Prospect Park Kyanite (Morton Homestead)
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Popular rockhounding location southwest of Philadelphia at the Morton Homestead on Route 420 (exit 9 off I-95). Kyanite blades can be collected from the small stream feeding Darby Creek using a trowel and sifting mud. Large orthoclase feldspar crystals found in boulders lining the stream. Best material obtained by carefully breaking quartzite with a sledgehammer. Also known for chatoyant blue quartz.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
Kyanite
Blue aluminum silicate mineral with distinctive blade-shaped crystals. Virginia's Willis Mountain and Georgia's Graves Mountain are notable US sources.
Also found at:
Orthoclase Feldspar
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Garnets
Deep red almandine garnets are found in many states. Idaho's star garnets are among the rarest in the world.
Also found at:
📍 Nearby Locations in Pennsylvania
Brookdale Mine
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania · Fee Dig
Historic lead mine in Chester County open to public collecting with permission. Known for exceptional quartz crystals, pyromorphite, and associated mi...
Cornwall Iron Mine Dumps
Cornwall, Pennsylvania · Public Land
Historic iron mine dumps for garnet, pyrite, and magnetite specimens. Cornwall was one of the most productive iron mines in the US.
Delaware County Sunstone (Aventurine Feldspar)
Media, Pennsylvania · Fee Dig
Rare metamorphic sunstone (aventurine oligoclase feldspar) found in Delaware County. Produces an orange-gold schiller effect from oriented hematite pl...
French Creek Area Garnets & Amethyst
Knauertown, Pennsylvania · mixed
Historic iron mine area in Chester County producing almandine garnet, amethyst, and a variety of calc-silicate minerals. Mine dumps from colonial-era ...
Indian Echo Caverns Gem Mill Junction
Hummelstown, Pennsylvania · Fee Dig
Gem Mill Junction at Indian Echo Caverns offers gemstone panning for amethyst, jasper, calcite, agate, and more. Purchase gem bags and pan for treasur...
Lehigh Gap Zinc Minerals
Palmerton, Pennsylvania · mixed
Historic zinc mining district along Blue Mountain. Weathering of sphalerite produced secondary zinc minerals including smithsonite, hemimorphite, and ...
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Prospect Park Kyanite (Morton Homestead) 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