All 50 States Answered. While the classic association is with a golden-brown gemstone, modern methods have made blue the "default" color. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Lord Hill is located in Stoneham, Maine. Phone: (207) 287-3200 Image Credits I have found records of these rockhounding sites over a variety of sources and offer these locations as a place to start searching. Official websites use .gov A .gov Maybe a lot, maybe nothing. The Deer Hill amethyst locality is a pegmatite of granitic composition. Like most of the interesting material in Maine, you're primarily looking for pegmatite to dig into. Many of the best minerals in Maine are found in an igneous rock called "pegmatite", which is a very coarse-grained granite. The term pegmatite simply means the individual mineral grains are relatively large; upwards of 3-5 cm.,where asin granite the average individual grain size is much smaller. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. If youre lucky enough to be in Maine with the intention of doing some rockhounding, Im jealous! Now, there are countless old mines and quarries in Maine, some of which are publicly accessible. It wasnt long before the Groves adopted me. Maine minerals are world famous, Hoffelder said. Take the Mine Trail to your right to the abandoned mine. Great hike. Bear right for 0.4 miles to permit area 1, bear left for 0.4 miles to permit area 2. The higher deeper water area has a lot of fish, think they are bull heads. Cell-phone or mobile device charger while you are driving to the locale, or the night before, making sure your devices are fully charged. Some of the famous specimens rockhounds commonly find are flint, granite, agates, geodes, bloodstones, slate, graphite, schist, greenstone, quartz, monzonite, limestone, hornfels, and marble. Please check out more states for thousands of additional sites to go rockhounding! Mosquito coils and matches are necessary, and we suggest having a minimum of 7 with you at all times. 3 0 obj I've read a lot here on trip advisor about good beaches for beach glass collecting, but I don't know if those same beaches will have pretty rocks! United States government. That being said, before you go exploring and collecting any new locations, its essential to obtain permission and know if there are any restrictions. Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler, Tamminen, Pingree Ledge, and Waisanen Quarries. White Mountain National Forest - Lord Hill Mineral Collecting Area The club holds field trips from May through October, and members are notified of any upcoming field trips in the clubs newsletter. Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society 2021 Show! Once you're done collecting your gems and minerals, check out some of the awesome programming Earthdance offers such as arts nights, dance classes and barefoot discos. The more common minerals found are varieties of feldspar, quartz, topaz, phenakite, and garnet. For those doing rock collecting for the first time, keep in mind that the location is a hard rock mine. Use the Maine Aerial Photographs map to review photo coverage and availability. Maine has an excellent reputation among "rockhounds" for the variety and quality of mineral specimens found within its borders. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. The youth program includes separate age-appropriate meetings during their regularly scheduled club meetings, kids activities, and field trips. Seasoned rock hounds always have their favorite tools and things they carry, Kroenke said. Albite, Garnet (almandine), Arsenopyrite, Beryl, Mica, Calcite, Cookeite, Fluorapatite (purple, blue), Lepidolite, Quartz, Schorl, Spodumene, Topaz, Zircon, etc. The book includes more than 30 locations in Maine, including the Harvard, Waisanen and Tamminen quarries in Greenwood. But, it's a super fun way to explore. I will have more information on how to check property ownership status later in this article. However, if it is geodes youre after, youll have more luck if you explore the quarries in Washington and Hancock counties. Dont let the name deceive you. You can also sometimes find interesting rocks like jasper and agates in the gravels of some public beaches. Augusta, ME 04333 More Contacts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. Volume 1: Descriptive Mineralogy. From the open ledge behind the upper quarry, a blazed trail goes north-east a short distance to a scenic overlook of Horseshoe Pond and surrounding mountains. Follow Deer Hill Road 2.2 miles to the Deer Hill Mineral Site trailhead. Perham is the storyteller extraordinaireand yes, the mineral perhamite is named in his honor. Rockhounding can get very dirty, so bring Wet-naps as they are very handy to clean off your hands quickly. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Additional information on finding and identifying mineral specimens can be obtained from libraries, "rock shops," and the references listed below. Mine For Gems And Rocks At Earthdance In Massachusetts <> %PDF-1.5 If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Before we dig really deep, lets take a peek at some of the prime rock-hounding locations in Maine. Lots of mica and different kinds of rock, haven't found any tourmaline yet but I often see people up there with mining gear finding things. Rockhound Sites in Maine, Tulip City Gem & Mineral Club presents their 49th Annual Show: Agates are Superior! in Holland, Michigan. Other pegmatite minerals that may produce gem-grade material or great specimens include beryl (aquamarine, morganite, and heliodor are forms of beryl); topaz; spodumene; and apatite, to name a few. Micros are a great way to participate if you live in a tiny city apartment but cant resist collecting rocks. As for the rock hunting we found a lot of mica, some black tourmaline, some matrixed garnet but nothing jewel quality or green tourmaline. Map showing recreational areas. Year after year, the specimen seekers show up on schedule toting shovels, screens, or sledgehammers and sharing stories of fabulous finds or strenuous searches of past years. 