Connecticut Pegmatite Mines

Garnets

Deep red almandine garnets are found in many states. Idaho's star garnets are among the rarest in the world.

Also found at:

• Crater of Diamonds State Park
• Emerald Hollow Mine
• Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine

Beryl

Also found at:

• Hogg Mine
• Morefield Mine (closed)
• Mt. Mica

Tourmaline

Also found at:

• Emerald Hollow Mine
• Mt. Mica
• Oceanview Mine

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:

• Crater of Diamonds State Park
• Crystal Grove Diamond Mine
• Herkimer Diamond Mines

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.

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Madison, Connecticut · State Park

Garnet grains in the sand, especially near Webster Point. So prevalent they give the sand a pinkish color. Great family-friendly rockhounding.