Walden Gem Quarry: Albite & Aquamarine Rockhounding in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut
- Minerals reported
- 7
- Elevation
- 250 ft
- Best months
- March to November
Walden Gem Quarry is a mapped rockhounding spot in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Reported finds include albite, aquamarine, beryl, pollucite, garnet, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- State
- Connecticut
- Nearest road
- West Cotton Hill Road
- Postcode
- 06480
- Coordinates
- 41.61889, -72.59611
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
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.
Best time to visit Walden Gem Quarry
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 84°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HARTFORD BRAINARD FLD station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Walden Gem Quarry
This spot sits on Metavolcanic member [of Collins Hill Formation], mapped as amphibolite, schist, and gneiss that formed roughly 470 to 445 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
- Metavolcanic member [of Collins Hill Formation]
- Age
- 470–445 Ma (Middle Ordovician to Late Ordovician)
- Rock types
- amphibolite, schist, and gneiss
- Elevation
- 250 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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Get the appSources & 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.
- Connecticut Geological Survey
- CT DEEP state land rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Walden Gem Quarry
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 Walden Gem Quarry.
- Case QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 1 mi awayAlbite, Microcline, Quartz
- Hale’s Brook QuarriesLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 1 mi awayBeryl, Pegmatite
- Case QuarriesLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 1 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Columbite
- Pelton’s QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 2 mi awayCitrine, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz
- Old Simpson QuarryCapitol Planning Region, Connecticut · 2 mi awayAquamarine, Smoky Quartz
- Collins HillLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 2 mi awayApatite, Aquamarine, Beryl
- Clark Hill QuarriesLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 3 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Garnet
- MiddletownLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 4 mi awayGalena, Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite
Across the state line from Walden Gem Quarry
Walden Gem Quarry 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 · 35 mi awayAmethyst, Datolite, Prehnite
- BlandfordHampden County, Massachusetts · 42 mi awayBeryl, Feldspar
- MontgomeryHampden County, Massachusetts · 42 mi awayGalena
- Moosup RiverProvidence County, Rhode Island · 44 mi awayEpidote, Hornblende, Orthoclase
- Norwich BridgeHampshire County, Massachusetts · 46 mi awayBeryl
- LoudvilleHampshire County, Massachusetts · 47 mi awayChalcopyrite, Wulfenite, Cerussite
Walden Gem Quarry FAQ
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More rockhounding in Connecticut
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