To break apart large rocks, rockhounds will sometimes use sledgehammers. The state of Maine is home to igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. 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 Mostly patridge at the end of my barrel. Sorry, my experience with Mt. This hobby is especially popular in western Maine, where some of the states most celebrated gemstones can be found. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES TRI-CITIES REAL ESTATE. People will always find something to take home, Kroenke said of rockhounding. The bugs can be fierce no matter where you are. Theyre not made of strong enough metal and people have been hurt from metal chips breaking off the hammer when it hits rock.. endobj Small quarry at top offers ponds and many turtles and frogs. Maine minerals are world famous, Hoffelder said. They have access to many mines there such as Mt. Tip: Check out my Complete Rockhounding Guide for tips on planning your rockhounding trip and getting the most out of your time in the field! Maine has an excellent reputation among "rockhounds" for the variety and quality of mineral specimens found within its borders. For basic tools, Hoffelder suggests a shovel and two hammers: a geology hammer and a crack hammer. I would probably start by doing a property records search and getting whatever contact information you can for the landowner. Maine is one of New Englands most popular rock-hounding locations. Do not use carpenter hammers, Hoffelder said. Other excellent places to check are the Mount Apatite Quarries, along with Harvard, Waisanen, and Tamminen quarries. dacf@maine.gov That said before you head out exploring, you should check this list to ensure youre not wasting your precious time. Many localities are closed from time to time when they are being mined for specimens. 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. 2 0 obj A majority of them are marine animals like gastropods, bivalves, brachiopods, corals, crinoids, and trilobites. Chalcedony, jasper, prehnite, bornite, gold, galena, epidote, beryl, muscovite, garnet, scheelite, hornblende, and various other mineral specimens can be found throughout Maine. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! Mica, Mount Apatite (Pulsifer, Hole-in-the-Ground and Keith quarries), the Emmons Quarry, Pitts Tenney. )'u\d3Q;^{w/^+/{W?z?\>'yLx!OxyQadeY\b/. o/^e*{'BAQynb97T )OQO/HlG+ 2f6;?_Suj yy-~pi:-%GG4# # K\wZ"RYe"E2oh@Q4s~L^J"_+Di3sLHE[Wk9LYVuF-v*lP{R4 k2#cV`oEgUt|{5f}R`al#v5ZqbE Though there are many locations listed here, this list is far from exhaustive. This process combined the igneous and sedimentary rocks and the heat changed the mineral composition (Jensen 1960) (Shuttlesworth, 1963). DACF Home Bureaus & Programs Maine Geological Survey Explore Maine Geology Mineral Collecting in Maine Mineral Collecting 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. 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. She would have been there until 10 or 11 pm and we would have needed SEARCH and RESCUE. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. Its like my wife said: the kids are a lot closer to the ground, so a lot of the time, they will find better stuff than the adults.. % You can wash them off too. Augusta, ME 04333 95% of travelers recommend this experience. Maine Mineral Adventures, which Zoltan and Jody Matolcsy own, is a recreational mining guide service in western Maine. From the South: From Maine Route 5 in Lovell, Maine turn west onto West Lovell Road and cross the narrows at Kezar Lake continuing to the right for approximately 2.75 mi. would you know where I could find info on hunting up on the mountain? Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock The trails were nice and wide and easy to walk on. Like pilots, mineral collectors love to share their activity and their know-how. 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. Recent Posts, Rockhounding. Now, there are countless old mines and quarries in Maine, some of which are publicly accessible. Among the rockhounding ambassadors of the region, best known as Maine's Granite Pegmatite Belt, are Mary Groves, her family, and volunteers of Poland Mining Camps. Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/rocks-minerals/recarea/?recid=79485&actid=73. For instance, one could head to the Singepole Mountain Quarry from Paris. 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. 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. amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; Notable minerals and rocks in Maine Gemstones and minerals are found abundantly in Maine. Search for minerals in these rock fragments or in the walls of the mine. A few prime examples of rockhounding locations include the Pingree Ledge Quarry, Lord Hill, Deer Hill, and Mount Apatite. In Maine, they are typically made up of desirable crystals like feldspars, garnet, quartz, and various species of tourmaline. Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=79453, White Mountain Recreation Fee Program Accomplishments. 68.32 acres lot. I even found a couple of small frogs on the trail. He has been a flight instructor since 1990 and is a 35-year AOPA member. Bring the SPF Protection most suitable to how fair or how dark you are. Poland Mining Camps has obtained exclusive access for our customers to some of the best mineral collecting available in the State of Maine. Guided mineral collecting tours to multiple sites are available through the following. We had an awesome time hiking around the park at Mt. Road cuts and natural outcrops of other rock types occasionally provide good mineral specimens. Also has bike trails. ) or https:// means you've safely Great hike. When youre digging in the dirt, cracking open rocks and all the sudden you find a beautiful crystal it makes your day. General Information. The foremost of these is a sturdy hammer for breaking loose and trimming specimens. But, it's a super fun way to explore. Start your free trial today! And a helmet should be worn if youre searching near a rock wall where small rocks could tumble down from overhead. These special types of hammers often available at local hardware stores are designed for working with rock. I cannot personally attest to the accuracy of the given locations or the quality of the material there. Pink, green and blue tourmaline, aquamarine beryl and deep red garnet, purple amethyst and sparkling lepidolite they all lie buried in Maine granite. The "hike" up is an access road and is easy. An official website of the Single club memberships are only $15 a year, and the price for families is only $20. Albite, Garnet (almandine), Arsenopyrite, Autunite, Beryl (green, pink), Aquamarine, Biotite, Tourmaline (green Elbaite), Fluorapatite, Lepidolite, Pyrite, Quartz, Rhodochrosite, etc. Other locations are open but at a fee, and some are only open to specific clubs. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Report inappropriate content . The best rockhounding sites are usually at places that are currently being mined or have in the past but only a select number of locations are open to the public for free. But you will have a good time. Here are some additional resources to help you check on land ownership and mineral claims: As with most states, each county in Maine will have records of who owns each piece of property. After all, we dont want the entire world digging into every great spot, do we? Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. 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). At the junction with Horseshoe Pond Road (right) continue straight on the Mine Road approximately 0.5 mi. Its a great way to get outside and learn a lot about our natural resources.. Dudy (pronounced Duddy) Groves died in 2005, but Mary Groves and a committed corps of volunteers are keeping his dream alive. Phone: (207) 287-3200 This is particularly true of coarse-grained metamorphic rocks produced by the deep burial and recrystallization of ancient marine sediments. 2021 Columbia, SC Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show. Poland Mining Camps (207-998-2350) is open by reservation for cabin-style lodging from early June through Labor Day in 2019. We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because were always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. 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. Keep a close eye, there is unsure footing and loose gravel. I describe pegmatites rather unscientifically as a through-the-looking-glass geological environment where common minerals can form perfect or giant crystals, and where minerals unknown in other geological settings have developed. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Also saw a few ground critters and several species of birds including a woodpecker. A family membership includes couples or spouses and any children younger than 18 years of age living in the same household. <> - Lot / Land for sale. The different states in New England include Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Postal Service one-rate boxes to put their treasures in transit. Concentrating on granite pegmatite collecting, we also have a few . I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. Dan Namowitz has been writing for AOPA in a variety of capacities since 1991. Directions: From Rte. Common Rocks You Can Find in Maine Doing so can put you in touch with others who may have lesser-known locations to check out.