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. Bear right for 0.4 miles to permit area 1, bear left for 0.4 miles to permit area 2. Maine Gold Prospectors Club is dedicated to helping rockhounds, and gold prospectors learn the ways of gold prospecting. Maine's surface geology is full of high-quality pegmatites. Freddie Mercury's extensive collection of costumes, fine art, and even handwritten working lyrics for "We Are the Champions" and "Killer Queen" will be auctioned in September. My interest grewspurred on by some beginners luck in the rock pilesand I benefited from living near enough to camp to make frequent visits. Theyll take you to a site, supply you with hand tools and offer assistance in mineral identification. Fax: (207) 287-2400 Many localities are closed from time to time when they are being mined for specimens. stream However, the hike was very pleasant and the quarries were very interesting. Its a greenish blue crystal. Updated: 9:55 AM EDT April 26, 2023. Rockhounds can find feldspar, tourmaline, garnet, quartz, topaz, jasper, rubies, pearls, gold, opal, aquamarine, and many other high-quality pieces. Pink, green and blue tourmaline, aquamarine beryl and deep red garnet, purple amethyst and sparkling lepidolite they all lie buried in Maine granite. The Ryerson Hill Quarry and Crocker Hill Mines are two more great rockhound locations. Many other items are handy for collecting and staying comfortable during outdoor activity. To break apart large rocks, rockhounds will sometimes use sledgehammers. There are many other quarries and prospects (listed below) that are equally accessible to the public where you can find an even wider range of specimens. Park your vehicle then hike up the Mine Road approximately 1.0 mi. But one great thing about rockhounding or field collecting is that it doesnt take a lot of money to start. The most useful tools are sturdy hammers for breaking rocks open, and a small shovel for digging through piles of broken rock on the waste piles of mines and quarries. 18 Elkins Lane 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. amzn_assoc_linkid = "aac5e87b1ca95eb9841c18e11fbbd48f"; Maine Gold Prospectors have made it their mission to teach anyone interested in rockhounding for gold the telltale signs that lead the way to gold. The more common minerals found are varieties of feldspar, quartz, topaz, phenakite, and garnet. 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. LockA locked padlock Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. You dont have to worry about tripping or falling.. TTY: Maine Relay 711 Meteorites in Maine: Is the sky falling??? With its rustic guest cabins and large dining hall that doubles as a museum of local minerals, Poland Mining Camps is the closest thing Ive found to a place that reproduces the three happy summers I spent at camp as a youngster. 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! The Kennebec Rocks and Mineral Club is dedicated to rockhounding recreation in its many forms and phases. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Many examples of Maine minerals are on exhibit at the Maine Geological Survey and at numerous colleges and museums around the country. Seasoned rock hounds always have their favorite tools and things they carry, Kroenke said. 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. Rockhounding also known as field collecting or recreational mining is an outdoor activity in which everyday people search for valuable gems, fossils and other mineral treasures buried in the earth. 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. ( website belongs to an official government organization in the 118 for 0.95 mile. 113 in Stow, Maine turn right onto Deer Hill Rd (FR9). The number one thing to remember while collecting rocks on ocean beaches are the tides. This hobby is especially popular in western Maine, where some of the states most celebrated gemstones can be found. Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society 2021 Show! Poland Mining Camps has obtained exclusive access for our customers to some of the best mineral collecting available in the State of Maine. Quartz, Feldspar, Beryl, Mica, Tourmaline. Additional information on finding and identifying mineral specimens can be obtained from libraries, "rock shops," and the references listed below. Maine houses numerous locations packed with various crystals, minerals, and gemstones. It was a warm humid day, about 82 degrees. There are occasional outings restricted to club members only where federations or clubs set up special trips to quarries where the quarry owners set off blasts or turn over the dups using an excavator to unearth new materials. Can you recommend the best beaches or places for rock collecting? To get started, you can check out my recommended gear page which contains my full reviews for every Geologists favorite rock hammer and the best hiking backpack Ive ever owned. 