As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you.
With its rugged topography and varied geology, Maine is one of the best states east of the Mississippi River to rockhound in. The pegmatites found in the state offer excellent opportunities to hunt for rocks, minerals, and gems; some of the gemstones that can be found in Maine include garnet, aquamarine, amethyst, topaz, and others. Maine is particularly well-known for its tourmaline. Fossils can also be found in Maine; of particular note is Pertica quadrifaria; this rare plant fossil is the state fossil of Maine. The best sites to hunt for it can be found in the south of the state.
The Best Rockhounding Spots in Maine Are:
| Site | Public or Private | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Mt. Apatite Park | Public | 44.095934, -70.298770 |
| Dig Maine Gems | Private | 44.319809 -70.545357 |
| Poland Mining Camps | Private | 44.073356, -70.410918 |
| Mt. Mica Quarry | Private | 44.26944, -70.47306 |
| Lord Hill Mineral Collecting Area | Public | 44.223805, -70.953208 |
| Tamminen Quarry | Public | 44.28306, -70.64056 |
| Lubec Lead Mine | Public | 44.83731, -67.05297 |
| Harriman Cobalt-Nickel Prospect | Public | 44.1809, -69.2406 |
| Alice Staples Quarry Beryllium Mine | Public | 43.975729, -69.944823 |
In Maine, you can find and collect a wide variety of nice rock and mineral specimens, including garnet, aquamarine, amethyst, topaz, beryl, spodumene, fossils, morganite, smoky quartz, mica, columbite, sodalite, apatite, fluorapatite, jasper, and tourmaline.
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding book about rockhounding in New England you can find it by clicking here (Amazon link).
Rockhounding Regulations and Laws in Maine
Rockhounding on federal tracts of land (those managed by the Bureau of Land Management) is allowed. Some state parks permit the collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils from their lands.
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 sites on your rockhounding adventures.
The Best Public Rockhounding Sites in Maine
You can find the best rockhounding sites in Maine that are open to the public below.
Mt. Apatite Park
Mt. Apatite Park is a popular collecting site in the town of Auburn. In the park, there are a number of quarries where mineral collection is permitted.
This is one of the relatively uncommon rockhounding locations that is both easy to access and offers the possibility of finding a wide variety of collectable mineral specimens. The use of hand tools such as chisels, hammers, shovels, and the like is permitted in the park.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Quartz | Common |
| Feldspar | Common |
| Mica | Common |
| Tourmaline | Rare |
| Apatite | Occasional |
Mt. Mica Quarry
Mt. Mica was found by two men, one a doctor and the other a lawyer, in 1821. The mine is sited in the granite pegmatite of the Oxford pegmatite field. This quarry is where rose quartz was first found. An interesting characteristic of some of the pink tourmaline found at Mt. Mica is that it fluoresces blue in ultraviolet light. A wide variety of minerals can be found at this quarry.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Rose quartz | Common |
| Mica | Common |
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
| Pyrite | Occasional |
| Quartz | Common |
| Uranitite | Rare |
| Apatite | Occasional |
Lord Hill Mineral Collecting Area
Lord Hill is composed of granite pegmatite and was originally used as a source of feldspar. Some of the minerals that can be found here are feldspar, quartz, topaz, and garnet; over fifty mineral types have been found so far at the Lord Hill Mineral Collecting Area.
The best place to rockhound at this site is in the larger of the two quarry pits. In order to comply with the collecting area’s regulations, a mineral collection permit is required. This permit is valid for one day and is free. The permit can be obtained at the collecting area. A bonus to rockhounding here is the scenic view that can be seen by following a trail to the northeast overlooking Horseshoe Pond.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Feldspar | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
| Topaz | Rare |
| Garnet | Occasional |
| Phenakite | Occasional |
| Mica | Common |
| Fluorite | Occasional |
| Beryl | Occasional |
Tamminen Quarry
Sited a tenth of a mile from the Waisanen Quarry, Tamminen Quarry is an easily-accessed place to rockhound. Originally mined for feldspar in 1930, the quarry is worked for mineral specimens these days.
This site is known for two rare crystal forms, one of feldspar and the other of quartz. The former of these can be found as trapezohedral pollucite crystals. The other is a rare form of quartz that has crystals in pseudocubic form.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Feldspar | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
| Albite | Occasional |
| Beryl | Occasional |
| Mica | Common |
| Bismuth | Occasional |
| Schorl | Occasional |
Lubec Lead Mine
Located near the town of Lubec is the Lubec Lead Mine, situated in the greater Cobscook Bay Area. The mine has ceased operations, and it is not known whether there is any intent to reopen it in the future. The ore found here comes from a polymetallic vein sulphide deposit. The veins were formed due to tension, creating cracks in the volcanic bedrock.
