Pelton's Quarry, Portland, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Pelton's Quarry | Quarry |
| Portland | - not defined - |
| Middlesex County | County |
| Connecticut | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
41° 36' 3'' North , 72° 34' 36'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Pocotopaug | 3,436 (2017) | 5.5km |
| Cromwell | 13,750 (2017) | 5.7km |
| Portland | 5,862 (2017) | 6.2km |
| East Hampton | 2,691 (2017) | 6.8km |
| Middletown | 46,756 (2017) | 7.5km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lapidary and Mineral Society of Central Connecticut | Meriden, Connecticut | 20km |
| Bristol Gem & Mineral Club | Bristol, Connecticut | 32km |
| New Haven Mineral Club | New Haven, Connecticut | 44km |
Some references such as Otfinoski (1988) state that pegmatite quarrying probably began in the Middletown district in 1782 [sic] when Portland resident Ralph Pelton, Deacon of the Central Church, began working this quarry near his home just east of Collins Hill. However, Beers' (1884) The History of Middlesex County 1635-1885 states:
The fine feldspar mine, near Deacon Ralph PELTON's, has been worked by him since 1872. Several thousand tons of the stone have been taken out. A sample of the feldspar taken to the Centennial was pronounced the finest there. Fine beryls, garnets, etc., have been found here.
THE FELDSPAR MILL, near Deacon Ralph PELTON's, was built by him in 1877. The grinding is done by two stone chasers about five feet in diameter, moving around upon a bedstone of the same material. The crushed feldspar then passes to a revolving sieve, and thence to a cylinder, containing 3,300 pounds of Norway pebbles, of 18 revolutions per minute, where it is finely pulverized.
THE FELDSPAR MILL, near Deacon Ralph PELTON's, was built by him in 1877. The grinding is done by two stone chasers about five feet in diameter, moving around upon a bedstone of the same material. The crushed feldspar then passes to a revolving sieve, and thence to a cylinder, containing 3,300 pounds of Norway pebbles, of 18 revolutions per minute, where it is finely pulverized.
Somehow, 1872 was transposed to 1782 and the error was perpetuated. This is supported by Shepard (1837), who surveyed quarrying throughout the state in the 1830s and does not mention the Pelton Quarry, but discusses the Tollgate "China Stone" Quarry in Middletown numerous times. Nor does Robinson (1825).
The presence of Pelton's Quarry near Collins Hill has lead some to conclude that he started the quarrying at the hill's summit that later became the famous Strickland Quarry. But the presence of the old quarry at his property just to the east dispels that notion.
Little has been written about the mineralogy. Jarnot (1995), who gives the town incorrectly as Haddam, mentions "well-formed aquamarine crystals of a characteristic deep blue color, sometimes grading almost to black." Foye (1922) mentions that it "has long been inactive. It probably produced a number of rare minerals in its day, but it is now known as the source of two minerals, unique for the region, bismutite and samarskite [since found elsewhere]. Beryl and crystals of muscovite from the locality may be found in the Wesleyan museum." [see photos.] Wells (1887) analyzed a bismutite mass from here that was in the George Brush collection.
Coordinates are approximate. Private property.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
22 valid minerals. 2 erroneous literature entries.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) References: |
| ⓘ Almandine Formula: Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ Annite Formula: KFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 Description: fka biotite |
| ⓘ Autunite Formula: Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O References: |
| ⓘ Bertrandite Formula: Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2 |
| ✪ Beryl Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18) Habit: elongated hexagonal prisms with pinacoidal terminations Colour: blue-green, deep aqua to almost black Description: Very well-formed and gemmy crystals, typically doubly-terminated. References: |
| ✪ Beryl var. Aquamarine Formula: Be3Al2Si6O18 Habit: elongated hexagonal prisms, typically terminated by pinacoids Colour: blue-green, deep aqua to almost black Description: well formed crystals with characteristic deep blue color sometimes grading to almost black |
| ⓘ Bismuthinite Formula: Bi2S3 |
| ⓘ Bismutite Formula: (BiO)2CO3 Habit: massive replacement of bismuthinite Colour: yellow-green to gray Description: A mass in the George Brush collection was analyzed (Wells, 1887). |
| ⓘ 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series' Habit: tabular Colour: black with colorful iridescence References: |
| ⓘ Fluorapatite Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F |
| ⓘ Gahnite Formula: ZnAl2O4 Habit: octahedral Colour: dark green Description: translucent, micro crystals and anhedral aggregates with beryl in smoky quartz References: |
| ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group' Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' |
| ⓘ Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 References: |
| ⓘ Microcline Formula: K(AlSi3O8) References: |
| ⓘ 'Monazite Group' Formula: REE(PO4) References: |
| ✪ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 Habit: pseudohexagonal tabular to elongated crystals Colour: dark silver to bronze Description: Sharp, dark, well-formed crystals. |
| ⓘ Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ Opal var. Opal-AN Formula: SiO2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Samarskite-(Y) Formula: YFe3+Nb2O8 Description: Reported in the old literature, but probably not analyzed, may be ishikawaite because ishikawaite was confirmed by analysis at the nearby Penfield Quarry. References: |
| ⓘ Schorl Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) References: |
| ⓘ Formula: Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 Description: speculative |
| ⓘ ' Formula: (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 Description: Mistake for columbite-tantalite |
| ⓘ Torbernite Formula: Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| ⓘ Uraninite Formula: UO2 |
| ⓘ Uranophane Formula: Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) ? Formula: Y(PO4) Description: In a list of minerals without supporting information. References: |
| ⓘ Zircon Formula: Zr(SiO4) |
