Turn right onto Greenwood Road and drive north west 5.30 miles. 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! At the junction with Horseshoe Pond Road (right) continue straight on the Mine Road approximately 0.5 mi. We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because were always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. dacf@maine.gov Poland Mining Camps has obtained exclusive access for our customers to some of the best mineral collecting available in the State of Maine. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. 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. DACF Home Bureaus & Programs Maine Geological Survey Explore Maine Geology Mineral Collecting in Maine Mineral Collecting in Maine. Micros are a great way to participate if you live in a tiny city apartment but cant resist collecting rocks. Maine is home to a handful of active geology and mineral clubs. 68.32 acres lot. Cell-phone or mobile device charger while you are driving to the locale, or the night before, making sure your devices are fully charged. Chalcedony, jasper, prehnite, bornite, gold, galena, epidote, beryl, muscovite, garnet, scheelite, hornblende, and various other mineral specimens can be found throughout Maine. The best rockhounding sites are usually at quarries and mines, both active and inactive. Garnet (almandine), Beryl, Biotite, Fluorapatite, Microcline, Muscovite, Quartz, Schorl. If youre rockhounding in the quarry wall, you can uncover gem pockets. $$ - $$$ Quick Bites American Seafood, $ Pizza Fast Food Vegetarian Friendly. One of the most common questions rockhounds have is whether or not they are allowed to collect at a certain location. 4 0 obj Queen's frontman had said he . The trail follows this road, keeping straight at a junction in 100 yd. Copyright 2021 Specimens may become depleted from other collectors, the location may have been built on or altered, locality information in literature may be inaccurate, and property ownership may have changed hands. Permits can be obtained at the mineral collecting site. But you will have a good time. And a helmet should be worn if youre searching near a rock wall where small rocks could tumble down from overhead. Northern Maine Minerals | Greenville ME 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. Directions: Driving Directions can be found at this webpage: http://polandminingcamps.com/contact.html From the South Interstate 95 North, past Portland. 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. Sorry, my experience with Mt. More Contacts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Introduction to Mineral Collecting in Maine, Maine Geology at the Smithsonian Institution. Report inappropriate content . Specimens of tourmaline (left and top right), eosphorite (center right) and gahnite (bottom right) found in some of Maines world-famous mining sites. Finding awesome rockhound locations in specific states can be much easier when youre connected with local clubs and societies. Many customers have been making the summer trek for ages and have developed enduring friendships. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! 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. Ores of lead, zinc, copper, and other metals can be collected from small abandoned mines in several areas of Maine, particularly the coastal region between Penobscot Bay and Eastport. The book Rockhounding in New England: A Guide to 100 of the Regions Best Rockhounding Sites by Peter Cristofono is a great resource, with the most recent edition released in 2020. Gem-quality specimens are found now and then, but even an opaque tourmaline crystal embedded in transparent quartz, or in a fine-grained lavender pegmatite mica called lepidolite, will look great on your coffee table. My interest grewspurred on by some beginners luck in the rock pilesand I benefited from living near enough to camp to make frequent visits. And there are some lovely amethysts.. Not only are the changing tides a determining factor for rockhounding success, but they are a real safety concern. Each of these states has distinguishing geology that will be of interest to . It wasnt long before the Groves adopted me. I was expecting more as far as the mining. 22 State House Station MAINE MINERAL & GEM MUSEUM. If youve read this far, its time to introduce you to a word intimately associated with rockhounding in Maine: pegmatite. LONDON, UK He was the king of Queen and his crown could be yours for the right price. You just basically find a spot and start looking for rocks. You will see lots of shallow holes that mineral collectors have dug in the rock piles. They can also be an incredible way to meet other rockhounds all around the planet. Thats especially true of granite pegmatites, the kind found in Oxford and Androscoggin counties and a few other locations in Maine. . 18 Elkins Lane I enjoyed the solitude and big country feeling of hunting up in the Andover area of East -B Hill Rd. Apatite on Tripadvisor, Hotels near Central Maine Medical School of Radiologic Technology, Hotels near Mr. Bernard's Hair Fashion Lewiston, ME, Hotels near Central Maine Community College, Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience - Day Trips, TranzAlpine Train Journey from Christchurch to Greymouth, TokyoHiraiLet's make your own chopsticks, Balloon Adventures Italy, hot air balloon rides over Assisi, Perugia and Umbria. 