Bald Mountain grey on geochemical history

I read with mixed emotions the article “Bald Mountain study shows uses of baseline data” (T.N.M., Sept. 11-17/00), which dealt with the Bald Mountain deposit in Aroostook Cty., Me. Although the article was well-constructed, it does not acknowledge Bald Mountain’s geochemical history.

Bald Mountain may be the only major volcanogenic massive sulphide discovery in North America in which geochemistry played a decisive role.

During my long struggle to find Bald Mountain and other significant massive sulphides, the U.S. Gelogical Survey (in particular, the geochemical division) was my constant nemesis. Many of my early targets were not financed because USGS personnel advised clients that the geochemical data did not warrant follow-up exploration. During the same period, the USGS carried out massive reconnaissance geochemical programs in Maine, but none bore fruit.

My geochemical approach flew in the face of accepted practice, and, to this day, the USGS has never acknowledged the credibility of my methods. These were detailed in Geochemical Detection of Volcanogenic Massive Sulphides In Humid-Temperate Terrain, published in 1988. The text devoted 44 pages to the Bald Mountain discovery.

J.S.Cummings

Port St. Lucie, Fla.