Bulletin No. 313 . Series A, Economic Geology, 93 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR THE GEAOTTES OF MAINE BY T. NELSON DALE WITH AN INTKObUCTTOtf BY GEORGE OTIS SMITH PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH THE MAINE STATE SURVEY COMMISSION WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1907 CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION THE OCCUKHENCE OK GRANITE IN MAINE, BY GEORGE OTIS SMITH. Page. Geographic distribution........._.................,.........._............ 7 Geologic relations ........:............................................... 9 Scope of this report....................................................... 11 Importance of the industry ............................................... 12 THE GRANITES OF MAINE, BY T. NELSON DALE. Introduction............................................................. 13 Part I. Scientific discussion .............................................. 14 Granite proper..........................I............................ 14 Granite in general................................................ 14 Definition ..................................................... 14 Origin........................................................ 14 Mineralogical composition...................................... 16 Chemical composition ........................................ 18 Texture ..................................................... 20 Definition................................................ 20 Character and grade.................. 1................... 20 Forms of minerals......................................... 20 Arrangement of minerals.................................. 20 Physical properties........................................... 21 Weight........ '. ......................................... 21 Cohesiveness............................................. 21 Elasticity................................................ 21 Flexibility............................:................. .22 Hardness................................................ 22 Expansibility............................................ 22 Porosity................................................. 22 Vitreousness.................. .......................... 23 Classification ................................................ 23 Scientific classification.................................... 23 Economic classification ................................... 24 Maine granites................................................... 24 Classification................................................. 24 General structure ............................................ 25 Flow structure............................................ 25 Eif t and grain............................................. 26 Sheets................................................... 30 Joints ................................................. ^. 38 Headings................................................ 39 Faults ................................................... 40 Microscopic fractures ("shakes")......................... 40 Subjoints .. -^............................................ 41 Contemporary fractures.................. ................. 42 4 * CONTENTS. Part I. Scientific discussion Continued. Page. Granite proper Continued. Maine granites Continued. Rock variations . .^................ r .......................... 42 Dikes (granitic).......................................... 42 Veins (quartz) .......................:................... 46 Dikes, basic.............................................. 47 Segregations (knots)........................... r .......... 49 Geodes ................. 1................................ 49 Inclusions ................................................ 49 Contacts................................................. 51 Minerals on joint faces.................................... 51 Discoloration ("sap," etc.) ................................... 52 Decomposition............................................... 54 Black granites ........................................................ 56 Black granites in general.......................................... 56 Classification................................................. 56 Origin....................................................... 57 Mineralogical and chemical composition .................. .^.... 57 Texture ..................................................... 58 Physical properties........................................... 58 "Black granites ".of Maine ....................................... 59 Classification................................................. 59 General structure ............................................ 60 Rift.................... .............'.................. 60 Sheets................................................... 60 Joints................................................... 60 Variations in the rock ........................................ 60 Banding........................:........................ 60 Dikes................................................... 61 Contacts...... J..........................:.............:. 61 Text-book references on granite and '' black granites "........... ...... 62 Part II. Economic features .............................................. 63 Tests of granite................................................... 63 Chemical analysis .. ...................:.................. 63 Determination of C0a and CaO ............... -1............ 63 Discoloration ............................................ 63 Mineral composition...................................... 63 Proportions of minerals .................................. 64 Polish .............................^..................... 64 Hardness.......'......................................... 64 Compressive strength...................................... 65 Transverse strength, shearing strength, and compressive elasticity .............................................. 65 Porosity................................................. 65 Freezing and thawing..................................... 66 Absorption and compression............................... 66 Behavior under fire....................................... 66 Specific gravity........................................... 66 Weight per cubic foot. ..................................... 66 Coefficient of expansion!........ ......................... 66 Adaptability to different uses.............................. ....... 67 Granite quarrying................................................ 67 Exploration of surface .................................... 68 CONTENTS. Part II. Economic features Continued. Granite quarrying Continued. Stripping .................................. .............. 68 Sheets, rift, and grain...................................... 68 Quarry site............................................... 68 Transportation........................................... 68 Drainage .....^.......................................... ' 68 Water supply ............................................ 69 Use of explosives and wedges ............................. 69 Utilization of waste.................. .................... 72 Economic classification of Maine granites .......................... 72 Distribution of granite quarries in Maine........................... 75 Quarries of granite proper. ................................. 75 Quarries of black granite.................................. 76 Description of the quarries and their product....................... 76 . Cumberland County.......................................... 76 Franklin County.............................................. 80 Hancock County............................................. 84 Kennebec County .........;.................................. 117 Knox County................................................. 122 Lincoln County .............................................. 139 Oxford County............................................... 144 Penobscot County............................................. 1.47 Piscataqnis County ........................................... 148 Somerset County.........................../.....;........... 149 Waldo County ............................................... 152 Washington County.......................................... 159 York County ................................................ 175 Statistics of equipment and investment ............................ 183 Statistics of production for 1905, by Altha T. Coons................. I S3 Bibliography of economic geology of granite........................ 184 Glossary of scientific and quarry terms............................. 186 Index .................................................................... 191 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. PLATE I. Map showing the distribution of granite and related rocks in Maine....................................................... Pocket II. A, Joint structure on Heron Neck, Green Island; B, Sheet and joint structure on Crotch Island ..................................... 32 III. A, Sheet structure, Ryan Parker quarry, Crotch Island; B, Sheet and dome structure, Mosquito Mountain, Frankfort.............. 34 IV. A, Sheet and joint structure, Hurricane Island quarry; B, Sheet and joint structure, Stinchfield quarry, Hallowell.................... 36 V. A, B, Sheet structure, Crabtree and Havey quarry, Sullivan........ 38 VI. A, Sheet and joint structure, Sands quarry, Vinalhaven; B, Sheet and curved joint, White quarry, Bluehill......................... 40 VII. A, Sheets under lateral strain, Rock Chapel Hill, Ga. ; B, Schist inclusion at Freeportquarry...................................