Last updated: September 27, 2020
Place
Spotted Quarry
J. Borden
Quick Facts
Location:
North side of the trail, about one-tenth of a mile from the Visitor Center
Significance:
Where beautiful, spotted pipestone is quarried. Geologists think the spots may be due to reduction caused by dying bacteria over 1.6 billion years ago.
Amenities
2 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Wheelchair Accessible
This quarry gets its name from the appearance of the pipestone that comes out of it. The dark red stone is speckled with small, white spots which may be from bacteria dying off and causing reduction in the iron-oxide (hematite) when the stone was still sand.
Historically, American Indians quarried in the late summer and early fall since they had to wait for flooding in the quarries to recede after snowmelts and heavy rains earlier in the year. Today, the park uses water pumps so that quarriers can begin working earlier if they choose.
Historically, American Indians quarried in the late summer and early fall since they had to wait for flooding in the quarries to recede after snowmelts and heavy rains earlier in the year. Today, the park uses water pumps so that quarriers can begin working earlier if they choose.