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 The public is more than welcome to join the meetings and listen to the informative discussions. 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! Use the Maine Aerial Photographs map to review photo coverage and availability. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. I came here for a nice little hike in nature. From Deer Hill Rd., the trail descends moderately past the Styles grave, which is on the right of the trail, then enters a gravel road and turns right onto it. Bean in Freeport are within convenient travel distance from the mining district. Chalcedony, jasper, prehnite, bornite, gold, galena, epidote, beryl, muscovite, garnet, scheelite, hornblende, and various other mineral specimens can be found throughout Maine. Also saw a few ground critters and several species of birds including a woodpecker. If interested in rockhounding as a one-time activity, you could hire a local guide company such as Dig Maine Gems out of West Paris, Maine. The gemstone production in Maine is world-famous for the wide variety and superior quality of pegmatite minerals like tourmaline, feldspar, garnet, and quartz. Some are open to the public for collecting at select times of the week, often on weekends. Most of Maines gems and rare minerals are found in a coarse-grained variety of granite called pegmatite, according to a Virtual Tour of Maine Minerals created by the Maine Geological Survey. 358 were here. Turn right onto Richardson Hollow Road and continue 0.40 mile to parking area on the right. 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. Albite, Garnet (almandine), Autunite, Beryl (green, yellow), Mica, Columbite, Fluorapatite, Quartz (milky, rose, smoky), Schorl, etc. Postal Service one-rate boxes to put their treasures in transit. Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground runs a sluice seasonally, as does Dig Maine Gems. Dudy (pronounced Duddy) Groves died in 2005, but Mary Groves and a committed corps of volunteers are keeping his dream alive. The club also wants to maintain the common interest through social meetings and open discussions. Ancient volcanic and metamorphic rocks have been worn down by recent glaciation and subsequent weathering from rivers and streams have exposed interesting gemstones and minerals for us to find. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Before we dig really deep, lets take a peek at some of the prime rock-hounding locations in Maine. . amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "rockhoundreso-20"; Located in Androscoggin County, Maine, the Camps has been serving the interests and enthusiasm of rockhounds of every age and level of experience since the 1960s. Albite, Garnet (almandine), Geryl, Biotite, Columbite, Mica, Aquamarine, Chalcopyrite, Schorl, Quartz, Zircon, Elbaite, Thorogummite, etc. to the trailhead. But you will have a good time. Taking samples in Maine State Parks is prohibited without special permission. Rare minerals have been found at Lord Hill including Triplite, Uraninite, Vivianite, Zircon, Gahnite, Fluorapatite, Bertrandite. Permits arevalid for 1 day at one mineral collecting site. 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. Other locations are open but at a fee, and some are only open to specific clubs. Like pilots, mineral collectors love to share their activity and their know-how. United States government. Here at Rockhounding Maps, we give you access and information to the best dig sites for crystals and minerals in Maine. to the mine. Pingree Ledge Quarry is near Albany and is an excellent place to find milky, smoky, and clear quartz crystals. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. The trail is a gradual uphill climb to the intersection with the Conant Trail. July 17, 2017. I have tried to take care not to list locations within National Park boundaries since collecting is illegal there, but please remember that it is up to you to make sure you have permission to collect wherever you are. Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry From the trailhead, follow the yellow blazed hiking trail 0.1 miles to a fork in the trail. I really recommend sluices for those who have young kids, said Maggie Kroenke, store manager at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel. They have access to many mines there such as Mt. The Deer Hill amethyst locality is a pegmatite of granitic composition. Many of the best minerals in Maine are found in an igneous rock called "pegmatite", which is a very coarse-grained granite. 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. ":h)&KLvf,sGeC?4{_mZr4X5F23e#-4vyY3v*1SK _{ bR3u Ri Pe)l4+H T4@i^t mORlm[SL[5/-.^Cp`{nX5-C8Y4 }GRYq!e6DxqV JAHg KH#$r*`}(K(S3,a1Bc)QWMn'Y2muT%essx8y! - See 77 traveler reviews, 81 candid photos, and great deals for Machiasport, ME, at Tripadvisor. You can wash them off too. