Rockhounding in Connecticut: 48 Spots & Minerals

Rockhounding near major Connecticut cities

Day-trip range. Each section lists the closest mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of the city — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive.

Rockhounding near Hartford

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6 closest spots to Hartford, CT.

GlastonburyCapitol Planning Region · Columbite, Feldspar8 mi10 min drive
Old Simpson QuarryCapitol Planning Region · Aquamarine, Smoky Quartz9 mi12 min drive
FarmingtonCapitol Planning Region · Agate, Prehnite10 mi12 min drive
Hale’s Brook QuarriesLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region · Beryl, Pegmatite10 mi13 min drive
Walden Gem QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region · Albite, Aquamarine11 mi14 min drive
East Granby QuarryCapitol Planning Region · Datolite, Aragonite12 mi15 min drive

Neighboring states with rockhounding

Geology rarely respects state borders. These states share mapped rockhounding country with Connecticut — useful when Connecticut is the start, not the whole trip. Each card links to the closest county across the line.

Rockhounding by county in Connecticut

County pages are linked once we have at least 3 mapped spots for a focused guide with coordinates, mineral notes, and nearby spots.

Every rockhounding spot in Connecticut

Sorted by county. Tap coordinates to open in Google Maps, or open RockHoundR for the full map view with land overlays and weather.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
CantonEast Hill Road	Capitol Planning Region	Amethyst	41.8394, -72.9053	Public
East Granby QuarrySouth Main Street	Capitol Planning Region	Datolite Aragonite Calcite Celestine Epidote Fluorite Galena Prehnite +1 more	41.9361, -72.7400	Public
FarmingtonTunxis Street	Capitol Planning Region	Agate Prehnite	41.7146, -72.8464	Public
GlastonburyNew London Turnpike	Capitol Planning Region	Columbite Feldspar	41.6838, -72.5589	Public
Old Simpson QuarryTryon Street	Capitol Planning Region	Aquamarine Smoky Quartz	41.6357, -72.6195	Public
RockvillePilgrim Drive	Capitol Planning Region	Whetstone	41.8674, -72.3947	Public
Simsbury MineNewgate Road	Capitol Planning Region	Chalcocite Cuprite Malachite Copper	41.9621, -72.7450	Public
TollandGarnet Ridge Drive	Capitol Planning Region	Rose Quartz Staurolite	41.8604, -72.3775	Public
VernonHatch Hill Road	Capitol Planning Region	Rose Quartz Staurolite	41.8181, -72.4443	Public
Lane’s MineGarder Road	Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	Arsenopyrite Bismuth Pyrite Sphalerite Wolframite	41.3531, -73.2394	Public
Long Hill MineOld Mine Road	Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	Calcite Fluorite Pyrite Cubes Scheelite Blue Topaz	41.2889, -73.2264	Public
Collins HillRose Hill Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Apatite Aquamarine Beryl Citrine Bismuthinite Columbite Feldspar Rose Quartz +2 more	41.5883, -72.5916	Public
Gillette QuarryInjun Hollow Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Amazonite Aquamarine Beryl Chrysoberyl Garnet Quartz Tourmaline	41.4926, -72.5112	Public
Hale’s Brook QuarriesIsinglass Hill Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Beryl Pegmatite	41.6332, -72.5784	Public
MiddletownMiddlesex Avenue	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Galena Chalcopyrite Sphalerite	41.5784, -72.6404	Public
Pelton’s QuarryCox Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Citrine Rose Quartz Smoky Quartz Clear Quartz	41.6011, -72.5767	Public
Plum Bank BeachPlum Bank Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Agate Moonstone	41.2648, -72.3900	Public
Riverside QuarryRiver Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Aquamarine Beryl	41.5578, -72.6033	Public
Slocum ProspectStockburger Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Beryl Rose Quartz	41.5322, -72.4711	Public
Walden Gem QuarryWest Cotton Hill Road	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Albite Aquamarine Beryl Pollucite Garnet Lepidolite Spodumene	41.6189, -72.5961	Public
White Rocks QuarryBow Lane	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Beryl Tourmaline	41.5539, -72.6003	Public
Bristol Copper MineMines Road	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Bornite Chalcocite Calcite Chalcopyrite Chrysocolla Malachite	41.7188, -72.9235	Public