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. The rock and mineral collection contains specimens from localities in Maine and elsewhere in the country. Jasper Beach: A trip to collect rocks and see Jasper Beach in Machias 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. Vintage Fire Truck Sightseeing Tour of Portland Maine, Luxury Catamaran Sailing Charters in Maine, Downtown Portland, Maine City and Lighthouse Tour-2.5 hour Land Tour, Old Port Culinary Walking Tour from Portland, Portland Bicycle Tour with 5 Lighthouse Stops and XL Lobster Roll, The Real Portland Tour: City and 3 Lighthouses Historical Tour with a Real Local, Acadia National Park and Camden Private Day Trip from Portland, Donut Tasting Walking Tour in Portlands Old Port, First Round Draft Brewery Bus Tour in Portland, Oyster Farm & Tasting Sea Kayak Tour in Casco Bay, 2-Hour Portland Hidden Histories Walking Tour. Pegmatites are also source rock for rare minerals (for example eosphorite, phenakite, hydroxyl-herderite) and micromount specimens. 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. The Deer Hill amethyst locality is a pegmatite of granitic composition. PAHLISCH REAL ESTATE. Its the thrill of the hunt, said Tom Hoffelder, president of Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association. And theres comradery, too. f 6q. The Bibliography is part of the. Maine is famous for its gemstone production and the many mineral sites exposed due to glacial withdrawal. Open dawn until dusk on most days. This process combined the igneous and sedimentary rocks and the heat changed the mineral composition (Jensen 1960) (Shuttlesworth, 1963). The foremost of these is a sturdy hammer for breaking loose and trimming specimens. The more common minerals found are varieties of feldspar, quartz, topaz, phenakite, and garnet. Its a good idea to try and find rockhounding clubs and societies in any area youre interested in hounding. Permits can be obtained at the trailhead. 2. Notable minerals and rocks in Maine Gemstones and minerals are found abundantly in Maine. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Postal Service one-rate boxes to put their treasures in transit. United States government. Use this resource as a guide to get you started. One of my favorites is beryl. Nice as your idea sounds, it's a great way to tick off the natives and, as Bonnie points out, is literally illegal in some places. Pingree Ledge Quarry is near Albany and is an excellent place to find milky, smoky, and clear quartz crystals. I came here for a nice little hike in nature. From the trailhead, follow the yellow blazed hiking trail 0.1 miles to a fork in the trail. That next rock, that next shovel full could be something really cool.. Finding something of high value is sort of rare, but you will find something to take home, something you absolutely fall in love with.. The museum is also home to a world-class meteorite collection that includes the five largest pieces of the moon found on earth, the largest known piece of the Vesta asteroid and an igneous rock. and park BEFORE the gate, take a hike up through some amazing trees and into an unused mine. Mt. Apatite (Auburn) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor The Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association (OCMGA) was organized in March of 1948. As well as to the guidance and education of their members and the public who wish to pursue hounding. Feldspar is used for many things, from teacups to toilets, Hoffelder said. If you wear glasses these are very good for keeping your lenses clean, too. Dont let the name deceive you. We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. 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. FindingRocks.com - Poland Mining Camps - Maine Mining In Oxford County, Maine | The Diggings Ill dive deeper into the types of material you can find here and exactly where you can being your search, along with a handy map and some additional resources to help you along the way. More by Aislinn Sarnacki, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Albite, Garnet (almandine), Autunite, Beryl (green, yellow), Mica, Columbite, Fluorapatite, Quartz (milky, rose, smoky), Schorl, etc. On top of that, weve created a resource page to assist with answering all of your gem and mineral collecting questions. That said before you head out exploring, you should check this list to ensure youre not wasting your precious time. 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. Many localities are closed from time to time when they are being mined for specimens. If interested in pursuing rockhounding as an activity you do on a regular basis, its helpful to join a local club. Beware; on hot weekends there are lots of teenagers drinking and cliff jumping so going with small children might be best on weekday mornings. website belongs to an official government organization in the Pegmatite veins are abundant in parts of Oxford, Androscoggin, and Sagadahoc Counties. