Orford: Staurolite Rockhounding in Grafton County, New Hampshire

Updated June 2026

Orford is a mapped rockhounding spot in Grafton County, New Hampshire. Reported finds include staurolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Grafton County
State: New Hampshire
Nearest road: Mud Turtle Pond Road
Postcode: 03777
Coordinates: 43.88110, -72.11646

Geology at Orford

This spot sits on Partridge Formation, undivided, mapped as slate and schist that formed roughly 470 to 445 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit: Partridge Formation, undivided
Age: 470–445 Ma (Middle Ordovician to Late Ordovician)
Rock types: slate and schist
Elevation: 1,150 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.

Best time to visit Orford

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 79°F in midsummer and 26°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 4°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, UNION VILLAGE DAM station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

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.

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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Orford

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

Staurolite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Orford.

Across the state line from Orford

Orford is close enough to the New Hampshire border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Orford FAQ

Where is Orford?+

Orford is in Grafton County, New Hampshire, at 43.88110, -72.11646. Nearest road: Mud Turtle Pond Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Orford?+

Orford is reported to produce Staurolite.

Is collecting allowed at Orford?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Orford?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Orford?+

The most comfortable months at Orford are April to October.

How do I get to Orford?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.88110, -72.11646 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Mud Turtle Pond Road.

More rockhounding in New Hampshire

See all 43 New Hampshire spots →

Open Orford on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.