Pit early history - back to 1940.
Orchard Pit Specimens on Display
• Specimens in Display - Tour the Case 1998-2000
• Sceptor Quartz Crystal 1999
• Phenakite 1998
• Golden Beryl 1999
• Bertrandite 1999
• Aquamarine 1998

 
   

Comments/complaints/suggestions/information to share, email us:
pegminer@coromotominerals.com

Scepter Quartz, Phenakite, Bertrandite: ©John Poissons, 2005
©Gary Freeman 2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008 All Rights Reserved
Original home page design by Ray Sprague


 All photos by Gary Freeman unless otherwise indicated.