Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond): Molybdenite & Scheelite Rockhounding in Hancock County, Maine

Permission requiredBest spot5 mineralsHancock County, MaineUpdated July 2026

Minerals reported: 5
Elevation: 920 ft
Best months: April to November

Catherine Mountain holds a nineteenth-century molybdenite prospect where molybdenite occurs in granite pegmatite, rare vugs, and fractures, alongside reported scheelite and wolframite. The peak sits inside the state-administered Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land, where the Maine Geological Survey allows casual hobby collecting without a permit. Reported finds include molybdenite, scheelite, fluorapatite, magnetite, smoky quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Permission required before collecting

County: Hancock County
State: Maine
Nearest road: Blackswoods Road
Coordinates: 44.61718, -68.08412

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Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

Access note: The summit is reached by a short, steep trail from the Dynamite Road parking area within Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land near Route 182. As state public land it is open to casual hand-tool collecting, but the historic trenches are small, so treat it as a specimen site.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)

31°J

33°F

40°M

52°A

63°M

72°J

78°J

77°A

69°S

57°O

46°N

36°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 78°F in midsummer and 31°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ACADIA NP station (19 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)

This spot sits on quartz monzonite, mapped as quartz monzonite that formed roughly 420 to 360 million years ago. Granitic ground like this typically carries quartz veins and pockets, and weathered crystals tend to collect in the soils and drainages below.

Mapped unit: quartz monzonite
Age: 420–360 Ma (Devonian)
Rock types: quartz monzonite
Elevation: 920 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Today's weather

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Maine Geological Survey
Maine Mineral & Gem Museum
Acadia National Park rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond).

Tunk MountainHancock County, Maine · 1 mi awaySmoky Quartz, Feldspar, Hornblende
Jasper BeachWashington County, Maine · 34 mi awayRed Jasper
St. Croix River at Grand Falls FlowageWashington County, Maine · 52 mi awayGold, Garnet, Magnetite
Lubec Lead MineWashington County, Maine · 53 mi awayAnglesite, Bornite, Calcite
Gleason CoverWashington County, Maine · 56 mi awayJasper
PerryWashington County, Maine · 57 mi awayAnalcime, Calcite, Datolite
Warren Nickel ProspectKnox County, Maine · 65 mi awayPyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite
Edgecomb Quarry (Schmid Preserve)Lincoln County, Maine · 88 mi awayAlmandine Garnet, Beryl, Aquamarine

Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond) FAQ

Where is Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)?+

Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond) is in Hancock County, Maine, at 44.61718, -68.08412. Nearest road: Blackswoods Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)?+

Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond) is reported to produce Molybdenite, Scheelite, Fluorapatite, Magnetite, Smoky Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)?+

The most comfortable months at Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond) are April to November.

How do I get to Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond)?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.61718, -68.08412 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Blackswoods Road.

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