Great Escapes: Great Escape: Mining In Bethel, Maine

Ever wish you could strike it rich? Your odds go up if you know where to look. So get out of the city and head to the mines. Maine is less than a tank away.

Welcome to beautiful Bethel. This scenic village is a western Maine jewel in a region rich with charm, A must-see for visitors, Mount Mann Jewelers.

From minerals in the rough to hand-cut jewelry, you'll see what makes Maine such a treasure trove for gem lovers.

"The tourmaline family is Maine's state gemstone! That's beautiful," gem miner Jim Mann said.

Owner Jim Mann says mines near Bethel are famous for tourmaline like watermelon variety, beryl like aquamarine and quartz like one piece discovered in Bumpus Mine.

Looking more like a rain forest than a rock quarry, Bumpus Mine was abandoned decades ago when Maine's mining industry went bust.

This summer the mine is open again, giving tourists the chance to walk inside and see Maine's natural treasures.

"This is a big block of quartz and big blocks of salmon feldspar," Mann said.

To find some treasures of our own, we head to a field collecting site.

To get started all you need to have a three-tined garden scratcher. The hunt is on as we scour the site for something special.

"You know, I don't think you're going to find a diamond or anything like that in here, but certainly there's some neat stuff to be found," mine visitor David Stearns said.

"Lots of stuff. 'Cause there's quartz and tourmaline and all kinds of stuff," 9-year-old visitor Justin Stearns said.

"Like all this mica... found a bunch of mica," 9-year-old visitor Cathryn Habermanfake said.

Chances of a really big find are slim, but it's still fun to dream.

"I wouldn't want to throw water on that dream. Everyone would like to strike it rich. The bottom line is that in the mining world, people hold that dream, and then they work hard," Mann said.

And hard work pays off.

"I have three pieces," one miner said.

With the discovery of some tiny aquamarine, it's finder’s keepers at this mine, so you'll go home with a bucket full of memories.

Boston to Bethel and back, 342 miles.

Mt. Mann Jewelers
207.824.3030

Bethel, Maine Website
1.800.442.5826

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