As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you.
Just like the pilgrims who were in awe of Maryland’s landscape, rockhounds today are in awe of all the amazing rocks and minerals that exist in this small state. In this article, we will reveal all the common rocks and minerals you can find in the Bay State.
Along the coasts and hills of the Bay State, rockhounds can collect:
- Roxbury Puddingstone,
- agate,
- granite,
- jasper,
- shale,
- limestone,
- siltstone,
- rhodonite,
- babingtonite,
- garnet,
- beryl,
- smoky quartz,
- opal,
- galena,
- and amethyst.
While some fortunate rockhounds stumble upon treasures without any prior research, luck favors the prepared. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with Massachusetts’ rocks and minerals, along with their rockhounding locations, to ensure that you return home with everything you hope to find.
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding tools you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link).
What Rocks Are Found in Massachusetts
If you enjoy collecting rocks with unique patterns and colors, keep an eye out for these common Massachusetts rocks:
Roxbury Puddingstone
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Roxbury | 42.334841, -71.085596 |
| Milton | 42.266549, -71.072395 |
| Brighton | 42.356243, -71.155613 |
| Needham | 42.270469, -71.262450 |
| Quincy | 42.273148, -71.003994 |
| Canton | 42.172776, -71.121494 |
| Dedham | 42.251384, -71.181407 |
With a name like Roxbury Puddingstone, it’s no wonder that the state rock of Massachusetts is a popular find.
Roxbury Puddingstone, also known as Roxbury Conglomerate, is composed of colored quartz, quartzite, chert, sandstone, and shale. Its appearance resembles that of fruit pudding, and its pebbles create all sorts of unique patterns.
Roxbury, the Roxbury Puddingstone’s namesake town, is a great rockhounding site for this stone. The surrounding areas are also promising, such as Milton, Brighton, and Needham.
Agate
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Lake Champlain | 44.479651, -73.381231 |
| Deerfield | 42.560810, -72.611215 |
| Middleborough | 41.898151, -70.906163 |
| Conway | 42.517849, -72.704812 |
| Franklin County | 42.590373, -72.572147 |
| Amherst | 42.380520, -72.516824 |
You can find all sorts of colorful agates in Massachusetts, including the famous red, orange, and white Lake Superior Agates. Agates with earthy tones are most common, and these rocks exist all over the state.
Many of Massachusetts lakes, gravels, and rivers are perfect sites for finding agates. Stop by Lake Champlain, Deerfield, and Middleborough for these colorful rocks.
Recommendation box: All tools and equipment you need for rockhounding and rock identification* (Amazon links):
1. Estwing Rock Hammer – Light, comfortable, and extremely durable hammer.
2. Estwing Geologist Pick – Classic and the most trusted paleo pick in the world.
3. Finder 12-inch Chisels – Heavy-duty chisels set with hand protection.
4. Mini Handle Shovel – This is a great tool for digging deep in the dirt.
5 Ironclad Utility Work Gloves – Breathable, but they also protect the areas requiring them most.
6. 3M Safety Glasses – Comfortable and efficient goggles for rockhounding.
7. Convoy 8+ UV Light – 365nm UV LED flashlight with a patented glass filter.
8. Wesley’s Jewelers Loupe – High magnification options (30X and 60X) with carrying case.
9. Mohs Hardness Kit – A specially designed kit for rockhounds
*All recommended products are personally tested and regularly used by experts from this website.
Granite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Quincy | 42.280260, -71.019787 |
| Milford | 42.150477, -71.510775 |
| Pondville | 42.191160, -71.820013 |
| Connecticut River Valley | 42.120982, -72.614492 |
| Cape Cod | 41.704950, -70.412526 |
| Otis | 42.223431, -73.069319 |
Because granite is abundant and of high-quality in the Bay State, government officials designated it as the official building and monument stone of Massachusetts.
This granite is known for its attractive appearance and durability, and dark gray pieces from Quincy were even used for the Washington Monument. Other colors of Massachusetts granite include white, pink, green, grey, and yellow.