12006 Nottingham Dr, Pasco, WA 99301. There are many ways to go rockhounding in Maine, but the crowd I run with makes its home base at a unique camp for mineral collectors built by a self-taught Maine mining man who had a dream of creating a place where others could come to enjoy and learn about mineral collecting. Real Estate & Homes For Sale - 2401 Homes For Sale | Zillow Jasper Beach In Maine Has Amazing Multi-Colored Rocks Posted in Maine Nature, On The Water June 22, 2022 by Daniella DiRienzo Jasper Beach In Maine Is Covered In Millions Of Smooth, Multicolored Stones Sand does not a beach make and Jasper Beach in Maine is proof. Rockhounding Maine | Gator Girl Rocks We suggest setting aside the day for rockhounding and exploring the area. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. However, I have compiled a list of resources here so that you may investigate and obtain permission for any locations (found here or elsewhere) for yourself. The number one thing to remember while collecting rocks on ocean beaches are the tides. After breakfast, the caravan of cars, trucks and SUVs heads off for the days mining trip, and Mary turns her attention to camp operations and preparing one of her memorable suppers. Can you recommend the best beaches or places for rock collecting? American Geode followed the attached map, and found access to two of the mines, the ones off of Richardson Hollow Road, the Waisanen and Tamminen Quarrie Go to a rock show or visit a major natural history museum anywhere, and you are likely to encounter specimens from the Maine pegs. Or you could get yourself to Maine and start a collection of your own. f 6q. This information is essential for gemstone and mineral finds, since provenance is paramount to us and to our clients, and should be for you as well. To break apart large rocks, rockhounds will sometimes use sledgehammers. They love rocks and our initial reason for the visit was to check out the rock mining but they ended up loving the trails, scenery, and quite honestly, the mica and quartz they were finding on the trail itself. United States. quarries are among a small number of mineral collecting sites in Maine that offer a combination of good public access and the possibility of finding many different minerals. Its the thrill of the hunt, said Tom Hoffelder, president of Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association. Albite, Garnet (almandine), Beryl (green, golden), Mica, Columbite, Fluorapatite (clear, green, purple), Fluorite, Feldspar, Quartz crystals (clear, milky, smoky), Schorl, etc. That is a short version of a longer list. Its a great way to get outside and learn a lot about our natural resources.. About Us: Maine Geological Survey: Maine ACF Albite, Beryl, Tourmaline (green elbaite), Fluorapatite (blue, purple), Feldspar, Mica, Quartz, Garnet (spessartine), Sphalerite, Spodumene (crystals), etc. You should place a call to family and loved ones before heading out and if you are running late. Maine Rocks and Minerals - Home Maine Mineral Attraction: Poland Mining Camps | Rock & Gem Magazine Not only are the changing tides a determining factor for rockhounding success, but they are a real safety concern. 113 in Stow, Maine turn right onto Deer Hill Rd (FR9). Or cat fish? The Kennebec Rocks and Mineral Clubs monthly field trips are usually held on the Sunday following their monthly meeting. Maybe Ill see you at breakfast. Open dawn until dusk on most days. It is accessible from either the north or south by hiking trails. Bureaus & Programs Maine Geological Survey Explore Maine Geology Mineral Collecting in Maine. To find them, all you have to do is dig and perhaps use a hammer and chisel. The most commonly found and collected rocks and minerals in New Hampshire are: Amethyst Quartz Apatite Gold Staurolite Topaz Fluorite Tourmaline Jasper Garnet Amethyst If you've already found a rock and you're not sure what it is, I would highly recommend checking out my Practical Rock Identification System. Tourmaline is Maines state mineral. Rockhounding in Maine, is some great rockhounding, in fact some of the best rockhounding the American Geode team has ever experienced because of the ease and accessibility of the Maine mines! It was a warm humid day, about 82 degrees. Shed be the first one to tell that shes not much of a computer userif she even has one in the house these days. Safety gear and protective clothing is also important. Some are open to the public for collecting at select times of the week, often on weekends. These special types of hammers often available at local hardware stores are designed for working with rock. Queen's frontman had said he . If youre on the hunt for fossils, Maines bedrock holds preserved fossils dating back from 500 to 360 million years ago. 22 State House Station The Bibliography is part of the. This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. If you head near Bucks Harber, youll find Jasper Beach, which is an excellent location in Maine to find reddish jasper specimens. Mostly patridge at the end of my barrel. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. The love for rocks, minerals, fossils, and precious stones has made rockhounding a popular hobby in New England. This story was originally published in April 2021. Small notepad and pen or pencil for keeping notes. Small quarry at top offers ponds and many turtles and frogs. In addition to mines and quarries, there are countless old prospects and rocky outcrops which have long been frequented by collectors. Best sites for rock collecting? - Acadia National Park Forum The state is rich in a variety of minerals. Youre usually under cover if its a hot day, splashing in the water. A Walk Through Time in Kennebunkport - Celebrating 200+ Years! Regarding membership prices, an individual membership is $15 a year and $20 a year for families. Maine is, without a doubt, the best state in New England for rock and mineral collectors thanks to the widespread, high-quality pegmatites that make up a large portion of the surface geology.
