Rock Collecting Sites - Massachusetts
EASTHAMPTON: Loudville Lead Mine
LOCATION: Western part of MA, north of Springfield.
DIRECTIONS: Take Mass Turnpike (I-90) to Exit 3. Take Route 10 north and follow until you reach Glendale Street on left (.8 miles south of city of Easthampton). Turn left and continue on Glendale 3.2 miles to dirt road on left leading to the mine dump (if you come to Drury Lane on the right or the intersection with Mineral Street you missed the turn). Park near road and walk downhill to the West Branch River. Mine dumps are all along the river at the foot of the bluff.
LEGAL STATUS: Site is unposted at present, and the site is open to collecting with no permission required. The roadway and dump area are public land, where the town allows mineral collectors to visit. (Note: the dumps continue further downstream onto private land; watch for posting.)
BRIEF HISTORY: First discovered in 1678, it was worked for galena and silver from 1680-90, and again from 1765-1770 (purportedly for lead for our soldiers fighting in the Revolutionary War). The mine was reopened in 1809, and worked until 1828, with a shaft over 60' deep and a 30 foot drift at that level. In 1851 work continued, with a north and south engine shaft being driven, and a 1147' adit that never reached the vein. After several attempts to raise money, the Manhan Silver Lead Company went bankrupt in 1865. In the 130+ years since then, the site has been a good collecting locality and remains so today. The abundance of specimen material is due to the old hand-cobbing techniques of the original miners, who were after the galena. They threw the lead carbonates, sulfates, molybdates and phosphates on the dumps.
MINERALS FOUND: over 30 minerals are found at Loudville, including anglesite, cerussite, pyromorphite, wulfenite (the "queen" of Loudville minerals, in a vast array of xl habits), and many more (quartz, barite, calcite, galena, malachite, sphalerite, and others). The most desirable and beautiful minerals are available as micromounts, though the occasional worthwhile thumbnail or even larger specimen may reward the hard worker. Wulfenites up to 1/4" have been found in recent years.
TOOLS NEEDED: Bring along your serious digging equipment, brush and bucket to wash muddy specimens, and your hand lens. Annual floods leave a messy muddy coating on all specimens near the river; this is easily rinsed off in the nearby river, which is clean and provides welcome relief from the summer heat. This is a good spot for collecting with your school-age children, since the river is right at hand for instant entertainment.
Good luck to any collectors who try the area! Eric Greene