At this site, you can search the mine and the scattered mining dumps, including several on the adjacent beach. The variety of minerals that can be found here is impressive. There are also the ruins of a mill that operated from the late 1860s through the early 1870s.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Anglesite | Occasional |
| Bornite | Occasional |
| Calcite | Common |
| Chalcopyrite | Common |
| Cerussite | Occasional |
| Epidote | Occasional |
| Galena | Common |
| Hematite | Common |
| Limonite | Occasional |
| Malachite | Occasional |
| Pyrite | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
TIP: Volcanoes can be dangerous, but they are a great spot for finding unique and beautiful rocks and minerals. Find out more in the article below:
Ten Most Common Types of Rocks You Can Find In Volcanoes
Harriman Cobalt-Nickel Prospect
Situated in the Southern Maine Mining District near the town of Union, the Harriman Cobalt-Nickel Prospect was first discovered in 1908.
The open-pit mine on site has two distinct mining surfaces, and there is also one mine shaft. The ores sought by the miners include pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and pentlandite. This is another site where a large variety of different minerals can be found.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Albite | Occasional |
| Augite | Occasional |
| Calcite | Common |
| Fluorapatite | Occasional |
| Galena | Common |
| Graphite | Occasional |
| Hematite | Common |
| Ilmenite | Occasional |
| Magnetite | Common |
| Pyrite | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
| Spinel | Occasional |
Alice Staples Quarry Beryllium Mine
The Alice Staples Quarry Beryllium Mine is situated near the town of Topsham in a part of Maine known as the Bowdoinham-Topsham Area. This region of the state is historically associated with mining activities and is no longer an active mine site. The topography of this location is mostly lowlands and gentle slopes, making rockhounding there easier on the legs.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Albite | Occasional |
| Garnet | Occasional |
| Mica | Common |
| Columbite | Occasional |
| Aquamarine | Rare |
| Chalcopyrite | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
| Zircon | Rare |
| Elbaite | Rare |
Best Pay to Dig Sites for Rockhounding in Maine
Dig Maine Gems
Founded in 2007, Dig Maine Gems is dedicated to teaching people about the basics of rockhounding and mineralogy. Dig Maine Gems has its own mine where it holds private digs. The Ryerson mine, owned by Dig Maine Gems, was originally used to mine feldspar, but over sixty different minerals have been discovered in the mine.
This mine is typically worked by hand using old mining methods and with hand tools. In addition to their private mine, Dig Maine Gems leads field trips to the nearby Mt. Mica mine. Shovels, screens, and rinse water are provided. Customers are welcome to bring their own tools as well, but hammers and chisels are not permitted. You can find the website of Dig Maine Gems here.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Rose Quartz | Common |
| Amethyst | Occasional |
| Quartz | Common |
| Aquamarine | Occasional |
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
Poland Mining Camps
The Poland Mining Camps is a campground where the activities are based around the hobby of rockhounding and is operated by Mary Groves. The campground is located in the town of Poland, to the north of Portland.
Some of the mines that may be visited during field trips include Mt. Apatite, Mt. Mica, the Emmons quarry, the Pulsifer quarry, the Hole-in-the-Ground quarry, and the Keith quarry. The address of the camp is 38-32 Groves Lane, Poland, ME 04274.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Albite | Occasional |
| Cleavelandite | Occasional |
| Dendritic feldspar | Common |
| Garnet | Occasional |
| Graphic granite | Occasional |
| Lepidolite | Occasional |
| Mica | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
Other Notable Rockhounding Spots in Maine
In addition to the sites listed above, here are some more places that are good locations to look for rocks and minerals.
Spots in Eastern Maine
Here are some additional rockhounding sites that can be found in eastern Maine.
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loring Cove | Public | 45.016525, -67.077406 | Calcite, prehnite, malachite, agate, bloodstone, amethyst, quartz, stilbite |
| Gleason Cove | Public | 44.967704, -67.059328 | Jasper |
| Jasper Beach | Public | 44.627590, -67.387341 | Jasper |
| Catherine Mountain | Public | 44.617182, -68.084120 | Stilbite, molybdenite, scheelite, quartz, pyrite, microcline, magnetite, hornblende, fluorapatite, mica |
Spots in Southern Maine
You can find some additional places to rockhound in southern Maine.
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgecomb Quarry | Public | 43.963224, -69.617756 | Garnet, quartz, beryl, aquamarine, mica |
| Porcupine Hill Quarry | Public | 43.959469, -69.983844 | Albite, garnet, beryl, mica, tourmaline, fluorapatite, quartz, schorl |
| Acton Lead Mines | Public | 43.483159, -70.910400 | Andalusite, bornite, chalcopyrite, galena, gold, pyrite, quartz, silver |
| Pitts Garnet Mine | Public | 44.105620, -70.333196 | Mica, beryl, clinochlore, titanite, quartz, molybdenite, garnet, calcite |
Spots in Western Maine
You can find some additional places to rockhound in western Maine here.
