Brief History of the Betts Mine: Regular mining operations ceased before the end of World War II. The primary ore of manganese extracted by Betts was rhodochrosite!
Minerals: Despite its prevailing massive habit, rhodochrosite has been found here with platy rhombohedral crystallization; and occasionally with some translucency. Other minerals found at the Betts Mine include Rhodonite, Pyrite cubes, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite, Calcite, Almandine and Spessartine garnets, Kutnohorite, Hornblende, Gypsum, Rutile, Cummingtonite, and more.
Rhodonite from the Betts Mine became the official state Gemstone of Massachusetts in 1979.
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