Clark Hill Quarries: Beryl & Aquamarine Rockhounding in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut
Updated July 2026
Clark Hill in Meshomasic State Forest is a second DEEP-sanctioned collecting site and includes the well-known Nathan Hall Quarry. Its pegmatites carry sharp books of muscovite, large almandine garnet, beryl in colors from yellow through aqua, and the uranium micas autunite and torbernite, along with fluorapatite and pocket microcline. It is one of the few places in Connecticut where the classic New England pegmatite suite can be collected legally. Reported finds include beryl, aquamarine, garnet, muscovite, autunite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Clark Hill Quarries photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Clark Hill Quarries in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- State
- Connecticut
- Nearest road
- Woodcutters Road
- Postcode
- 06424
- Coordinates
- 41.59369, -72.54319
Geology at Clark Hill Quarries
This spot sits on Fitch Formation, mapped as calc silicate rock and mica schist that formed roughly 445 to 420 million years ago. Metamorphic belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.
- Mapped unit
- Fitch Formation
- Age
- 445–420 Ma (Silurian)
- Rock types
- calc silicate rock and mica schist
- Elevation
- 730 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.
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 Clark Hill Quarries
Each chip 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 Clark Hill Quarries.
- Pelton’s QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 2 mi awayCitrine, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz
- Collins HillLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 3 mi awayApatite, Aquamarine, Beryl
- Walden Gem QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 3 mi awayAlbite, Aquamarine, Beryl
- Hale’s Brook QuarriesLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 3 mi awayBeryl, Pegmatite
- Riverside QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 4 mi awayAquamarine, Beryl
- White Rocks QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 4 mi awayBeryl, Tourmaline
- Case QuarriesTop pick in ConnecticutLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 5 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Columbite
- Old Simpson QuarryCapitol Planning Region, Connecticut · 5 mi awayAquamarine, Smoky Quartz
Across the state line from Clark Hill Quarries
Clark Hill Quarries is close enough to the Connecticut border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Lane QuarryHampden County, Massachusetts · 37 mi awayAmethyst, Datolite, Prehnite
- Moosup RiverProvidence County, Rhode Island · 42 mi awayEpidote, Hornblende, Orthoclase
- WesterlyTop pick in Rhode IslandSouth County, Rhode Island · 44 mi awayBeryl
- BlandfordHampden County, Massachusetts · 45 mi awayBeryl, Feldspar
- MontgomeryHampden County, Massachusetts · 45 mi awayGalena
- West GreenwichKent County, Rhode Island · 48 mi awayAmazonite
Clark Hill Quarries FAQ
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