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. I recommend giving Mary Groves a call rather than sending an email. Bear right for 0.4 miles to permit area 1, bear left for 0.4 miles to permit area 2. Apatite (Auburn) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go, View all hotels near Mt. Sluices are also a feature at many mineral and gem events, such as the New England Mineral Conference thats held annually at Sunday River. I had to literally drag my wife out of the rock pits on 2 different occasions. It really is a treasure hunt, said Jeff Farrin, vice president and field trip director of the Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society. Rockhounds can also find green and golden beryl minerals. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In addition to mines and quarries, there are countless old prospects and rocky outcrops which have long been frequented by collectors. I was thrilled when they entrusted me with the job of leading some field trips, giving me a chance to share my modest but growing mineralogical knowledge with the newbies in the mining parties that usually number from a handful to 15 or 20 people. There are several rockhounding clubs in Maine so you can most likely find one you like nearby. endobj In Maine, they are typically made up of desirable crystals like feldspars, garnet, quartz, and various species of tourmaline. Open dawn until dusk on most days. Share sensitive information only The aptly-named Jasper Beach near Bucks Harbor is a great place to find some colorful jasper pebbles, and Loring Cove near Perry is known to turn up agates and other minerals like bloodstone and amethyst. Nice day in the woods. 22 State House Station However, thus far, no dinosaur fossils have been found in Maine yet. Youre usually under cover if its a hot day, splashing in the water. Many customers have been making the summer trek for ages and have developed enduring friendships. Apatite on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Mt. If done with care, rockhounding can be a great family activity. 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. How much will you find? bike. The love for rocks, minerals, fossils, and precious stones has made rockhounding a popular hobby in New England. Portland International Jetport, a Class C airspace airport with major airline service, is about an hours drive from the mining district. Rockhound Sites in Maine, Tulip City Gem & Mineral Club presents their 49th Annual Show: Agates are Superior! in Holland, Michigan. 2021 Columbia, SC Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show. We came for the rock hunting. From the trailhead, follow the yellow blazed hiking trail 0.1 miles to a fork in the trail. 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. The Deer Hill location has produced a large amount of amethyst (purple quartz) along with many other minerals, including feldspars of many varieties, beryl, garnet, columbite, pyrite, and muscovite. Bring newspaper or baggies for specimens collected, and a field guide for rocks and minerals. Beware; on hot weekends there are lots of teenagers drinking and cliff jumping so going with small children might be best on weekday mornings. Apatite Reviews: 4.5/5. WHEN: Opens Dec. 12; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Some of the best areas to go rockhounding in Maine include the old mines and quarries in the southwestern region of the state and the beaches along the Atlantic coast. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. Even if you are on land that is generally open for public use there may be privately owned mining claims inside those boundaries and youll need to get permission to collect on that location. A lot of people will bring kids with them, and they get hooked, Turcotte said. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. Cell-phone or mobile device charger while you are driving to the locale, or the night before, making sure your devices are fully charged. Also has bike trails. Permits can be obtained at the trailhead. Please read and comply with the conditions stated on the permit. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. Recent Posts, Rockhounding. Minerals are what rocks are made of (Jensen . % Joining up with a local rockhounding club for a group trip can often get you access to otherwise off-limits locations like privately owned mines and quarries. 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 Most of them were commercially worked for mica or feldspar, creating piles of waste rock ("dumps") where collectors search for specimens. Not hard for younger children. Ocean rocks belong to everyone, not just to whoever picks them up first. These mineral collecting areas are relatively easy to access and offer a wide variety of rocks and minerals including albite, tourmaline, amethyst, feldspar, and quartz.