| ⓘ Zircon var. Cyrtolite Formula: Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Bismuthinite | 2.DB.05 | Bi2S3 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Gahnite | 4.BB.05 | ZnAl2O4 |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Opal var. Opal-AN | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 · nH2O | |
| ⓘ | Samarskite-(Y) | 4.DB.25 | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| ⓘ | Uraninite | 4.DL.05 | UO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Bismutite | 5.BE.25 | (BiO)2CO3 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Xenotime-(Y) ? | 8.AD.35 | Y(PO4) |
| ⓘ | Fluorapatite | 8.BN.05 | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| ⓘ | Autunite | 8.EB.05 | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| ⓘ | Torbernite | 8.EB.05 | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Almandine | 9.AD.25 | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Spessartine ? | 9.AD.25 | Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Zircon | 9.AD.30 | Zr(SiO4) |
| ⓘ | var. Cyrtolite | 9.AD.30 | Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
| ⓘ | Uranophane | 9.AK.15 | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ | Bertrandite | 9.BD.05 | Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Beryl var. Aquamarine | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| ⓘ | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) | |
| ⓘ | Schorl | 9.CK.05 | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Annite | 9.EC.20 | KFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Microcline | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Monazite Group' | - | REE(PO4) |
| ⓘ | 'Tantalite' ? | - | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| ⓘ | 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Hornblende Root Name Group' | - | ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Annite | KFe32+(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Bertrandite | Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Zircon var. Cyrtolite | Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
| H | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Be | Beryllium | |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| Be | ⓘ Bertrandite | Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2 |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Annite | KFe32+(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| O | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Bertrandite | Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
| O | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| O | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| O | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| O | ⓘ Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Monazite Group | REE(PO4) |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| O | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Tantalite | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| O | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| O | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| O | ⓘ Zircon var. Cyrtolite | Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
| O | ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series | |
| O | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| F | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Annite | KFe32+(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| Al | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Al | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| Al | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Annite | KFe32+(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl var. Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| Si | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Bertrandite | Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Si | ⓘ Opal var. Opal-AN | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Si | ⓘ Zircon var. Cyrtolite | Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
| Si | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| P | ⓘ Monazite Group | REE(PO4) |
| P | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Annite | KFe32+(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| Ca | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Mn | ⓘ Tantalite | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| Mn | ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series | |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Annite | KFe32+(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Almandine | Fe32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Tantalite | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series | |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| Y | Yttrium | |
| Y | ⓘ Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| Y | ⓘ Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| Zr | Zirconium | |
| Zr | ⓘ Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| Zr | ⓘ Zircon var. Cyrtolite | Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
| Nb | Niobium | |
| Nb | ⓘ Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| Nb | ⓘ Tantalite | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| Nb | ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series | |
| Ta | Tantalum | |
| Ta | ⓘ Tantalite | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| Bi | Bismuth | |
| Bi | ⓘ Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| Bi | ⓘ Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| U | ⓘ Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Ganderia DomainDomain
- GranderiaPassive Margin
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References
Robinson, Samuel (1825) A Catalogue of American Minerals, With Their Localities - Including All Which Are Known to Exist in the United States and British Provinces, And Having the Towns, Counties, and Districts in Each State and Province Arranged Alphabetically. With an Appendix, Containing Additional Localities and a Tabular View. Cummings, Hilliard, & Co.
Shepard, Charles Upham (1837) A Report on the Geological Survey of Connecticut. Geological Survey of Connecticut.
Foye, Wilbur G. (1922) Mineral localities in the vicinity of Middletown, Connecticut. American Mineralogist, 7 (1) 4-12
Stugard, Frederick Jr. (1958) Pegmatites of the Middletown area, Connecticut. Bulletin 1042q. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b1042q
Jarnot, Bruce (1995) Connecticut Gems & Gem Minerals. Rocks & Minerals, 70 (6) 378-382 doi:10.1080/00357529.1995.11761564
Pelton's Quarry, Portland, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA