Dinosaur State Park - Gem and Fossil Mining
Approximate — check official site before visiting
State park with a seasonal outdoor gem mining sluice. Mine for gems and fossils in the park's mining sluice. Purchase bags of mineral/gem or fossil mining rough from the bookstore ($7-$25 per bag, $75 per bucket). Staff and volunteers help identify finds. Also offers track casting of dinosaur footprints. One of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America with 750+ preserved Jurassic footprints.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
Fossils
From shark teeth in Florida to dinosaurs in Montana, the US offers world-class fossil hunting for all skill levels.
Also found at:
📍 Nearby Locations in Connecticut
CCC Quarry (Educational Permit)
Haddam, Connecticut · state-forest
Educational mineral collecting in Cockaponset State Forest. Available by permit for organized groups. Small hand tools only.
Case Quarries (Educational Permit)
Portland, Connecticut · state-forest
Educational mineral collecting in Meshomasic State Forest. Available by permit for mineral clubs, nature centers, and schools. Limited hand tools only...
Clark Hill Quarries (Educational Permit)
East Hampton, Connecticut · state-forest
Educational mineral collecting in Meshomasic State Forest. Available by permit for organized groups. Small hand tools only.
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.
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...
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.
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Dinosaur State Park - Gem and Fossil Mining 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