Theyre not made of strong enough metal and people have been hurt from metal chips breaking off the hammer when it hits rock.. amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Seasoned rock hounds always have their favorite tools and things they carry, Kroenke said. Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society 2021 Show! The Maine Geological Survey has 38 sets of aerial photographs covering different parts of Maine. American Geode went on a rockhounding (and foodie) tour of Maine in May 2018, and found the quarries very accessible, easy to find, and full of mica. Topaz. Start your free trial today! New Hampshire Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. !v5mNufY_?H YZo23"@;mw@j]be@V\ F{qI0ilB[7T$bm6 k # d>8y.1a ~tx&.oQ Hir.)nFrS'i|`pFB e9`rNY!uH 6m::exR!yR .n The club also wants to maintain the common interest through social meetings and open discussions. Now, there are countless old mines and quarries in Maine, some of which are publicly accessible. A few basic tools are helpful in collecting minerals. Great hike. The Bibliography is part of the Maps and Publications Search. Those who go to the show can also expect a Grand door prize and second door prizes. amzn_assoc_asins = "B01IEX2TEO,B0002YWWVE,B08N41884X,B00A4H4ZQ4"; The state is rich in a variety of minerals. I thought it was going to be more of a mining operation, but my grandson still had fun breaking rocks and finding keepers. You never know what youre going to find. Out of all the New England states, Maine is considered the best for rockhounding, Farrin said. Official websites use .gov A .gov One of my favorites is beryl. Clear and milky quartz specimens can be found there, as well as pyrite, arsenopyrite, columbite, graphite, feldspar, garnet, and albite, among various others. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Another option is to visit a location thats running a mineral and gem sluice, a device that allows you to sort rocks using a screen in running water. Cell-phone or mobile device charger while you are driving to the locale, or the night before, making sure your devices are fully charged. We had an awesome time hiking around the park at Mt. The most commonly found and collected rocks and minerals in Maine are: Amethyst Beryl Biotite Quartz Tourmaline Garnet Feldspar Fluorapatite Columbite Jasper Amethyst We are offering the mineral specimen collector, from beginner to the advanced, a once-in-a-lifetime collecting vacation opportunity. I will have more information on how to check property ownership status later in this article. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock That being said, before you go exploring and collecting any new locations, its essential to obtain permission and know if there are any restrictions. The locations and information contained in this article are primarily derived from academic papers, online resources, and other outside sources. Club members go on field trips to mineral sites to study and collect specimens. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. It was a great hike and I took some nice pictures, but I cut the hike short because I was bitten or landed on by mosquitos about 40 times. A family membership includes couples or spouses and any children younger than 18 years of age living in the same household. Garnet (almandine), Beryl, Biotite, Fluorapatite, Microcline, Muscovite, Quartz, Schorl. Bring picks and eye protection to chip away at the rock. The Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society feature a free youth program with a family membership to the club. Bibliography of Maine Geology - For those interested in more in-depth research, the Bibliography of Maine Geology contains more than 12,000 references related to Maine geology. Permits can be obtained at the trailhead. There's a ledge that is prefect to lay on and watch the fish and pond ripples. The Greenlaw dumps are also the most favorable area in which to find traces of green and blue-green tourmaline (Figure 3), though collectors have already gathered up most of the obvious pieces. You get out in the fresh air, he said, and theres something about digging in the dirt that just makes you happy., Aislinn Sarnacki is a Maine outdoors writer and the author of three Maine hiking guidebooks including Family Friendly Hikes in Maine. Find her on Twitter and Facebook @1minhikegirl. The more common minerals found are varieties of feldspar, quartz, topaz, phenakite, and garnet. OCMGA holds a gem show during the second week of July at the Telstar High School gym. Road cuts and natural outcrops of other rock types occasionally provide good mineral specimens. Sluices are also a feature at many mineral and gem events, such as the New England Mineral Conference thats held annually at Sunday River. The "hike" up is an access road and is easy. Or cat fish? connected to the .gov website. