Livingston Quarry
This quarry operated from 1945 to 1956. It extracted minerals such as barite, quartz, gypsum and dolomite, as well as basalt that was used for railroad bedding. It also left a large scar on the hillside that is still visible today.
This picture is taken from Portuguese Bend, looking east towards Livingston Quarry.
The minerals extracted from Livingston
Quarry formed from a process called secondary mineralization.
This means that the minerals formed inside rocks. This
differs from primary mineralization, where the minerals crystalize
from a molten liquid, like cooling lava or magma.
The minerals at Livingston Quarry
formed in cracks in the rocks. Groundwater saturated with elements moved through the rocks and
formed crystals where cracks formed. Below is a picture of one of the exposed cracks that bears
a mineral called dolomite.
The quarry had three sections. The western section is where most of the barite was located.
Barite is a heavy mineral with the chemical composition of BaSO4. Some concrete
from the quarry's buildings is still present.
The west end of Livingston Quarry, looking towards the
east. Concrete from the quarry's buildings are in
the foreground. The barite is difficult to find, and located to the right.
The middle section of Livingston Quarry is most often visited by mineral collectors. There is
still an abundance of dolomite. The picture above of the dolomite was taken in this area. Below is a
close-up of these crystals.
Also exposed in this section of the quarry is a prominent basalt sill. A basalt sill is
where basalt has been injected between two sedimentary layers. This is shown below, both with and
without labels:
VISIT ONE OF THESE
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP LOCATIONS
GO BACK TO THE MAIN MAP
Also exposed in this section of the quarry is a prominent basalt sill. A basalt sill is where basalt has been injected between two sedimentary layers. This is shown below, both with and without labels:
VISIT ONE OF THESE
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP LOCATIONS