Grafton, NH

There is a little know attraction in Grafton, NH called Ruggles Mine.

It may not be very famous but every child who has been there will remember the trip forever! Ruggles Mine is a mica mine.

To geologists this area is known as the Littleton Formation, it is 300,000,000 years old!

Mica was discovered in 1803 by Sam Ruggles of Grafton. A "book" of mica as large as five feet in diameter has been found there.*

Mica is heat resistant and transparent. It was used in whale oil lamp chimneys, ships windows and stove fornts. Newer uses were cosmetics, cement block and asphalt roofing.Early electrical appliances such as toasters had mica in them. The mine was also a good source for Feldspar- used in glazes and also in nonabrasive scouring powder and glass cleaner. From 1932 to 1959 the Bon Ami Company extracted 10,000 tons of feldspar.

By the 1930's an estimated $12 million dollars worth of mica came out of Ruggles. By the 1960's the number had swelled to $30 million. But as is the way of the world....eventually other countries offered mica cheaper, the government eliminated subsidies and the demand became less.

In 1963 Ruggles Mine opened as a tourist attraction!

If you have children who love collecting rocks, or if you yourself are a rock hound you have got to make the trip. Bring boxes and buckets as well as hammers and spades because you are allowed to take anything you find. Your children will spend all day delighting in exploring the caves and anticipating finding treasure!

**Those of you who have coveted mica when you were a child are familiar with the transparent layer upon layer-pages like a book!

Ruggles Mine, Grafton NH Admission: $20/adults $10/children

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