Vast Deposits of Meerschaum Discovered in New Mexico

[woodsroad]

Vast Deposits of Meerschaum Discovered in New Mexico

 

[elpfeife]

Too bad it wasn't used for pipes.

 

[woodsroad]

I wonder if Meerschaum is still mined in NM?

 

[cranseiron]

Well now, that never came to fruition-- for the pipe world anyway. I did a quick Google search that turned up mostly historical references. Dan, you're mining effectively, though :lol:

 

[jpmcwjr]

A century old gem! I think turquoise mines did better.

 

[ashdigger]

Looks like the mine turned out to be a turkey.

 

[woodsroad]

Yup. Whole thing went up in smoke.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I thought the stuff was good up to 6,000º or so.....

 

[pylorns]

Man, click bait. Got me thinking we'd have a resurgence of meer pipes here.

 

[brian64]

It's a shame we don't have American carvers making meers.

 

[mso489]

Undoubtedly there are good reasons no meerschaum pipe carvers have set up shop in New Mexico. The state's unusual beauty and natural attraction for artists would be a big draw. You would think, since the 'schaum isn't being mined, a carver or colony of carvers could buy a stake in a vein of product and commence to digging it out for use. So it's too far from town, not the right consistency, contending with other more lucrative mineral rights, etc. etc. But it suggests a fantasy colony of ardent pipe carvers turning out remarkable sculptures in pipes and selling them by the truckload. Interesting notion. You'd think they'd be great for tourist souvenirs as well as authentic smoking pipes. Oh well -- as they used to say in the Navy -- dream on, sailor boy.