North Providence Quarries
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Gentle rolling terrain with quartz veins, feldspar crystals, and mica sheets. Notable for bowenite (RI state mineral, a serpentine variety) found in association with limestone. Quartz is the dominant collectible mineral. Feldspar crystals often pink or white. Well-suited for beginners and families. Accessible from roadside exposures and small gullies.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
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:
Feldspar
Common rock-forming mineral group. Found in granites and pegmatites throughout the US, often associated with gem minerals.
Also found at:
📍 Nearby Locations in Rhode Island
Beavertail State Park Minerals
Jamestown, Rhode Island · State Park
Rocky shoreline for quartz veins and unusual metamorphic rock formations. Beavertail's geology is some of the oldest in the region.
Bonnet Shore Beach
Narragansett, Rhode Island · Public Beach
Pegmatite outcrops along the Bonnet Shores coast carrying beryl and quartz in coarse granitic pods — rare gem-family minerals in place on a public RI ...
Cumberlandite Beds
Cumberland, Rhode Island · Public Land
The only location in the world for cumberlandite (Rhode Island's state rock). A rare iron-rich igneous rock found only in a small area of RI.
Diamond Hill Quartz
Cumberland, Rhode Island · Public Land
Massive white quartz outcrop at Diamond Hill Town Park in Cumberland, featuring a 350-foot vertical face on 'The Big Hill.' Historically Rhode Island'...
Jamestown Bridge Area
Jamestown, Rhode Island · Public Land
Metamorphic rocks exposed near the Jamestown bridge landing on Conanicut Island, a well-documented mineral locality known for staurolite (cross-shaped...
Moosup River
Coventry, Rhode Island · Public Land
River gravels and exposures along the Moosup River, which flows through the Moosup Valley area underlain by Moosup Valley gabbro, Northbridge and Putn...
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to North Providence Quarries 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