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Strickland Quarry (Eureka Quarry), Strickland pegmatite (Strickland-Cramer Quarry; Strickland-Cramer Mine; Strickland-Cramer Feldspar-Mica Quarries), Collins Hill, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA
Fluorapatite
Strickland Quarry, Strickland pegmatite, Collins Hill, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA
Strickland Quarry, Strickland pegmatite, Collins Hill, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA
Latitude: 41°35'32"N
Longitude: 72°35'30"W
Longitude: 72°35'30"W
Mining supposedly began in the 1840s according to Foye (1922) who stated:
"The quarry was opened as early as 1840. There is a pitcher, bearing in gilt the name of Strickland, now preserved in Wesleyan Museum, which was made from feldspar taken from the quarry at that early date."
If so, it must have been a minor operation as it is not mentioned in Beers' (1884) History of Middlesex County. Ralph Pelton's quarry is mentioned, but this is a separate locality just east of Collins Hill.
Strickland Quarry was operated by F. E. Strickland from 1904 to 1945. It was leased to Eureka Flint & Spar Co., Eureka Mining & Operating Co. or Eureka Mica & Mining Co. Successive operators were F. E. Strickland, George Wilkes, and William Wilkes.
Mostly it was involved in feldspar production before 1937, but was a big mica producer 1930-37, 1942-45, and 1952-53 (from wall zones). It produced 2,000 to 5,000 long tons of feldspar per year and 200 to 400 tons of mica after 1927; also quartz, beryl and gemstones. Workings include an open cut 300 feet long by 200 feet wide and 140 feet deep. The east cut quarried up to 100 feet deep & connected mines worked 1914-37. Wall zones were mined underground mostly to the north in the 1940s & 1950s.
Cameron (1954) summarized the pegmatite and its zones as follows:
Exposed in east quarry cut and for over 720 ft N-S by 240 ft E-W, 8-60 ft thick. Dips west 30-75 degrees.
Five lithologic zones:
1. quartz-muscovite-plagioclase border zone, 1-8 in. thick
2. plagioclase-quartz-muscovite wall zone, 1-7 ft thick (mica zone – books up to 6 feet!)
3. microcline perthite-graphic granite-quartz-plagioclase intermediate zone 1-22 ft thick (perthite crystals up to 22 ft!)
4. plagioclase-quartz intermediate zone up to 45 ft thick
5. quartz core
Mineralization is a pegmatite deposit (Deposit Model code 33; USGS model code 13a; name: Be-Li pegmatites) Late Permian in age, hosted in the Collins Hill Formation ([ = Partridge Formation of New Hampshire] - Gray, rusty-weathering, medium- to coarse-grained, poorly layered schist, composed of quartz, oligoclase, muscovite, biotite, and garnet, and commonly staurolite, kyanite, or sillimanite, generally graphitic, interlayered with fine-grained two-mica gneiss, especially to the west, and with calc-silicate and amphibolite layers, also rare quartz-spessartine [coticule] layers). The ore body strikes N-S and dips 35-40/50W at a thickness of 6.71/9 meters, a width of 73 meters and a length of 229 meters, covering an area of 4.8 HA. It is lenticular in shape. The primary mode of origin was magmatic differentiation and secondary was hydrothermal. Primary ore control was bedding. There is moderate wall rock alteration (silicification).
Located in the Middletown Pegmatite District comprising a swarm of Permian (~260 mya) pegmatite dikes; locally in a north-trending zone, mostly in the Ordovician Collins Hill Formation; but dikes are also present in eastward adjacent Ordovician Glastonbury Gneiss and westward adjacent Ordovician Middletown Formation.
The most diverse mineralogy and miarolitic pockets were mostly found with pale blue to white cleavelandite in zone 4. Descriptions of gem pockets are found in Bastin (1910), Shannon (1920), Sterrett (1923), and Stearns (1983).
Many metamorphic/reaction minerals occurred in the host schist.
Because most collectors did not realize the northern dump belonged to a different operation, most specimens are referred to as coming from the Strickland Quarry no matter where collected. The difference is largely academic anyway because all the minerals came from the same pegmatite and the mineralogy, pegmatite zoning, and host rocks of the Strickland Quarry and Schoonmaker Mine are similar. Any specimen can be generically attributed to the Strickland pegmatite. Minerals from host rocks are included in the list.
