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Fifteen members and friends of the Athol Bird and Nature Club took advantage of the perfect June day to explore the old lead mine dumps in Loudville (Connecticut Valley). The group met at 8:30 a.m. at 100 Main Street where many chimney swifts, several American robins, European starling, northern cardinal, blue jay, house sparrow, cedar waxwing and both mourning and rock doves were seen as the naturalists assembled. An elusive house wren was heard nearby also.
The first stop was at the large outcrop of conglomerate just beyond the French King bridge where good examples of the very coarse-grained rock were collected. Pebbles in this sedimentary rock, which was formed from gravel, were found to be made from igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic fragments and tell of very ancient petrographic formations that existed before the Triassic bed (app. 120,000,000 years old) was deposited.
The next stop was at the dinosaur foot prints that may be found somewhat farther west in a red shale (a sedimentary rock made mainly of clay and hematite). The imprint of toes by these bird-like reptiles could be clearly seen and the youngsters in the group enjoyed the close-up view.
Along the way to Loudville, red-winged blackbird, turkey vulture and American goldfinch were seen and the "Your Money," "Your Money." "Your Money!" call of the common yellowthroat (a yellow warbler with a black mask) was heard.
A hike down to the banks of the Manhan River, which flows through the old lead mine dumps, brought the group to the fine collecting site that has been visited by thousands of mineral collectors over the many years since the deposits were first discovered way back in the 17th century. While the Athol naturalists combed the dumps for specimens, a mineral collector from the North Shore Mineral Club came to try his luck also. Many fine crystals of rock crystal, milky, citrine and smoky quartz were located. Galena, the chief ore of lead, was found in typical cube form, some of quite large size. Blue azurite and green malachite, both ores of copper, were added to the collections along with both pyrite and chalcopyrite (Fool’s Gold). Some smokey quartz crystals were found coated with the rare mineral pyromorphite, an uncommon prize. While here, a veery (a reddish thrush) was heard sounding like a person whistling down a drain pipe. Also calling were the red-eyed vireo, scarlet tanager, belted kingfisher and wood thrush. But the mineral collectors were too intent to follow up the calls. Most of the members forded the stream to collect from the dumps on the other side. Young and old alike seemed to enjoy the cooling waters that were waded. Heavy back packs loaded with choice mineral specimens were carried up the hill and back to the cars.
On the return trip to Athol common grackle, barn swallow and rough-winged swallow were identified. Members look forward to the next mineral field trip.
The next scheduled field trip is July 29 in Petersham.
See Upcoming
ABNC Events
Members of the Athol Bird and Nature Club are hosting
several fund-raising
events for the Millers River Environmental Center. There are small
FEEs
for these.
See
Upcoming
ABNC Events
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