Case Quarries (Educational Permit)
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Educational mineral collecting in Meshomasic State Forest. Available by permit for mineral clubs, nature centers, and schools. Limited hand tools only.
🌐 Visit Official Site →🪨 What You Can Find Here
Beryl
Mineral species that includes emerald, aquamarine, and morganite. Found in pegmatites across the US, with notable deposits in New England and the West.
Also found at:
Tourmaline
Colorful gemstone found in pegmatites. Tourmaline occurs in every color of the rainbow. Maine, California, and North Carolina are top US sources for gem-quality specimens.
Also found at:
Garnets
Deep red almandine garnets are found in many states. Idaho's star garnets are among the rarest in the world.
Also found at:
Quartz Crystals
Clear, smoky, and rose quartz crystals are among the most common and rewarding rockhounding finds. Arkansas produces world-class quartz.
Also found at:
📍 Nearby Locations in Connecticut
Connecticut Pegmatite Mines
Portland, Connecticut · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite mines in the Middletown district. Fee-dig operations for garnet, beryl, and quartz crystals. Classic New England rockhounding.
Roxbury / Hickory Flat Garnets
Roxbury, Connecticut · Public Land
Road cuts and exposures in western Connecticut for almandine garnet crystals. Part of the New England garnet belt.
Strickland Quarry
Portland, Connecticut · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite quarry in the Portland area. Known for beryl, tourmaline, and garnet specimens. A classic Connecticut mineral locality.
Gillette Quarry
Haddam, Connecticut · Fee Dig
Famous fee-to-dig quarry in Haddam, Middlesex County. Known for amazonite, aquamarine, beryl, chrysoberyl, garnet, quartz crystals, and tourmaline. On...
Long Hill Mine (Old Mine Park)
Trumbull, Connecticut · Public Land
Well-known historic collecting site in Old Mine Park, Trumbull. Produces calcite, fluorite, pyrite cubes, scheelite, and blue topaz crystals. Public p...
Salmon River State Forest
Colchester, Connecticut · State Park
Best place in Connecticut to find garnets. Search near Comstock Covered Bridge and check gravels along the Salmon River in Middlesex County.
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Case Quarries (Educational Permit) with the right equipment.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35