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. Small notepad and pen or pencil for keeping notes. $$ - $$$ Quick Bites American Seafood, $ Pizza Fast Food Vegetarian Friendly. Some require permits or permission, some charge a small fee, and still others are open with little to no restrictions aside from treating the site with respect. Official websites use .gov A .gov Even if you dont find gems of value, the experience of sifting through rocks is fun in and of itself, Turcotte said. Everyone approaches rockhounding in their own way, with their own goals. All rights reserved. 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 Albite, Garnet (almandine), Autunite, Beryl, Biotite, Columbite, Kasolite, Felspar, Mica, Opal (hyalite), Pyrite, Schorl, Zircon. Each of these states has distinguishing geology that will be of interest to . The bugs can be fierce no matter where you are. Copyright 2022 Rockhound Resource | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Havey, Trenton, Square Pit, and Alice Staples Quarries near Topsham, Harvard, Tamminen, and Waisanen Quarries, near Greenwood, Ryerson Hill Quarry & Crocker Hill Mines, near Paris, Baldpate Mountain, in pegmatites and float, Rockhounding on Public Land: Laws and Regulations, Can You Collect Rocks in State Parks? The number of potential collecting sites here makes it an excellent location for those interested not only in rocks, but also minerals that can be found within them! The lower shallower water has an incredible number of frogs/tadpoles. Rockhounding New England: 7 Gorgeous Locations To Find - Yes Dirt Garnet (almandine), Beryl, Aquamarine, Biotite, Feldspar, Muscovite, Quartz (smoky, milky). Maine houses numerous locations packed with various crystals, minerals, and gemstones. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! Ocean rocks belong to everyone, not just to whoever picks them up first. If youre lucky enough to be in Maine with the intention of doing some rockhounding, Im jealous! I really recommend sluices for those who have young kids, said Maggie Kroenke, store manager at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel. I enjoyed the solitude and big country feeling of hunting up in the Andover area of East -B Hill Rd. Got distracted by the tranquility and nature. Your specific needs will depend on whether you are working on a mine dump or solid ledge. This hobby is especially popular in western Maine, where some of the states most celebrated gemstones can be found. Not hard for younger children. Keep a close eye, there is unsure footing and loose gravel. 2 0 obj The Bibliography is part of the. Sunscreen is essential even in the outdoors. Loring Cove in Perry is another prime location, with the potential to find agates, calcite, malachite, analcime, prehnite, amethyst, bloodstone, chalcedony, and various quartz specimens. At the junction with Horseshoe Pond Road (right) continue straight on the Mine Road approximately 0.5 mi. The book includes more than 30 locations in Maine, including the Harvard, Waisanen and Tamminen quarries in Greenwood. A disclosure: On some outings to the pegmatite quarries, the driver of the caravans lead vehicle is me. Newcomers are always joining inand it only takes a return trip to be pronounced a regular. The most commonly listed primary commodities in Oxford mines are Gemstone , Beryllium , and Feldspar . Pingree Ledge Quarry is near Albany and is an excellent place to find milky, smoky, and clear quartz crystals. UScellular donates $28,150 in wireless hotspots and service to Penquis Community Action Program, UMaine system chancellors new contract shows rocky relations with trustees, Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society, Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association, Invasive fish that took over lakes now threatens the rest of Maine, Auburn police seize more than 30 pounds of fentanyl, This Maine ski town may crack down on short-term rentals, Small Aroostook town has mishandled tax records for years, state says, Spring storm will batter Maine with winds up to 55 mph, Maine sees regional high school as model despite failed attempts, Supreme Court looks ready to ax Maine law letting governments profit from home seizures, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. In addition to mines and quarries, there are countless old prospects and rocky outcrops which have long been frequented by collectors. and is literally illegal along some parts of the Maine coast. to the trailhead. The Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association (OCMGA) was organized in March of 1948. And theres comradery, too. Vintage Fire Truck Sightseeing Tour of Portland Maine 317 Recommended Classic Car Tours from $38.00 per adult Luxury Catamaran Sailing Charters in Maine 36 Recommended Sailing from $135.