MAINE MINERAL & GEM MUSEUM. Postal Service one-rate boxes to put their treasures in transit. There is a program every month consisting of a speaker that teaches members about the different characteristics of minerals and gems. dacf@maine.gov This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Like pilots, mineral collectors love to share their activity and their know-how. I cannot personally attest to the accuracy of the given locations or the quality of the material there. Feldspar is used for many things, from teacups to toilets, Hoffelder said. to the trailhead. Taking samples in Maine State Parks is prohibited without special permission. Driving: From jct. Considering what knowledge and information one can learn to access the precious gems that could lead to hefty payouts, its worth the membership fee. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Best sites for rock collecting? - Acadia National Park Forum I was thrilled when they entrusted me with the job of leading some field trips, giving me a chance to share my modest but growing mineralogical knowledge with the newbies in the mining parties that usually number from a handful to 15 or 20 people. 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. Anglesite, Bornite, Calcite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Dolomite, Epidote, Galena, Goethite, Hematite, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz, Smithsonite, Wulfenite, etc. The American Geode found plenty of fine mica, and had a great time, and the reason we did not find other minerals as that we simply ran out of time. United States government. It is highly advised to put these items in protective zip lock bags to PROTECT from dirt and mud. These mineral collecting areas are relatively easy to access and offer a wide variety of rocks and minerals including albite, tourmaline, amethyst, feldspar, and quartz. 117 and 118 in Norway, go west on Rte. The ledges and boulders surrounding the quarry pits show . I even found a couple of small frogs on the trail. I have written entire articles which cover the rockhounding laws and regulations for nearly every type of public land you can think of. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. 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. Its a good idea to try and find rockhounding clubs and societies in any area youre interested in hounding. However, the hike was very pleasant and the quarries were very interesting. He has been a flight instructor since 1990 and is a 35-year AOPA member. This was a last minute trip with my 6 y/o twins. We had an awesome time hiking around the park at Mt. Dudy (pronounced Duddy) Groves died in 2005, but Mary Groves and a committed corps of volunteers are keeping his dream alive. Go to a rock show or visit a major natural history museum anywhere, and you are likely to encounter specimens from the Maine pegs. Or you could get yourself to Maine and start a collection of your own. Examples of metamorphic mineral occurrences include the kyanite and staurolite crystals in mica schist at Windham, garnet crystals in schist and calcium-rich rocks at numerous places, and vesuvianite crystals in Sanford. More Contacts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Introduction to Mineral Collecting in Maine, Maine Geology at the Smithsonian Institution. General Information. Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recreation/rocks-minerals/recarea/?recid=79485&actid=73. The book Rockhounding in New England: A Guide to 100 of the Regions Best Rockhounding Sites by Peter Cristofono is a great resource, with the most recent edition released in 2020. Other locations are open but at a fee, and some are only open to specific clubs. One of my favorites is beryl. But one great thing about rockhounding or field collecting is that it doesnt take a lot of money to start. Meetings typically feature a program revolving around the aspects of rock and mineral collecting. To get to this area you park near a military installation which is a bit unusual. Many examples of Maine minerals are on exhibit at the Maine Geological Survey and at numerous colleges and museums around the country. Image Credits LockA locked padlock And theres comradery, too. Rockhounding can get very dirty, so bring Wet-naps as they are very handy to clean off your hands quickly. Mosquito coils and matches are necessary, and we suggest having a minimum of 7 with you at all times. For those who cannot attend in-person meetings, the club holds e-board meetings. Year after year, the specimen seekers show up on schedule toting shovels, screens, or sledgehammers and sharing stories of fabulous finds or strenuous searches of past years. The book includes more than 30 locations in Maine, including the Harvard, Waisanen and Tamminen quarries in Greenwood. Mineral Collecting at PMC Doing so can put you in touch with others who may have lesser-known locations to check out. Earthdance is located at 252 Prospect Street, Plainfield, Mass. Park your vehicle then hike up the Mine Road approximately 1.0 mi.
