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Delaware is not a state people associate with rockhounding, which is unsurprising given its small size and that much of the state is comprised of young sedimentary rocks, meaning there are not many mineral types to find there. There are, however, fairly decent rockhounding sites located in the north of the state.
For those interested in fossil hunting, there is considerably more material to be found than for those searching for rock and mineral specimens. Delaware has fairly cold winters, which makes rockhounding in spring, summer, and autumn the best seasons to hunt for rocks, minerals, and fossils.
The Best Rockhounding Spots in Delaware are:
| Site | Public or Private | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Henlopen | Public | 38.803188, -75.094668 |
| Hoopes Reservoir | Public | 39.791697, -75.619891 |
| Pollack Farm | Public | |
| Chesapeake and Delaware Canal | Public |
Specimens of garnet, mica, marble, beryl, sillimanite, quartz, serpentine, staurolite, and a wide variety of fossils can be found in Delaware.
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding book about rockhounding in Delaware, you can find it by clicking here (Amazon link).
Rockhounding Regulations and Laws in Delaware
Rockhounding on federal tracts of land (national parks and the Bureau of Land Management) is generally allowed. As the rules regarding rockhounding on public and private lands are always changing, be sure to check with the state parks or landowners before you head out to new places on your rockhounding adventures.
The Best Public Rockhounding Sites in Delaware
You can find the best public rockhounding sites in Delaware below.
Cape Henlopen
This state park permits rockhounding and is one of the better places to hunt for rocks and fossils in the state. Quartz, in particular, can be found on the beaches on both sides of Cape Henlopen. These quartz crystals, known locally as Cape May diamonds, were formed in sedimentary rocks.
Their name comes from Cape May Point, a nearby site in New Jersey. In addition to quartz, Cape Henlopen is also a good place to look for fossils such as belemnites. Fossils found at this site generally date to the Tertiary Period.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Quartz | Common |
| Fossils | Common |
Hoopes Reservoir
Hoopes Reservoir is a good place to look if you are seeking nice specimens of sillimanite. The reservoir is located just north of Wilmington and east of Hockessin. This mineral was named after Benjamin Silliman, a professor of chemistry and geology at Yale University. Collecting is not permitted in the state park this reservoir sits in, so it is best to rockhound outside the park boundaries.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Sillimanite | Common |
| Fossils | Common |
Pollack Farm Site
A good location to collect fossils at is the Pollack Farm Site, located near Cheswold. A pit was dug during the construction of the highway; this exposed some of the Cheswold sands, which are part of the Miocene Calvert Formation.
You can find a wide variety of nice fossils at this site, including both marine and terrestrial vertebrate bones, insects, sharks, birds, and a great variety of mollusk shells at this location.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Fossils | Common |
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
This is possibly the best site in Delaware for fossil hunting. Several fossil beds were uncovered during the construction of the canal. Fossils that can be found at this location include large clam and oyster shells and belemnites, in particular Belemnitella americana. These fossils originated in the Cretaceous Period.
This site is overseen by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, which permits the collection of fossils for one’s personal collection; the collection of fossils from this site for sale is prohibited. The best locations to fossil hunt here are the dredge spoils near St. Georges and also at the Reedy Point Bridge.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Fossils | Common |
Other Notable Rockhounding Spots in Delaware
In addition to the rockhounding sites listed above, there are many good sites to search for nice rock, mineral, and fossil specimens. Below you can find some of the better ones.
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepper Creek south of Dagsboro | Public | 38.525877, -75.246794 | Fossils |
| Deauville Beach | Public | 38.722883, -75.076413 | Quartz |
| Fowler Beach | Public | 38.880324, -75.267821 | Quartz |
| Killen Pond | Public | 38.982533, -75.537796 | Fossils |
| Coursey Pond | Public | 38.989499, -75.517380 | Fossils |
BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links):
- Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals
- Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home)
- Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids)
Rockhounding Clubs in Delaware
Delaware Mineralogical Society
The Delaware Mineralogical Society is a non-profit organisation that seeks to promote and educate those interested in the fields of mineralogy, palaeontology, and the lapidary arts. The society has monthly meetings, which are held in the Delaware Museum of Natural History and Science. Field trips are held a few times a year to explore nearby fossil and mineral collecting sites.