Mindat Articles
History and Mineralology of the Strickland Quarry by Rowan LytleMineral List
145 entries listed. 104 valid minerals. 13 erroneous literature entries.
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References
J. H. Beers & Co. (1884): The History of Middlesex County 1635-1885.
Bastin, Edson S. (1910): Economic Geology of the Feldspar Deposits of the United States. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 420, Government Printing Office.
Schrader, Frank C., Stone, Ralph W., and Sanford, Samuel. (1917): Useful Minerals of the United States. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 624: 97-101.
Foye, Wilbur G. (1919): A New Occurrence of Rhodonite. American Mineralogist: 4(10): 124.
Shannon, Earl V. (1920): Strickland's Quarry, Portland, Connecticut. American Mineralogist: 5(3): 51-54.
Foye, Wilbur. G. (1922): Mineral Localities in the Vicinity of Middletown, Connecticut. American Mineralogist: 7(1): 4-12.
Sterrett, Douglas B. (1923), Mica Deposits Of The United States, USGS Bulletin 740: 65-67.
Schairer, J. F. (1926): Lithiophilite and Other Rare Phosphates from Portland, Connecticut. American Mineralogist: 11(4): 101-104.
Schairer, J. F. and Lawson. C. C. (1926): Pickeringite from Portland, Connecticut. American Journal of Science: 11: 301-4.
Rice, W. N., and Foye, Wilbur G. (1927), Guide To The Geology Of Middletown, Connecticut, and vicinity, State Geological and Natural History Survey Of Connecticut Bulletin 41: 87-90.
Schairer, J. F. (1931): The Minerals of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 51.
Otersen, Lillian. (1934): Report on New Haven Mineral Trip to Strickland Quarry, (Rocks & Minerals Association National Outing, May 20, 1934). Rocks & Minerals: 9(6): 104.
Jenks, William F. (1935): Pegmatites at Collins Hill, Portland, Conn. American Journal of Science: s. 5, 30: 177-197.
Zodac, Peter. (1937): Minerals of the Strickland Quarry. Rocks & Minerals: 12: 131-144.
Federal Writer's Project. (1938): Connecticut: A Guide to Its Roads, Lore, and People: 402.
Little, L. W. (1942): Recent Finds of Minerals in Central Connecticut. Rocks & Minerals: 17(8).
Confidential unpublished war min. report (1944), Reg. file Nos. E-816, Strickland Mica-Feldspar Mine, Middlesex County, Connecticut, 1944, 19 [page No. - ?].
Cameron, Eugene N., Larrabee, David M., McNair, Andrew H., Page, James T., Stewart, Glenn W., and Shainin, Vincent E. (1945), Structural And Economic Characteristics Of New England Mica Deposits. Economic Geology: 11(6): 378-380.
Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951): The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 667, 851.
Cameron, Eugene N., Larrabee David M., McNair, Andrew H., Page, James T., Stewart, Glenn W., and Shainin, Vincent E. (1954): Pegmatite Investigations 1942-45 New England; USGS Professional Paper 255: 333-338.
Schooner, Richard. (1955): 90 Minerals from 1 Connecticut Hill. Rocks & Minerals: 30(7-8): 351-8.
Schooner, Richard. (1958): The Mineralogy of the Portland-East Hampton-Middletown-Haddam Area in Connecticut (With a few notes on Glastonbury and Marlborough). Published by Richard Schooner; Ralph Lieser of Pappy’s Beryl Shop, East Hampton; and Howard Pate of Fluorescent House, Branford, Connecticut.
Stugard, Frederick, Jr. (1958): Pegmatites of the Middletown Area, Connecticut. USGS Bulletin 1042-Q.
Jones, Robert W. (1960): Luminescent Minerals of Connecticut, a Guide to Their Properties and Locations.
Schooner, Richard. (1961): The Mineralogy of Connecticut. Fluorescent House, Branford, Connecticut.
Killeen, P. L., and Newman, W. L. (1965), USGS MR-44: 3, - TI.
Brookins, D.G., Fairbairn, H.W., Hurley, P.M., and Pinson, W.H. (1969): A Rb-Sr Geochronologic Study of the Pegmatites of the Middletown Area, Connecticut). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 22: 157-168.