Quincy, Milford, and Pondville are some of the best places to find gray or pink granite in the state.
Jasper
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Sandwich | 41.749226, -70.435808 |
| Deerfield | 42.536782, -72.615335 |
| Marshfield | 42.114416, -70.671827 |
| Chester | 42.280340, -72.893234 |
| Cohasset | 42.258644, -70.820244 |
| Rowley | 42.736747, -70.822162 |
There are several areas in Massachusetts where rockhounds find red jaspers. While jasper is the most common color in the state, you can also come across green and even multicolored jaspers.
The beaches and waterways in Maryland have plenty of jaspers. Explore Sandwich, Deerfield, Marshfield, and Chester.
TIP: Jasper is considered a widespread and moderate price stone, but some varieties of jasper can hit unexpectedly high prices. Find out more in the article below:
Jasper Value: Prices for Different Units & Colors Explained
Shale
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Springfield | 42.097550, -72.588914 |
| Norfolk County | 42.271496, -71.013865 |
| Bristol County | 41.777173, -71.185212 |
| Longmeadow | 42.044964, -72.561000 |
| Holyoke | 42.222282, -72.623332 |
| Berkshire County | 42.466426, -73.133699 |
In Massachusetts, rockhounds often stumble across thin, dark-gray shales. Shale is one of the most common sedimentary rocks in the Bay State, and it appears in gray, red, and green colors.
Check out Springfield, Norfolk County, and Bristol County for this sedimentary rock.
Limestone
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 42.484727, -71.348397 |
| Stockbridge | 42.323179, -73.324225 |
| Adams | 42.635078, -73.122810 |
| Hampshire County | 42.330521, -72.586468 |
| Berkshire County | 42.461361, -73.309480 |
| Sheffield | 42.123910, -73.365014 |
The fact that there are many limestone quarries throughout Massachusetts means that there is plenty of this stone in the Bay State. Massachusetts’ calcitic limestone is white to light gray in color, and the areas outside of the quarries have plenty of this rock.
If you want to collect Massachusetts limestone, visit Middlesex County, Hampshire County, and Berkshire County.
Siltstone
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Plymouth County | 41.913822, -70.742748 |
| Quincy | 42.280260, -71.019787 |
| Norfolk County | 42.174885, -71.246638 |
| Essex County | 42.631941, -71.022034 |
| Cape Cod | 41.704950, -70.412526 |
Since Massachusetts has many sedimentary rocks, it’s no surprise that you can find siltstone in this state. Occasionally, you might find rippled siltstone, which is when the stone takes on a unique, wave-like formation.
The famous Plymouth County, along with Norfolk County and Essex County, has plenty of Massachusetts shale for rockhounds to collect.
TIP: Classifying rocks is an important part of keeping track of all the information we’ve learned about rocks over the course of history. Check out the complete guide below:
How to Guide: Classification of Rocks by PRO Geologist
What Minerals Are Found in Massachusetts
Maryland has some of the most popular minerals that every rockhound wants for their collection, including:
Rhodonite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Plainfield | 42.514348, -72.916857 |
| Windsor | 42.515730, -72.978357 |
| Cummington | 42.475865, -72.894605 |
| Ashfield | 42.533701, -72.853260 |
| Savoy | 42.557913, -73.000267 |
Even though rhodonite is only found in one area of Massachusetts, it’s so abundant in the area that it became the state gemstone.
Most rockhounds find the common black and pink-striped versions, but others are able to discover large, single crystals that are suitable for faceting and jewelry-making. These singular crystals are valuable, but they are also rare, even in areas where rhodonite is plentiful.
Surprisingly, the only place where rockhounds find rhodonite in this state is Plainfield. However, that doesn’t mean the surrounding areas aren’t worth a shot, so if you aren’t able to make it to Plainfield, you can try Windsor, Cummington, or Ashfield.
