The Palisades

Agates

Banded chalcedony prized for their colors and patterns. Lake Superior agates, Fairburn agates, and Montana moss agates are especially famous.

Also found at:

• Rockhound State Park
• Black Rock Desert
• Thunder Egg Capital (Richardson's Ranch)

Amethyst

Purple quartz crystals found in geodes and pegmatites. Notable sources include Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Maine.

Also found at:

• Crater of Diamonds State Park
• Gem Mountain
• Hogg Mine

Opals

Precious opals with brilliant play-of-color. Nevada's Virgin Valley produces spectacular fire opals worth thousands.

Also found at:

• Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine
• Bonanza Opal Mine
• Spencer Opal 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

Datolite

Also found at:

• Prospect Park Quarry

Calcite

Common but versatile carbonate mineral that forms in many crystal habits. Found in geodes, cave deposits, and veins throughout the US.

Also found at:

• Warsaw Area Geodes
• Hall's Gap
• Rose Hill Mine

Prehnite

Also found at:

• Prospect Park Quarry
• Pennington Mountain

Franklin Furnace / Sterling Hill

Franklin/Ogdensburg, New Jersey · Museum

World-famous for fluorescent minerals. Over 340 minerals identified here including 35 type localities. Sterling Hill Mining Museum offers public colle...

Cape May County (Cape May Diamonds)

Cape May, New Jersey · Public Land

Beachcombing for 'Cape May diamonds' — clear quartz pebbles worn smooth by the ocean. Found along Cape May beaches after storms.

New Jersey Zeolite Beds (Watchung)

Watchung, New Jersey · Public Land

Watchung basalt flows for zeolite minerals, prehnite, and quartz. Road cuts and exposures in the First Watchung Mountain area.

Paterson Quarry / Lambert Castle

Paterson, New Jersey · Public Land

Historic quarry in Paterson for prehnite, zeolites, and quartz crystals. A classic New Jersey mineral collecting locality.

Franklin Mineral Museum

Franklin, New Jersey · Museum

Geology and mining museum at the former Franklin Mine, one of the world's finest permanent exhibits of fluorescent minerals. Visitors can collect spec...

Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park

Sewell, New Jersey · Museum

A large marl pit operated by Rowan University where visitors can search for amber and Cretaceous fossils. 72-million-year-old fossil beds with shells,...