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Always be mindful of sneaker waves and never get caught on rock outcroppings with an incoming tide. LockA locked padlock With some luck, you might harvest some high-quality specimens, including zircon, beryl, columbite, mica, aquamarine, quartz, albite, and garnets, among other samples. Agates and other materials suitable for cutting and polishing occur on beaches in this part of the state, including Jasper Beach in Machiasport and Loring Cove in Perry. To determine what type of public land a particular location is on, I would recommend starting with the recreational lands map from the Maine Department of Conservation. Rockhounds can find feldspar, tourmaline, garnet, quartz, topaz, jasper, rubies, pearls, gold, opal, aquamarine, and many other high-quality pieces. would you know where I could find info on hunting up on the mountain? The most commonly found and collected rocks and minerals in Maine are: Amethyst Beryl Biotite Quartz Tourmaline Garnet Feldspar Fluorapatite Columbite Jasper Amethyst 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. The youth program includes separate age-appropriate meetings during their regularly scheduled club meetings, kids activities, and field trips. Re: Best locations for rock . Please read and comply with the conditions stated on the permit. Many sites that used to be popular with rockhounds are now closed, including the sites listed here. I collect just about anything that has color and a crystal shape to it, said Laurier Larry Turcotte, assistant treasurer for membership of the Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society. The state is rich in a variety of minerals. I'm Mike Rhea, and I'm a professional Geologist with a passion for rocks, minerals, and everything related to Geology. 2023 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Baker to speak at Beech Bash in the Bluegrass. Apatite last Friday!! The love for rocks, minerals, fossils, and precious stones has made rockhounding a popular hobby in New England. For basic tools, Hoffelder suggests a shovel and two hammers: a geology hammer and a crack hammer. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Apatite is strictly on a mt. Volume 1: Descriptive Mineralogy. Minerals are what rocks are made of (Jensen . Energy bars, candy bars, bananas, oranges, apples, and nuts are great for keeping up your energy and last the entire day. <> Additionally, filming your finds can be a great way to record you adventure. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. We do some field trips in New Hampshire, but 90 percent of our trips are in Maine.. Irving Dudy Groves and his wife, Mary, built Poland Mining Camps, in Poland, Maine, pretty much by hand several decades ago. Club meetings are open to the public, and anyone is invited and encouraged to attend. We came for the rock hunting. A majority of them are marine animals like gastropods, bivalves, brachiopods, corals, crinoids, and trilobites. The Lubec Lead Mine, near Lubec, Maine, is an excellent rockhound location for explorers to score decent specimens. Its a great way to get outside and learn a lot about our natural resources.. But, it's a super fun way to explore. Albite, Garnet (almandine), Beryl, Biotite, Columbite, Tourmaline (green elbaite), Fluorapatite, Quartz crystals, Schorl, Andalusite, Arsenopyrite, Bornite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Goethite, Gold, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Silver, Sphalerite. The Lord Hill mine is an open depression in the top of the hill. Lots of different trails. Turn left on to Foxboro Road staying right for 2.1 mi. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. In Maine, they are typically made up of desirable crystals like feldspars, garnet, quartz, and various species of tourmaline. A new museum in Bethel features varied treasure - from Maine to the You can also usually get the landowners name and address by visiting the county records office. Your specific needs will depend on whether you are working on a mine dump or solid ledge. Though there are many locations listed here, this list is far from exhaustive. They have access to many mines there such as Mt. This club is interested in teaching anyone, from the weekend hobbyist to novices up to professionals who know a thing or two. stream on official, secure websites. 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. Apatite Reviews: 4.5/5. However, some sites were closed off due to intense activity and other reasons. Safety gear and protective clothing is also important. Rockhounding in Maine is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. 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 Since their inception in 2007, their sustainability has been largely dependent on their partnerships with local mining . Minerals begin as sediment, small chunks of clay, mud and sand. \1X*eJ9FarKD-uA .:P|q3=dF" `. )$k6)F$i0 6Y/kt*#}PH@X'}? b\Yl6q Initially, the goal was to mine feldspar and sheet mica, which were both used to create a variety of products. 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. This is because of the variety of minerals, crystals, and gemstones. Doing so can put you in touch with others who may have lesser-known locations to check out. Regarding membership prices, an individual membership is $15 a year and $20 a year for families. Club members go on field trips to mineral sites to study and collect specimens.