Soapstone was discovered and first worked here by Daniel Fuller in 1808 (Cochrane and Wood, 1895). The quarry closed in 1891. The deposit is in talc-phlogopite-actinolite schist and talc-phlogopite schist.
"Dr. Charles T. Jackson, the distinguished geologist, testifying as an expert in a law case said: 'The Francestown stone, for color, beauty, and evenness, surpasses all other soapstone known.'"(Cochrane and Wood, 1895).
References:
Farmer, John and Moore, Jacob B. (1823): A Gazetteer of the State of New-Hampshire (Concord, NH: Jacob B. Moore), p. 19.
Jackson, Charles T. (1844): Final Report on the Geology and Mineralogy of the State of New Hampshire. p. 86.
Merrill, George P. (1889): The Collection of Building and Ornamental Stones in the U.S. National Museum, p. 563.
Cochrane, Warren and Wood, George K. (1895): History of Francstown, N.H.
Greene, R. C. (1970): The Geology of the Peterborough Quadrangle New Hampshire.
Mineral List:10 entries listed. 7 valid minerals.
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