Commercial production of mica in the United States first began at the Ruggles Mine in 1803. New Hamshire was the sole producer, until 1868. At first with hand drills, black powder and horse drawn dump carts, then with steam drills and winches, and in recent years with dynamite and modern equipment, a legend has been carved in the solid rock on Isinglass Mountain.

The mine is famous for its huge books of mica, measuring 3 to 4 feet across and weighing over 100 pounds. General Electric once worked this mine and others in the area, for mica. The Bon Ami Company operated the mine from 1932 to 1959 for feldspar, mica and beryl. Feldspar production during this period ran about 10,000 tons per year. During this time, one mass of beryl was found which filled three freight cars and paid for the entire year's operations.

Stealthy Beginnings
It all began in 1803, back in the days of the whale oil lamp, when Sam Ruggles not only discovered mica on his land but knew just what to do about it. The demand for mica was keen, for use in lamp chimneys and stove windows.

A shrewd hardworking farmer, he set his large family to working it out, and hauled it to Porstmouth by ox team along with his farm products. There, it was consigned and shipped to relatives in England to be sold. (Ruggles was too shrewd to sell to American buyers lest they learn the secret of his mine.) Soon, however, the demand for his fine product became so great special trips to the port were necessary. These were made in the dead of night by horse and buggy, or sleigh according to the season.

This continued over several years, and as volume increased, relatives and other trusted employees were added, including a mine boss, said to be "a ferocious driving man who directed the operations with abundant profanity."

An estimated thirty million dollars in valuable minerals have been recovered here since 1803. www.rugglesmine.com

###