Ryerson, Kathleen. (1972): Rock Hound's Guide to Connecticut. Pequot Press.
Januzzi, Ronald E. (1976): Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State (Taylor Assoc./Mineralogical Press).
Webster, Bud. (1978): Mineral Collector’s Field Guide Connecticut.
Albini, Anthony J. (1979): Selected Pegmatite Quarries of the Central Connecticut Region. Masters thesis. Central Connecticut State College, New Britain, Connecticut.
Webster, Bud and Bill Shelton. (1979): Mineral Collector’s Field Guide the Northeast.
Stearns, H. T. (1983): Memoirs of a Geologist: From Poverty Peak to Piggery Gulch. Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, Honolulu.
Jarnot, Bruce. (1989): Minerals New to the Portland Area Pegmatites of Central Connecticut. Abstract from the 16th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium April 7, 1989, in Rocks & Minerals: 64(12): 471.
Januzzi, Ronald. E. (1994): Mineral Data Book - Western Connecticut and Environs. Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut.
Robbins, Manuel. (1994): Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light. Geoscience Press, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona.
Henderson, William A. (1995): Microminerals of Connecticut. Rocks & Minerals: 70(6): 420-425.
Jarnot, Bruce. (1995): Connecticut Gems and Gem Minerals. Rocks & Minerals: 70(6): 378-382.
Weber, Marcelle H. and Earle C. Sullivan. (1995): Connecticut Mineral Locality Index. Rocks & Minerals (Connecticut Issue): 70(6): 403.
USGS GSC ID # LIST (1995) (July 1995).
Moore, P. B. (2000): Analyses of Primary Phosphates from Pegmatites in Maine and Other Localities, in V. T. King (editor), Mineralogy of Maine. Mining History, Gems, and Geology, Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, Maine: 333-336.
Pawloski, John A. (2006), Connecticut Mining (Mt. Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing): 50-51, 61.
USGS (2005), Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS): U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, loc. file ID #10067599 & 10264493.
Jarnot, Bruce M. (2011): Letters: Connecticut Update. Rocks & Minerals: 86(4): 299.
U.S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Availability System (MAS) file ID #0090070003.
Bastin, Edson S. (1910): Economic Geology of the Feldspar Deposits of the United States. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 420, Government Printing Office.
Schrader, Frank C., Stone, Ralph W., and Sanford, Samuel. (1917): Useful Minerals of the United States. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 624: 97-101.
Foye, Wilbur G. (1919): A New Occurrence of Rhodonite. American Mineralogist: 4(10): 124.
Shannon, Earl V. (1920): Strickland's Quarry, Portland, Connecticut. American Mineralogist: 5(3): 51-54.
Foye, Wilbur. G. (1922): Mineral Localities in the Vicinity of Middletown, Connecticut. American Mineralogist: 7(1): 4-12.
Sterrett, Douglas B. (1923), Mica Deposits Of The United States, USGS Bulletin 740: 65-67.
Schairer, J. F. (1926): Lithiophilite and Other Rare Phosphates from Portland, Connecticut. American Mineralogist: 11(4): 101-104.
Schairer, J. F. and Lawson. C. C. (1926): Pickeringite from Portland, Connecticut. American Journal of Science: 11: 301-4.
Rice, W. N., and Foye, Wilbur G. (1927), Guide To The Geology Of Middletown, Connecticut, and vicinity, State Geological and Natural History Survey Of Connecticut Bulletin 41: 87-90.
Schairer, J. F. (1931): The Minerals of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 51.
Otersen, Lillian. (1934): Report on New Haven Mineral Trip to Strickland Quarry, (Rocks & Minerals Association National Outing, May 20, 1934). Rocks & Minerals: 9(6): 104.
Jenks, William F. (1935): Pegmatites at Collins Hill, Portland, Conn. American Journal of Science: s. 5, 30: 177-197.
Zodac, Peter. (1937): Minerals of the Strickland Quarry. Rocks & Minerals: 12: 131-144.
Federal Writer's Project. (1938): Connecticut: A Guide to Its Roads, Lore, and People: 402.
Little, L. W. (1942): Recent Finds of Minerals in Central Connecticut. Rocks & Minerals: 17(8).
