Old Mine Park Archeological Site
Encyclopedia
The Old Mine Park Archaeological Site is a historic site in the Long Hill, Trumbull, Connecticut
section of Trumbull, Connecticut
. It was mined from 1828 to 1920 and during 1942-1946. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1990.
The first mention of minerals at Saganawamps, or Old Mine Park, is found in the February 21 1757 deed giving Howkins Nichols of Stratford a lease for 200 years of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) "at a place commonly called Saganawam for obtaining ye ore or mineral substances."
Some time around 1818, Ephraim Lane took some samples of rocks he found at Saganawamps to Yale University Professor Benjamin Silliman
for identification. Silliman reported, in his new American Journal of Science
, that he had identified tungsten
, tellurium, topaz
and fluorite
. Shortly after the articles were published, Ephraim Lane was making specimens available to collectors at a price and apparently to protect his supply of minerals, Lane acquired a lease to 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) in Trumbull later to be known as "Shagamywamps the mine lot" in 1828 from Elijah Hawley. Lane then leased the land to Thomas R. Hubbard.
In 1837 the first (and at the time only) prismatic barite ore of tungsten
in the United States was discovered at the mine. It was scientifically studied in 1887 by Adolph Gurlt of the University of Bonn
. The area has previously been mined for copper
, silver
, lead
and gold
as well as limestone
. The Hubbard Mine for tungsten was operated by the Rare Minerals Company from 1898 and later by the American Tungsten Mining and Milling Company, ceasing operations after a fire in 1916.
Besides tungsten, the mine was also a source of beryl
, opal
, topaz
, tourmaline
and 60 other crystals and minerals in varying quantities.
Long Hill, Trumbull, Connecticut
Long Hill is a village located in the western section of Trumbull in Fairfield County, Connecticut in New England. It is an area lying west of the Pequonnock River and north of the Merritt Parkway. The main thoroughfare is Connecticut Route 111, present-day Main Street.-History:Long Hill was...
section of Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
. It was mined from 1828 to 1920 and during 1942-1946. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1990.
Historical significance
Hubbard Tungsten Mine at Long HillThe first mention of minerals at Saganawamps, or Old Mine Park, is found in the February 21 1757 deed giving Howkins Nichols of Stratford a lease for 200 years of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) "at a place commonly called Saganawam for obtaining ye ore or mineral substances."
Some time around 1818, Ephraim Lane took some samples of rocks he found at Saganawamps to Yale University Professor Benjamin Silliman
Benjamin Silliman
Benjamin Silliman was an American chemist, one of the first American professors of science , and the first to distill petroleum.-Early life:...
for identification. Silliman reported, in his new American Journal of Science
American Journal of Science
The American Journal of Science is the United States of America's longest-running scientific journal, having been published continuously since its conception in 1818 by Professor Benjamin Silliman, who edited and financed it himself...
, that he had identified tungsten
Tungsten
Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...
, tellurium, topaz
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO42. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.-Color and varieties:...
and fluorite
Fluorite
Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon...
. Shortly after the articles were published, Ephraim Lane was making specimens available to collectors at a price and apparently to protect his supply of minerals, Lane acquired a lease to 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) in Trumbull later to be known as "Shagamywamps the mine lot" in 1828 from Elijah Hawley. Lane then leased the land to Thomas R. Hubbard.
In 1837 the first (and at the time only) prismatic barite ore of tungsten
Tungsten
Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...
in the United States was discovered at the mine. It was scientifically studied in 1887 by Adolph Gurlt of the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
. The area has previously been mined for copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
as well as limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
. The Hubbard Mine for tungsten was operated by the Rare Minerals Company from 1898 and later by the American Tungsten Mining and Milling Company, ceasing operations after a fire in 1916.
Besides tungsten, the mine was also a source of beryl
Beryl
The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be3Al26. The hexagonal crystals of beryl may be very small or range to several meters in size. Terminated crystals are relatively rare...
, opal
Opal
Opal is an amorphous form of silica related to quartz, a mineraloid form, not a mineral. 3% to 21% of the total weight is water, but the content is usually between 6% to 10%. It is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most...
, topaz
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO42. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.-Color and varieties:...
, tourmaline
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a crystal boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gem comes in a wide variety of colors...
and 60 other crystals and minerals in varying quantities.
Park
The Old Mine Park is a 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) open space created in 1937 on the site of the mine. The park features:- An 11 miles (17.7 km) loop trail for biking & hiking.
- Two Pavilions and Picnic Area
- Lavatory
- Pheobe Meadows multi-purpose field
- The Trumbull Counseling Center (121 Old Mine Road)
- A walking bridge over the Pequonnock RiverPequonnock RiverThe Pequonnock River is a waterway in eastern Fairfield County, Connecticut, flowing through the city of Bridgeport. The river has a penchant for flooding, particularly in spring since the removal of a retention dam in Trumbull in the 1950s. There seems to be a sharp difference of opinion among...
.