Daniel Levesque's Photo Gallery
MONOLITHIC COLUMNS OF COARSE TEXTURED BIOTITE GRANITE
Monolithic columns of coarse textured biotite granite quarried at Palmer Quarry, Vinalhaven, for the Cathedral of St. John the Devine, at New York. The Palmer Quarry was operated by the Bodwell Granite Co. of Rockland, Maine.
Column lengths, 51 feet six inches to 54 feet, diameter 6 feet. One column is in lathe.
Source: The Granites of Maine, Bulletin 313, 1907 , plate XIII-B.
SHEETED GRANITE, KENNEBEC COUNTY, MAINE
Sheeted granite in quarry, Kennebec, Maine.
Photographer: Dale, Thomas Nelson.
Source: USGS Denver Library Photographic Collection.
Published in the USGS Survey Bulletin 313, Plate 4-B, 1907.
and USGS Survey Bulletin 738, Plate 12-B 1923.
AUSTIN DRILLING MACHINE, SHERIDAN, MAINE
Austin drilling machine drilling slate, Sheridan, Maine. Sheridan is a settlement within Ashland.
Photographers: Clapp, Frederick Gardner.
Source: USGS Denver Library Photographic Collection.
FELDSPAR MILL ON CATHANCE RIVER
Feldspar mill, showing natural dam supplemented by small artificial dam. The view is from the west. The Cathance river is near the Cathance Station, Topsham. The photographer is Edson Sunderland Bastin, renowned geologist for the USGS. In his "Geology of the Pegmatites and Associated Rocks of Maine", Bulletin #445, he states on page 117 that this is the Trenton Flint and Spar Company mill.
Photo was taken on July 26, 1906.
0VV-GM8Fluorite (Var: Blue John) CaF2
Largest Crystal Size: 27 mm
This scan is an example of a souvenir item fashioned from blue john sold from the Castleton Gift Shop, circa1960. The spoon is shown laying in the original box's cotton wadding along with the brief description. Unfortunately, the stone is damaged at each end. The spoon itself is made of electroplated nickel silver (EPNS). For scale this small spoon is 11.3cm long. I purchased it on Ebay back in 2015.
Photo and collection: Dan Levesque.
98F-8HNSiderite FeCO3 , Pyrite FeS2
Field of View: 3.5 mm
Clear pyrite capped siderite crystals are shown with rhombohedral terminations. Pyrite is visible at lower edge of image.
EDS analysis of this specimen was performed by Al Falster at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum lab on July 12, 2023. The analysis is shown on one of the child photos.
Personally collected November 26, 2019.
Photo and collection: Dan Levesque.
21N-DT8Quartz (Var: Citrine) SiO2
Dimensions: 95 mm x 80 mm x 73 mm
I found this highly fractured Quartz var. citrine specimen near arsenopyrite. I'm guessing the colorant is possibly from the iron and/or sulfides leaching into quartz during the melt. The citrine color is completely through and through and not surface staining.
It was found in the same area as the specimen shown in my photo # 50535, MinID 2Q0-JGH.
Personally collected April 29, 2016.
Photo and collection: Dan Levesque.
QWT-YP3Fluorite CaF2
Dimensions: 64 mm x 47 mm x 17 mm
I received this fluorite specimen from a secret Santa back in 2016. The mystery was solved when in 2020 my old friend, Denis Beaulieu, I've known since the 60's asked if I'd ever received a green rock in the mail a few years ago? Mystery solved!!!
I'd now have much more hair left on my head if I'd known from the start.
This specimen's crystals exhibit the beautiful green color typical of this locale.
Thanks again, old pal.
Ex: J.S. Sobolewski Collection.
Photo and collection: Dan Levesque.
E5M-MNGCuprite Cu2O
Dimensions: 69 mm x 37 mm x 30 mm
This is an old-time specimen displaying cubic crystals; some with modified corners and edges. Age has caused some green alteration along with loss of lustre and color.
The child close-up photo offers better lighting to accentuate the true deep red color and translucency.
Photo and collection: Dan Levesque.
HUX-J41Fluorapatite Ca5(PO4)3F
Field of View: 10.7 mm
Three blue rough crystals with some surface staining attached to albite.
Personally collected: December 28, 2021.
Photo and collection: Dan Levesque.