Confidential unpublished war min. report (1944), Reg. file Nos. E-816, Strickland Mica-Feldspar Mine, Middlesex County, Connecticut, 1944, 19 [page No. - ?].
Cameron, Eugene N., Larrabee, David M., McNair, Andrew H., Page, James T., Stewart, Glenn W., and Shainin, Vincent E. (1945), Structural And Economic Characteristics Of New England Mica Deposits. Economic Geology: 11(6): 378-380.
Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951): The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 667, 851.
Cameron, Eugene N., Larrabee David M., McNair, Andrew H., Page, James T., Stewart, Glenn W., and Shainin, Vincent E. (1954): Pegmatite Investigations 1942-45 New England; USGS Professional Paper 255: 333-338.
Schooner, Richard. (1955): 90 Minerals from 1 Connecticut Hill. Rocks & Minerals: 30(7-8): 351-8.
Schooner, Richard. (1958): The Mineralogy of the Portland-East Hampton-Middletown-Haddam Area in Connecticut (With a few notes on Glastonbury and Marlborough). Published by Richard Schooner; Ralph Lieser of Pappy’s Beryl Shop, East Hampton; and Howard Pate of Fluorescent House, Branford, Connecticut.
Stugard, Frederick, Jr. (1958): Pegmatites of the Middletown Area, Connecticut. USGS Bulletin 1042-Q.
Jones, Robert W. (1960): Luminescent Minerals of Connecticut, a Guide to Their Properties and Locations.
Schooner, Richard. (1961): The Mineralogy of Connecticut. Fluorescent House, Branford, Connecticut.
Killeen, P. L., and Newman, W. L. (1965), USGS MR-44: 3, - TI.
Brookins, D.G., Fairbairn, H.W., Hurley, P.M., and Pinson, W.H. (1969): A Rb-Sr Geochronologic Study of the Pegmatites of the Middletown Area, Connecticut). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 22: 157-168.
Ryerson, Kathleen. (1972): Rock Hound's Guide to Connecticut. Pequot Press.
Januzzi, Ronald E. (1976): Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State (Taylor Assoc./Mineralogical Press).
Webster, Bud. (1978): Mineral Collector’s Field Guide Connecticut.
Albini, Anthony J. (1979): Selected Pegmatite Quarries of the Central Connecticut Region. Masters thesis. Central Connecticut State College, New Britain, Connecticut.
Webster, Bud and Bill Shelton. (1979): Mineral Collector’s Field Guide the Northeast.
Stearns, H. T. (1983): Memoirs of a Geologist: From Poverty Peak to Piggery Gulch. Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, Honolulu.
Jarnot, Bruce. (1989): Minerals New to the Portland Area Pegmatites of Central Connecticut. Abstract from the 16th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium April 7, 1989, in Rocks & Minerals: 64(12): 471.
Januzzi, Ronald. E. (1994): Mineral Data Book - Western Connecticut and Environs. Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut.
Robbins, Manuel. (1994): Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light. Geoscience Press, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona.
Henderson, William A. (1995): Microminerals of Connecticut. Rocks & Minerals: 70(6): 420-425.
Jarnot, Bruce. (1995): Connecticut Gems and Gem Minerals. Rocks & Minerals: 70(6): 378-382.
Weber, Marcelle H. and Earle C. Sullivan. (1995): Connecticut Mineral Locality Index. Rocks & Minerals (Connecticut Issue): 70(6): 403.
USGS GSC ID # LIST (1995) (July 1995).
Moore, P. B. (2000): Analyses of Primary Phosphates from Pegmatites in Maine and Other Localities, in V. T. King (editor), Mineralogy of Maine. Mining History, Gems, and Geology, Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, Maine: 333-336.
Pawloski, John A. (2006), Connecticut Mining (Mt. Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing): 50-51, 61.
USGS (2005), Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS): U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, loc. file ID #10067599 & 10264493.
Jarnot, Bruce M. (2011): Letters: Connecticut Update. Rocks & Minerals: 86(4): 299.
U.S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Availability System (MAS) file ID #0090070003.
External Links
http://dunhamwilcox.net/town_hist/portland_history.htm
Cameron, et al (1954): http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp255
Cameron, et al (1954): http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp255
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