RUMFORD — Mountain Valley High School freshmen in physical science classes explored the Bumpus Mine in Albany. Pam Rousseau and Tom Wylie teach these classes. The tour was arranged through Maine Mineralogy Expeditions and Bethel Outdoor Adventures.

Seabury Lyons greeted the students at a shelter and explained the geology of the area. He told the story of the largest beryl crystal ever found. Measuring four feet by six feet, the crystal was discovered in the Bumpus Mine and is now housed in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Lyons then led them on a short hike to a ledge cut more than 80 years ago. He explained mining techniques from long ago.

Rousseau, who arranged the tour, said, “Not only did we get to see a little of the geologic history of Maine, but we also learned about working conditions in the mines. Thankfully, those conditions have improved since the mine opened in 1927.”

Timothy Haas said, “It was cool because we got out of school and I liked being in the mine.”

Isaiah Stickney thought the tour was fun. “It was interesting to see different kinds of rocks and to see how they made the cave long ago,” he said.

Students were allowed to collect rocks, including feldspar, mica, several types of quartz, biotite, lepidolite, black tourmaline and beryl.

An anonymous donor paid the entrance fee to the mine.

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