Babingtonite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Frankin County | 42.619835, -72.643597 |
| Westfield | 42.131195, -72.738636 |
| Deerfield | 42.541083, -72.618082 |
| Chester | 42.282626, -72.973572 |
| Mt Tom Quarry | 42.253352, -72.634491 |
| Chester Emery Mines | 39.316506, -76.816836 |
Did you know that there are only a few locations in the world where rockhounds can acquire babingtonite? This highly-prized mineral is Massachusetts’ state mineral, and it mainly exists in Franklin County. Babingtonite from the Bay State is green-black to jet-black in color with a brilliant luster.
Some of the best babingtonite specimens are retrieved from Franklin County, especially near Deerfield.
Garnet
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Russel | 42.180022, -72.847710 |
| Betts Mine | 42.494335, -72.946415 |
| Plainfield | 42.514348, -72.916857 |
| Northfield Mountain | 42.616182, -72.444491 |
| Marlborough | 42.342911, -71.552955 |
| Fitchburg | 42.585776, -71.837438 |
Rockhounds can collect many different types of garnets from the Bay State, including almandine, grossular, and spessartine garnets.
Out of all the garnets that Massachusetts produces, the one that rockhounds seek out the most is the garnet called the Russel Garnet. These garnets are extremely large and form distinct trapezohedron shapes, and they were retrieved from Russel, MA.
While Russel Garnets are extremely rare, they have been found in Russel. For other garnets, check out Northfield Mountain, Betts Mine, and Plainfield.
TIP: If you want to find gem-quality garnets in the U.S., you are lucky since there are many places you can find them. Find out more in the article below:
Where to Find Garnet: 4 Best Locations Near Me (United States)
Beryl
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hampshire County | 42.342703, -72.611188 |
| Goshen | 42.443414, -72.799252 |
| Reynolds Mine (beryl hill) | 42.692729, -72.148709 |
| Franklin County | 42.571312, -72.701275 |
| Northfield | 42.688902, -72.468196 |
| Norwich | 42.288596, -72.837829 |
Two interesting types of beryl that exist in Massachusetts are golden beryl and clear beryl. This clear beryl is called goshenite, named after the town of Goshen, MA.
Hampshire County and Goshen are both excellent rockhounding sites for beryl. For golden beryl, Northfield is your best bet.
Smoky Quartz
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Monument Mountain | 42.257304, -73.349448 |
| Chester | 42.282626, -72.973572 |
| Reynolds Mine | 42.692729, -72.148709 |
| Chesterfield | 42.389218, -72.845003 |
| Norfolk County | 42.202358, -71.167674 |
| Middlesex County | 42.623319, -71.466504 |
Smoky quartz is one of the most popular types of quartz, known for its unique, smoke-like colors and patterns. Fortunately, rockhounds can pick up high-quality pieces of this mineral in various areas of Massachusetts, especially Monument Mountain.
Visit Monument Mountain, Norfolk County, and Middlesex County for unique pieces of smoky quartz.
Opal
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 42.623319, -71.466504 |
| Berkshire County | 42.396487, -73.207860 |
| Worcester County | 42.254964, -71.790232 |
| Fitchburg | 42.581352, -71.806710 |
| Lunenburg | 42.586807, -71.736205 |
| PJ Keating Quarry | 42.535442, -71.689223 |
Both common opal and precious opal exist in Massachusetts, but precious opal, which is gem-quality opal, is much rarer. Precious opal is one of the most valuable minerals in Massachusetts, and even though it’s rare, it’s very possible for rockhounds to find it if they know where to look!
Stop by Middlesex County, Berkshire County, and Worcester County for common or precious opal. The areas near the mines in Lunenburg are also great sites to visit.
TIP: Mineral oils for rock tumbling and polishing can transform your rocks dramatically. Find out the best ones in the article below:
Guide: 3 Best Mineral Oils for Rock Tumbling & Polishing
Galena
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hampshire County | 42.330521, -72.586468 |
| Franklin County | 42.590373, -72.572147 |
| Newburyport | 42.818677, -70.885598 |
| Hampden County | 42.061741, -72.403137 |
| Montgomery | 42.206268, -72.818714 |
| Northfield | 42.688902, -72.468196 |
While it’s true that galena isn’t the flashiest mineral, its silvery hue and shine make it a great addition to a collection.