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bemis Stream Prospect | Public | 44.824144, -70.716848 | Beryl, Albite, mica, fluorapatite, garnet, quartz, spodumene |
| Swift River | Public | 44.737113, -70.608018 | Gold, garnet, magnetite, staurolite, scheelite |
| Baldpate Mountain | Public | 44.609213, -70.892147 | Aquamarine |
| Hedgehog Hill Quarry | Public | 44.468778, -70.456083 | Fluorapatite, albite, quartz, schrol, beryl, mica |
| Ragged Jack Mountain | Public | 44.422328, -70.409226 | Garnet, chrysoberyl, fluorapatite, mica, quartz, schorl |
| Singepole Mountain Quarry | Public | 44.226690, -70.453606 | Beryl, mica, fluorapatite, microcline, quartz, schorl |
| Ryerson Hill Quarry | Public | 44.276200, -70.467332 | Graphite, molybdenite, quartz, pyrite, sericite, albite, garnet, beryl, columbite, schorl |
| Heikkinen Quarry | Public | 44.301253, -70.632302 | Garnet, albite, autunite, beryl, mica, opal, pyrite, schorl, zircon |
| Scribner Ledge Quarry | Public | 44.276850, -70.735227 | Albite, garnet, autunite, beryl, mica, fluorapatite, quartz, schorl |
| Bumpus Quarry | Public | 44.301636, -70.781698 | Albite, garnet, autunite, beryl, aquamarine, mica, fluorapatite, quartz, schorl, zircon |
| Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area | Public | 44.231319, -70.980059 | Amethyst, beryl, garnet, columbite, pyrite, mica |
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 Maine
Maine has a number of good clubs and societies for rockhounds. Some of the best are listed below.
The Kennebec Rocks and Minerals Club
The club dedicates itself to the pursuit of the rockhounding hobby and to the education of its members and of the general public.
The club offers its members regular meetings, monthly field trips, and an annual rock and mineral show. Membership is not required to attend the club’s meetings. Dues for the club cost $15 per person or $20 per family. You can find their website here.
Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association
The Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association was founded in 1948 with the purpose being to bring together people who are interested in mineralogy and geology, where information and specimens can be exchanged among people with similar interests. Monthly meetings are held at the Maine Mineral Museum in Bethel. You can find their website here.
The Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society
The Maine Mineralogical and Geological Society is a nonprofit organisation with a focus on all the educational and related cultural aspects of geology, mineralogy, and the lapidary arts.
The society offers its members monthly meetings, a newsletter, an annual show, and special meetings and field trips for children. The society is based in Portland. You can find their website here.
State Mineral and Fossil
Tourmaline was designated the state mineral of Maine in 1971. ‘Tourmaline’ describes a group of minerals with similar crystal structures, which can be found in a variety of colours. Two of the varieties can be found in Maine in the igneous rocks in the southwestern part of the state. One of the forms is called schorl and is a black mineral that gets its colour from iron. The other form is called Elbaite, which can be found in pink, green, blue, and in multicoloured specimens.
The state fossil of Maine is Pertica quadrifaria and was officially designated as such in 1985. This fossil is of a primitive plant that lived during the early Devonian Period, about 390 million years ago. Pertica quadrifaria grew in marshy places and reached a height of approximately six feet. These fossils are rare and are uncommon even in places where they can be found. In Maine, fossilised specimens of this plant were first discovered in 1968 in rocks of the Trout Valley Formation in Baxter State Park.
Image: source.
TIP: The U.S. generally has plenty of regions with a rich volcanic history. Because of this, you can find tourmaline in half of all the states. Find out more in the article below:
Where to Find Tourmaline: Best Environments & Locations (USA)
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
Maine’s good reputation among rockhounders is well-deserved, given the quantity and quality of rocks and minerals that you can find in the state. Many people come to Maine to enjoy the rockhounding opportunities the state offers.
In addition to the sites mentioned above in this article, places such as road cuts and rock outcrops are worth investigating in a place as mineral-rich as Maine. Given the unpleasant weather in Maine during the winter, collecting in the state is much better done during the warmer seasons.
If you’re new to rockhounding in Maine, a good place to begin is by contacting the various rock and mineral societies listed above; they can be an invaluable resource for new rockhounders.
TIP: Although Maine is the 12th-smallest U.S. state, don’t let its size fool you! Maine is overflowing with collectible rocks, minerals, and gemstones, as you’ll find out in this article:
14 Common Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in Maine