An annual rock and mineral show is held each March. Memberships for adults cost $20 and $25 per household. Student memberships cost $10, and memberships for those 18 and under are $7. Their website can be found here.
TIP: While it’s true that Delaware is a small state, it’s certainly not lacking in valuable rocks and minerals. Check out the common rocks and minerals in Delaware in the article below:
10 Common Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in Delaware
State Mineral and Fossil
The state mineral of Delaware is sillimanite, an aluminium silicate that can be found in metamorphic rocks. Sillimanite can be found as clear or grey-white crystals, or it can also be found as a fibrous mass, often displaying a chatoyant (cat’s eye) effect. This mineral is easily found in the Delaware Piedmont schists at Hoopes Reservoir and Brandywine Springs. This mineral was declared the state mineral in 1977.
Image by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, link.
The state fossil of Delaware is belemnite, one of the most common fossils that can be found in this state. These cone-shaped fossils are the remains of the shell of an ancient squid-like animal and date to the Cretaceous and Jurassic Periods, when they reached the peak of their abundance and diversity.
Belemnite was named as the official state fossil of Delaware in 1996 when the third-grade students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School suggested the fossil be named the state fossil.
Recommended Rockhounding Gear
While special gear is not required to find nice rocks and fossils, having the right tools will help you find more than what’s simply laying around on the open ground. Here are some of the more basic tools and safety gear for interested rockhounds.
Geological Hammer
This 22oz Pointed-Tip Rock Pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is recommended for its durability and shock-reducing grip.
A rock pick is essential when collecting mineral specimens from a hard substrate such as stone. The pick’s handle is shock-resistant, making it more comfortable for use for longer times in the field.
Geology Pick
The Geology pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is a good choice for those starting out in the hobby as well as seasoned professionals.
The hammer comes with a pointed tip on one side of the head and a chiseled end on the other. This pick is good for excavating interesting mineral and fossil specimens.
Mini Shovel
The Mini D-Handle Round Point Shovel by Stanley (Amazon link) pairs convenience with durability. Especially in areas of soft material such as sand or clay, it is nice to have a sturdy shovel that is easy to carry.
The D-shaped handle gives you more leverage when digging on your knees, which is something that similarly sized standard-handled shovels wouldn’t provide.
Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad
Working with your hands in rockhounding environments can be rough; it is easy to get cuts or abrasions when in the field. Protecting your hands is important, especially while working with sharp or abrasive rocks.
The Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad (Amazon link) protect your hands from sharp rocks and tools. They are machine washable, highly abrasion resistant, and durable.
Safety Glasses
Eye protection is a must when breaking up a rock or any sort of work where debris could cause injury to your eyes.
The 3M Safety Glasses (Amazon link) are anti-fog and have a corded earplug system, as well as a removable foam gasket. The clear, scratch-resistant lenses shield the eyes against harmful ultraviolet light as well as prevent eye injury from flying rock chips.
First Aid Kit
With its 299 pieces, the Only Emergency First Aid Kit (Amazon link) is a good one for rockhounds. Of course, it’s best to avoid injuring yourself but if things go wrong it’s good to be prepared.
Some of the items found in the kit include fabric and plastic bandages, painkillers, gauze and pads, cold packs, wound closers, and many more.
Conclusion
Delaware is a small state, and while there are a few sites of rockhounding and fossil hunting interest, for the most part, the state does not have many particularly exciting locations to search for interesting specimens, apart from fossils.
Despite this, there are sites in this state that one can search for rocks, and there are some rather nice spots for fossil hunting. Most of the sites mentioned in this article are easy to access and require no special equipment.
If you’re new to rockhounding and fossil collecting, a good place to start is the rockhounding clubs in the state. These places are fantastic sources of information when you’re looking for new sites to explore. They are also a good place to strike up rockhounding friendships.
TIP: If you want to know more about gold prospecting in Delaware, check out the complete guide in the article below:
Gold Prospecting in Delaware: 3 Best Locations & Laws