Part 14 here
Today we are pretending we are treasure hunters and will go to the garnet pit. The garnet mining started here in 1876. One of the versions how that place was found is that Barton came to the nearest pub and asked if anyone saw a red transparent stones somewhere around here? So locals brought him here and he started the mining. That garnet was formed millions years ago at the fault line. The constant pressure was the reason why garnets are so hard – if we counting the stone hardness and give the diamond 10, regular garnet has 5-6 and Barton’s garnet will be around 8-9.
Panoramic view of the pit
The purpose of that pit wasn’t finding stones that are suitable for the jewelry. Because of the fault, garnets here are very fractured and breaks with 90 degree angle sides. That’s why it was crushed and the garnet dust was used in sandpaper and drill production. Later that products was used, for example, in shuttle’s windows polishing and waterjet cutting.
It is difficult to find a stone that is suitable for the jewelry making and working with that stone is the same difficulty as working with the diamond. So pricing for the stone usually around several hundreds for the carat.
Mining in that pit was closed several decades ago because the water table was met. At that time workers were not able to remove the water so mining went to the next pit, then next pit, and so on. Nowadays the technology allows us to start the mining here, but to start the mining, the pit needs to satisfy the code, and it does not. The extracted rocks are used in the manufacturing of the countertops as well.
Garnet inclusions
The garnet pieces are laying under the feet, all that needed to be done to fill bucket with the water, splash onto the ground and here they are, pieces of garnet, peeking among the gravel dust. 
We were begged to not swim in the pit puddles – I was surprised, because the sharp rocks on the bottom are easily noticed. But apparently there was at least someone, who tried and left the pit in the ambulance.
Who wanted to swim here?!
We spent an hour there and collect sparkling red garnets about handful each (Except Daddy, he made photos).
Kate found the big piece of garnet
Treasure!
After that we continued our Journey and used ferry to cross the border with Vermont!
We are waiting the ferry to moor
Green shadows
It is confused!
Part 16 here