Stafford: Iron Ore & Limonite Rockhounding in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut
- Minerals reported
- 4
- Elevation
- 440 ft
- Best months
- March to November
Stafford is a mapped rockhounding spot in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. Reported finds include iron ore, limonite, quartz, staurolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- State
- Connecticut
- Nearest road
- Air Line State Park Trail - Colchester Spur
- Postcode
- 06415
- Coordinates
- 41.57960, -72.32729
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 Stafford
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WILLIMANTIC WINDHAM AP station (14 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Stafford
This spot sits on Brimfield Schist (Includes Hamilton Resevoir Formation), mapped as schist and gneiss that formed roughly 540 to 445 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this typically carries quartz veins and sweats, and weathered crystals tend to end up in the soils and streams below.
- Mapped unit
- Brimfield Schist (Includes Hamilton Resevoir Formation)
- Age
- 540–445 Ma (Cambrian to Ordovician)
- Rock types
- schist and gneiss
- Elevation
- 440 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
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Stafford.
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 Stafford
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 Stafford.
- Slocum ProspectLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 8 mi awayBeryl, Rose Quartz
- Clark Hill QuarriesLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 11 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Garnet
- Gillette QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 11 mi awayAmazonite, Aquamarine, Beryl
- CCC QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 12 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Microcline
- CCC PegmatiteLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 13 mi awayAlbite, Beryl, Columbite
- Hewitt Gem QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 13 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Morganite
- Pelton’s QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 13 mi awayCitrine, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz
- Case QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 13 mi awayAlbite, Microcline, Quartz
Across the state line from Stafford
Stafford 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.
- Moosup RiverProvidence County, Rhode Island · 32 mi awayEpidote, Hornblende, Orthoclase
- WesterlySouth County, Rhode Island · 33 mi awayBeryl
- West GreenwichKent County, Rhode Island · 37 mi awayAmazonite
- Lane QuarryHampden County, Massachusetts · 42 mi awayAmethyst, Datolite, Prehnite
- JohnstonProvidence County, Rhode Island · 45 mi awayAmethyst
- JohnstonProvidence County, Rhode Island · 45 mi awayQuartz
Stafford FAQ
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More rockhounding in Connecticut
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