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Field CollectingLocalities in New England

27th Oct 2017 21:30 UTCBilly Adams

I've just moved from Arizona to Massachusetts - big move! Anyways, I'm pretty clueless on the best localities in New England, and would love some advice. I'll consider anything in New England (MA, NH, VT, RI, ME, CT) and parts of New York (no further than Syracuse please). I don't really have any specific minerals I'd be interested in currently, so anything goes. Thanks!

27th Oct 2017 21:51 UTCSteve Hardinger 🌟 Expert

Poland Mining Camps. A very nice (and rather comfy!) pegmatite collecting experience.

Ruggles Mine (New Hampshire) used to be great (I collected there a lot in 1988-90) but is now a complete bust. Best areas fenced off, and very much a no collecting environment.

27th Oct 2017 23:03 UTCBilly Adams

Interesting. I'll look into it. Thanks!

28th Oct 2017 00:54 UTCWayne Corwin

Steve

Ruggles Mine is open again? It closed over a year ago. Was up for sale.

28th Oct 2017 00:59 UTCWayne Corwin

Billy

Welcome to Mindat !

What part of Mass you in?

You may want to join one or more of the New England mineral clubs.

Mineral Clubs http://www.amfed.org/club.htm

28th Oct 2017 15:48 UTCSteve Hardinger 🌟 Expert

Wayne, It's been a few years since I was there. My last visit was as a 'tourist' only. Last collecting visit was in summer of 1990.

28th Oct 2017 17:06 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

Alan Plante wrote a collector's guide for Massachusetts that is very good, but a bit dated. If you could find a copy, it would give you a big jump on MA sites.

28th Oct 2017 22:46 UTCWayne Corwin

Donald

The book is called "Western Massachusetts Mineral Localities" By: Alan Plante (1992), Metal spring binder.

Unfortunately most of the mines Alan Plant wrote about are closed now, but not all.

Also, it’s only about western Mass. (West of the Connecticut River)

29th Oct 2017 01:17 UTCJohannes Swarts

Hi Billy,

Do you collect micromounts? If yes, try Loudville/Manhan mines in Easthampton, MA - one of the few places in the Northeast you can collect pyromorphite, wulfenite, anglesite, cerussite, and other secondary minerals. Check Mindat for more specific info.

Also -Palermo Mine in N. Groton, NH, although I don't know current access status. Complex pegmatite, known for variety of phosphate minerals. This is a classic NE localtiy.

Moat Mtn localities, Conway Granite, NH - miarolitic cavities with smoky quartz and variety of other minerals.

New England is challenging for collectors, as many localities have either been developed - eg, turned into suburbs or golf courses - or are posted as "off limits", often due to unscrupulous collectors. However, roadcuts and new quarries still afford new and interesting mineral finds.

Best of luck!

Hans

29th Oct 2017 01:38 UTCBilly Adams

Thanks for all of the advice guys! I happen to collect micromounts, so I'll definitely look into the Loudville mines, Hans. A quick google search said that Palermo mine is only open to club field trips, but I definitely could be wrong.

Thanks everyone!

29th Oct 2017 01:33 UTCTom Mortimer Expert

If you would like to see a review of what has been found in New Hampshire, visit mindatnh.org.

Tom Mortimer

29th Oct 2017 02:04 UTCWayne Corwin

Billy

You're correct,,, Palermo mine is only open to club field trips for a fee.

29th Oct 2017 11:56 UTCHarold Moritz 🌟 Expert

Get Peter Cristofono's book "Rockhounding New England".

29th Oct 2017 13:00 UTCPhilip Tan

I suggest joining the New England Mineral Association.

They sponsor a conference in May and a day is devoted to searching the dumps at a locality in Maine. Last year I got to go to Mt. Mica in Maine.

https://www.facebook.com/NewEnglandMineralAssociation/

29th Oct 2017 13:31 UTCDon Swenson

If you are unsuccessful at Loudville (Manhan) send me a PM. I have plenty of extra material from there.

29th Oct 2017 14:29 UTCWayne Corwin

Don

It’s almost impossible not to get lucky at Loudville if one does some digging and wash off, swish off in a bucket of water, what they find or bust up some rock.

29th Oct 2017 21:19 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert

I second the advice about joining a club. There is virtually no public land in New England on which one is free to collect, although there are some sites on private property where collecting by the public is allowed. As a member of a club you should be eligible to go on club-sponsored field trips which often go to places not open to the public.

And if you join a club, please consider pitching in on some of the organizational work the club has to do in order to offer field trips, run a show, have speakers for meetings, etc. Our club has over 400 members on paper, a great many of whom are never heard from except for paying dues and signing up for field trips.

29th Oct 2017 21:44 UTCHarold Moritz 🌟 Expert

Definitely join a club. The Boston, Worcester, Connecticut Valley and SE Mass clubs are getting into many otherwise off limits localities. And volunteer. The more you do for a club the more you will get in return. Believe me it pays off...

If you join the Bristol or Meriden, Conn. clubs we are having a club dig at the Hewitt pegmatite Nov. 11. The best place in Conn. right now.

31st Oct 2017 03:27 UTCMIchael Sharpe

I remember trying to visit the Strickland quarry in Portland, CT and finding a golf course. This is a risk you run if you are using an older book you got from the library.

31st Oct 2017 12:14 UTCHarold Moritz 🌟 Expert

Oh, and MicroMounters New England are going to some great places lately, too.

31st Oct 2017 16:25 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

If you're trying to find a location that you've only seen in text, it may be helpful to go to its page on Mindat. Click on the "Latitude and Longitude" coordinates (if they've been populated) and a pop-up page will appear with a map view of the location. Click on the "satellite" box (lower left corner) to get an aerial photo view. For instance, if you do this for the Strickland Quarry in Portland, CT you'll see THIS.

3rd Nov 2017 16:26 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

UH . . .Kevin,. . .I think I got some place in Bosnia when I clicked "THIS".

3rd Nov 2017 17:57 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

Donald,

WOW. I don't know what happened there! Let me try this again, just with the map. You'll have to click the satellite view: quarry

4th Nov 2017 16:33 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

Kevin, That is really cool! (I think I could even see the calcite crystals on some of the rocks on the east side of the quarry ;<)}

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