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Downtown Portland, Maine City and Lighthouse Tour-2.5 hour Land Tour 306 Recommended Bus Tours from $62.00 per adult You can wash them off too. The club holds field trips from May through October, and members are notified of any upcoming field trips in the clubs newsletter. A few families were using the area to teach science to their youngsters which was great to see (even if they scared off all the tadpoles). Permits can be obtained at the mineral collecting site. Local folklore rocks (sorry) with stories about the mines and some of the larger-than-life mining personalities who are actually very down-to-earth people up close, like Maine mining legend Frank Perham. Some of the Maine pegmatites are classified as complex pegmatitesthat is they contain more than just the basic quartz, mica, and feldspar elements of pegmatitic graniteand those are famous for tourmaline, a mineral that occurs as green, pink, blue or multicolored prismatic crystals. I started showing up at camp, as the regulars know Poland Mining Camps, 20 years ago as a rookie mineral collector who didnt know a garnet from a gahnite or an elbaite from an albite. This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. WHEN: Opens Dec. 12; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. MAINE MINERAL & GEM MUSEUM. Taking samples in Maine State Parks is prohibited without special permission. Legal Aspects of Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Collecting Postal Service one-rate boxes to put their treasures in transit. Mine For Gems And Rocks At Earthdance In Massachusetts Small quarry at top offers ponds and many turtles and frogs. This process combined the igneous and sedimentary rocks and the heat changed the mineral composition (Jensen 1960) (Shuttlesworth, 1963). All 50 States Answered. Zircon, golden beryl, garnet, autunite, and aquamarine are several other potential finds for rockhounds to unearth. website belongs to an official government organization in the Some examples of metamorphic rocks are slate, marble, quartzite and granite (Shuttlesworth, 1963). These quarries and mines are prime targets for rockhounds looking to find high-quality specimens of desirable rocks and minerals because relatively fresh material has been exposed and the area has already been proven to be productive. Mineral collecting is allowed in the White Mountain National Forest in western Maine, provided that your activities are non-commercial, limited to the use of hand tools, and do not greatly disturb the area. endobj The Deer Hill amethyst locality is a pegmatite of granitic composition. Additionally, filming your finds can be a great way to record you adventure. This is a great resource for anyone who loves rockhounding, from beginners to experts alike! Other excellent places to check are the Mount Apatite Quarries, along with Harvard, Waisanen, and Tamminen quarries. Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=79453, White Mountain Recreation Fee Program Accomplishments. % The largest is the Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society, which currently has nearly 500 members. would you know where I could find info on hunting up on the mountain? Dont let the name deceive you. Mineral Collecting in Maine Recent Posts, Rockhounding. 113 in Stow, Maine turn right onto Deer Hill Rd (FR9). amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Many of the best rockhounding sites in Maine are privately owned. Instead, some of the old quarries are being prospected for valuable gems such as tourmaline, mainly to be made into jewelry. Jasper Beach In Maine Has Amazing Multi-Colored Rocks - OnlyInYourState The American Geode found plenty of fine mica, and had a great time, and the reason we did not find other minerals as that we simply ran out of time. Mineral collecting is an inexpensive hobby that can be enjoyed by all age groups, and offers the fringe benefits of outdoor recreation and the opportunity to learn about earth science. Rockhound Sites in Maine, Tulip City Gem & Mineral Club presents their 49th Annual Show: Agates are Superior! in Holland, Michigan. Many localities are closed from time to time when they are being mined for specimens. Irving Dudy Groves and his wife, Mary, built Poland Mining Camps, in Poland, Maine, pretty much by hand several decades ago. They have access to many mines there such as Mt. These pegmatites are essentially volcanic intrusions with unusually large crystals and they make for the perfect source rock for collectors. Map Information, 71 White Mountain Drive A new museum in Bethel features varied treasure - from Maine to the If you want to enloy nature and take something home (we took enough mica rocks to make a merry go round) and do geocaching and try your luck in the quarry ponds come on up. connected to the .gov website. Apatite is strictly on a mt. Oxford County Mineral and Gem Society awards scholarships when the funds allow, which provides the youth the opportunity to get into mineralogical and geology careers without the financial burden. Its hot in Maine in May, and there are a lot of bugs, so do take precautions, take plenty of water, and follow these rules: A cheap dop-kit or toiletry kit is a great idea. One of the most common questions rockhounds have is whether or not they are allowed to collect at a certain location.