UnionBigelow Hollow Road	Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Feldspar Moonstone Cordierite	41.9919, -72.1332	Public
Bantam LakeBantam Lake Road	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Rose Quartz	41.6866, -73.2318	Public
BarkhamstedLegion Road	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Actinolite Asbestos Soapstone	41.9390, -73.0084	Public
BridgewaterQuarry Drive	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Calamine Galena Cerussite Pyromorphite Sphalerite	41.5630, -73.3410	Public
CornwallRoute 7	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Graphite	41.8467, -73.3692	Public
LitchfieldNorth Shore Road	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Corundum Pyrite Staurolite Talc	41.7219, -73.2185	Public
Old Iron MineMine Hill Road	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Chalcopyrite Galena Pyrite Quartz Siderite Sphalerite	41.5575, -73.3387	Public
TorringtonGuerdat Road	Northwest Hills Planning Region	Agate Prehnite	41.8572, -73.1104	Public
BethanyKnollwood Drive	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Graphite	41.4648, -72.9774	Public
Cinque QuarryMcLay Avenue	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Amethyst Smoky Quartz	41.3011, -72.8653	Public
Guilford & East HavenTowner Swamp Road	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Agate	41.3020, -72.7461	Public
Hubbard ParkMirror Lake Drive	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Quartz	41.5494, -72.8359	Public
Lamberts MineDerby Turnpike	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Chalcopyrite	41.3063, -72.9828	Public
MeridenQuarry Lane	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Quartz Amethyst Calcite Gypsum	41.5597, -72.7959	Public
Mt. CarmelMount Carmel Avenue	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Bornite Chalcocite	41.4281, -72.8842	Public
New Haven Traprock QuarryForest Road	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Amethyst	41.3406, -72.7922	Public
Pine Rock QuarryHigh Top Circle West	South Central Connecticut Planning Region	Prehnite Calcite Serpentine	41.3381, -72.9512	Public
New LondonGold Star Highway	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Apatite Spodumene	41.3813, -72.0191	Public
NorwichMohegan Park Road	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Corundum Sillimanite	41.5468, -72.0679	Public
StaffordAir Line State Park Trail - Colchester Spur	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Iron Ore Limonite Quartz Staurolite	41.5796, -72.3273	Public
Aldrich ParkWhitewood Hollow Court	Western Connecticut Planning Region	Quartz	41.3008, -73.4704	Public
DanburySugar Hollow Road	Western Connecticut Planning Region	Graphite	41.3522, -73.4734	Public
GreenwichWyckham Hill Lane	Western Connecticut Planning Region	Soapstone	41.1046, -73.6381	Public
ReddingOld Redding Road	Western Connecticut Planning Region	Graphite	41.3054, -73.4048	Public
Roebling MineMine Road	Western Connecticut Planning Region	Aquamarine Beryl Biotite Feldspar Garnet Smoky Quartz Muscovite Tourmaline	41.6561, -73.4349	Public
WiltonMather Street	Western Connecticut Planning Region	Arsenopyrite Bismuth Galena Pyrite Wolframite Quartz	41.2349, -73.4263	Public

Connecticut rockhounding FAQ

Is rockhounding legal in Connecticut?+

Casual hand collecting is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Connecticut, with daily and annual limits set by the managing field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal lands are off-limits. Always confirm rules with the local agency before a trip.

What rocks and minerals can you find in Connecticut?+

Connecticut spots in this list most commonly produce Beryl, Quartz, Aquamarine, Rose Quartz, Calcite. The full list across all spots is broader.

How many rockhounding sites are in Connecticut?+

RockHoundR currently lists 48 rockhounding spots in Connecticut across 9 counties. Many more exist; the app keeps your private finds saved alongside the public ones.

Can I take rocks home from Connecticut public land?+

On most BLM and Forest Service land, recreational hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed in reasonable amounts. Vertebrate fossils, archaeological items, and posted mining-claim minerals are not. Check the field office for current limits.

Map every Connecticut spot in the app

Open the RockHoundR app to see Connecticut on a real map with public land overlays, weather, geology, and your saved finds.