As a matter of fact, galena is an ore of silver, and most of the stones from Massachusetts are argentiferous. No matter where you go in the Bay State, you’ll have the opportunity to collect this mineral.
Galena is plentiful across the entire state of Massachusetts, so it’s fairly easy to collect. Hampshire County, Franklin County, and Hampden County have beautiful pieces of this mineral.
Amethyst
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Plymouth County | 41.913822, -70.742748 |
| Franklin County | 42.590373, -72.572147 |
| Hampden County | 42.061741, -72.403137 |
| Hampshire County | 42.330521, -72.586468 |
| Norfolk County | 42.188114, -71.035838 |
| Mt Tom | 42.241216, -72.647631 |
While you can find gem-quality pieces of purple amethyst in Massachusetts, rockhounds also search for ametrine, which is a combination of amethyst and citrine. Ametrine possesses both purple and yellow colors, and it’s a rare gem that’s coveted by collectors.
Beautiful amethysts with dark or light purple crystals can be obtained from Plymouth County, Franklin County, and Norfolk County.
TIP: There are several methods for cleaning rocks from the beach. Below, you will find 7 simple and frequently used methods, so let’s look at them!
Cleaning Rocks From the Beach: 7 Ways How to Do It Properly
FAQ About Common Rocks & Minerals in Massachusetts
There are plenty of common rocks and minerals in Massachusetts, but there are also many rare ones, such as:
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in Massachusetts
While Roxbury Puddingstone is the most famous rock in Massachusetts, it’s not the only rare rock that exists in the state.
Some other rare rocks that rockhounds collect from Massachusetts include agates, jaspers, world-class granite, and even dinosaur tracks. Dinosaur tracks are the state fossil of Massachusetts, but interestingly, rockhounds do not find dinosaur bones in this state, only tracks.
For Roxbury Puddingstone, Lake Superior Agates, or world-class granite, check the rockhounding locations listed in the sections above. If you want to see dinosaur tracks, Holyoke and Granby are two of the best places to visit.
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)
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in Massachusetts
Although Massachusetts is a small state, there are many special and rare minerals scattered throughout the area. Some rare minerals to keep an eye out for include:
- babingtonite,
- opal,
- beryl,
- garnet,
- rhodonite,
- cummingtonite,
- amethyst,
- ametrine,
- smoky quartz,
- turquoise,
- thulite,
- cinnabar,
- and variscite.
Even with this long list, there are still more gems waiting for rockhounds in this state! Some more rare gems you can find are azurite, vanadinite, and malachite.
Massachusetts’ geology is diverse, and sadly, there isn’t an area where you are guaranteed to find each and every one of these minerals.
However, there are counties where you can find three or four of these minerals in a single area. Franklin County is a rockhounding hotspot for this reason, along with Hampshire County.
What is the Most Famous Rock or Mineral Found in Massachusetts
If you only have enough time to bring home one rock from Massachusetts, the Roxbury Puddingstone is an excellent choice.
Massachusetts is famous for the Roxbury Puddingstone, a type of conglomerate rock that resembles fruit pudding. Once polished, this stone displays its gorgeous red, green, yellow, and blue patterns composed of pebbles.
For this fun and colorful rock, Roxbury should be your first stop. The surrounding areas are also great sites for this sedimentary stone.
Conclusion
While Massachusetts is an unassuming state that isn’t famous for rockhounding, it has an enormous wealth of rocks, minerals, and gems.
Roxbury Puddingstone, Lake Superior Agates, rhodonite, smoky quartz, and vanadinite are all popular rockhounding finds that exist in this state, along with so much more.
Whether you are dreaming of finding goshenite or puddingstone, Massachusetts has the resources to turn those dreams into reality!
TIP: Despite its compact size, Massachusetts offers rockhounds a surprising variety of opportunities to discover interesting rocks and minerals. Find out more in the article below:
Where to Rockhound in Massachusetts and What Can You Find