The Ferguson Prospect
I made a conscious effort to pursue new finds about three years ago when
I decided to follow my "instincts" in viewing new road cuts and various other
projects associated with land clearing and development. It seemed as though I am drawn
to the newly exposed rock outcroppings produced by blasting projects and development.
As I became aware of the fact that few, if any were actually looking for new material,
I couldn't pass a new road cut or project without stopping to take a look.
What did I have to loose?
Problems would surely arise if I actually found anything within US State Department
of Transportation and/or private projects but it didn't hurt to look and maybe, with
some luck, I would find a specimen or two for my growing collection.
I figured that I would cross that bridge if I ever came to it.
One must note that it is always highly recommended to speak directly with land and property
owners in advance of doing anything to avoid the headaches in the end.
I was looking at new development projects wherever I could find them and keying
in on the white metamorphic pegmatite with smokey quartz, black tourmaline and
feldspar crystallization and of course paying particular attention to garnet lines I would
encounter along the way.
Here is another good one for you:
One afternoon, I was picking at a new ledge that had been recently exposed in the
Buckfield, Maine area. This area is in the general vicinity of Hebron, Maine where "The
Rose Of Maine" was discovered in 1987 by The Holden brothers.
This amazing crystal was a wondrous specimen of morganite beryl that was originally a deep shade
of orange before being extracted from the pocket area. After removal and apparently after
the sunlight hit the specimen, It then changed to a peachy/pink color.
I have seen this material personally and is still quite stunning.
As this story goes in legend, It seems that the brothers couldn't decide what to do with it.
So a hammer and chisel was taken to it.
This unique specimen estimated at the time to be conservatively worth about $500,000.00 , was one
of North America's largest known morganite crystals ever to have been recovered and was clearly
priceless in its natural state.
It should have been in the Smithsonian or other such place but one can't blame them for
needing to eat.
I'm really not sure as to the whereabouts of the main masses but I am sure that
there is more material left from this magnificent specimen.
Some profess, that "if everyone that claims to posess a piece of the Rose Of Maine were combined
the original crystal would have been about the size of a Volkswagon!" .
I have aquired a nice example of this material for my private collection.
It was from received "third tailings "srap" from the cutting floor" from one of the areas
prominent processors and cutters of this material.
It is in fact, a piece of that VW everyone speaks of but authentic.
It is a fabulous light pink 6.0 x 9.7 mm, 1.86 ct Cushion Cut emerald gemstone and one of which
This particular specimen is authenticated by the gem cutter himself and believe me
"The Rose Of Maine" was not the size of a Volkswagon.
I would definately say that this individual piece is certainly a premier showpiece in
"The Ferguson Collection" and will be admired, respected and valued for many years to come.
So anyway:
I'm picking at this freshly blasted rock face and down the
road comes this gentleman that was interested in what I was seeing and doing?
I was of course on the hunt for the elusive lithium based material lepidolite and
other such mineralizations that are often closely related to tourmaline finds.
I said something to the effect of "looking for purple" and he responded by saying,
"You should come down to my pit and take a look, IM seeing purple there."
Well, needless to say my heart jumped a beat or two and I promptly followed up with a
telephone a call a few days later.
The next thing I know I had negotiated access to a large project with an estimated
75,000-100,000 tons of material being removed per month.
As it turned out this gentleman was a major excavator in the area and was grinding up
mountain sides for gravel. He had no gem person, no geologist and for that matter no
one even looking for minerals and gems at his site(s).
I suggested that I would be happy to sign an insurance release if that would allow me to
periodically view the project after hours, weekends and holidays.
We struck an agreement that should anything be discovered by myself at any of his
various projects we would be 50/50 partners as "50% of something is better that 50% of
nothing" and besides he "would never of known anything was there if I were not looking
in the first place"
With the stipulation that I was to receive full credit for the finds his curiosity was
sparked and I was on my way.
The rate at which the material is being processed is staggering to say the least.
Hard hats required, I knew it would be a matter of shear luck in order to discover
anything there as material is there one day and gone the next but If I could be in the
right spot, at the right time, I am convinced it would just be a matter of timing and
pockets would and will surely be discovered.
This particular project should continue for another 5-10 years if all goes as planned and
contracts are renewed.
A few quality specimens have been found but the big pocket has yet to be sited.
Once the first pocket is found then typically there are more in the area.
I am there once or twice a month now to see what's happening between blasting dates in hopes of
a new and mind boggling discovery.
Please be aware that with the scale of a project described here many interests are involved and
much politics to contend with.
The rewards will certainly be slim in the end if anything were ever to be uncovered as 50/50
agreements were struck early in the negotiation of contractual agreements. Agreements of which
I had no part of. A gentlemans agreement is in place though. Who knows?
As fate would have it, he mentioned another development he was working on and one that I was
already aware of at the time.
As a hunterone is constantly seeking the new areas out and this area turned out to be the
registered "Ferguson Prospect."
I was finding specimens of needle quartz, terminated black tourmaline and garnets at
the time. Later, and most recently, beryl and some facet grade aquamarine that rivals
some of the best in the World has been recovered.
Maine does and will have a world class product as history has proven and recognized in the past.
The best is yet to come in my opinion.
The gem material within the light blue/green crystals I have recovered is running in
"bands or ribbons" as is the norm unless you are dealing with the etched pocket material sometimes
found here in Maine.
Quality beryl/aquamarine has not been documented since 1956 in Minot, Maine.
This and the fact that it is a new find in an area not previously recognized to produce such
specimens is what makes this a unique and exciting find.
I estimate the gem yield will fall within the accepted 1-3% per ton range if lucky.
See Photographs.
Note: Shy away from the big projects such as the one described here as attorneys are
lying in wait. It is also quite apparent that when there are such discoveries in this type of
atmosphere, the lawyers are the only winners.
Also, don't be shy about approaching others with a proposal as who knows,
you might just get what you are looking for in the end.
.
Good luck!
