RockHoundR

Rockhounding in Maine

Updated August 2026

36 mapped spots for rock hunting and rock collecting across 9 counties. Maine pegmatite country is known for tourmaline, beryl, aquamarine, apatite, and smoky quartz. Mount Mica, Mount Apatite, and Newry anchor the state's gem-mining history.

Where is the best rockhounding in Maine?

The best rockhounding in Maine is at Catherine Mountain (Donnell Pond) in Hancock County (molybdenite, scheelite), Edgecomb Quarry (Schmid Preserve) in Lincoln County (almandine garnet, beryl), and Swift River at Coos Canyon in Oxford County (gold, garnet). In total, 36 mapped collecting spots across 9 counties produce quartz, beryl, and feldspar, each listed below with its land access.

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Every rockhounding spot in Maine

Maine rockhounding photos

Representative spot and material photos from locations in this state, shown where verified public image records are available.

5 photos

Top minerals found in Maine

Counts reflect how many spots in this list mention each mineral.

Notable areas: Mount Mica tourmaline, Mount Apatite pegmatite minerals, Western Maine aquamarine, and morganite are common Maine targets.

Geology behind Maine rockhounding

Western Maine sits on a belt of granite pegmatites intruded during the Devonian Acadian orogeny. The pegmatites carry gem tourmaline, including green and watermelon tourmaline from Newry, plus beryl, aquamarine, morganite, spodumene, lepidolite, smoky quartz, and apatite. Public collecting is limited on the coast; most gem collecting is inland from Lewiston through Oxford County.

Best regions to focus your search

Oxford County (Mount Mica, Newry, Bumpus)

The center of Maine gem country. Mount Mica is the longest continuously worked gem mine in the U.S.; Newry is known for Maine watermelon tourmaline. Most mines are private, with fee digs at Bumpus and a handful of operators.

Auburn / Mount Apatite

Mount Apatite Park (a city park in Auburn) is open for hand collecting of pegmatite minerals, purple and pink apatite, smoky quartz, garnet. No digging in walls.

Western & northern Maine

Scattered pegmatite occurrences and the Songo Pond emerald area; mostly private land or club-only access.

Best season

May through October. Most fee-dig mines run weekends Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Winter is locked up under snow.

What to bring

A small hammer, chisels, safety glasses, gloves, a sieve, and a hand lens. Fee-dig mines often pile fresh tailings on dig days, bring a flat-blade for splitting feldspar pockets.

Local collecting history

Mount Mica near Paris has produced gem tourmaline since 1820 and is the longest continuously worked gem mine in North America. The 1972 Plumbago/Newry watermelon tourmaline pocket brought new attention to Maine pegmatites and to New England gem hunting.

Rockhounding near major Maine cities

Day-trip range. Each section lists the closest mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of the city. Most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive.

Rockhounding near Portland (Maine)

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6 closest spots to Portland (Maine), ME.

Rockhounding near Bangor

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6 closest spots to Bangor, ME.

Rockhounding near Augusta (Maine)

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6 closest spots to Augusta (Maine), ME.

Neighboring states with rockhounding

Geology rarely respects state borders. These states share mapped rockhounding country with Maine, useful when Maine is the start, not the whole trip. Each card links to the closest county across the line.

Rockhounding by county in Maine

County pages are linked once we have at least 3 mapped spots for a focused guide with coordinates, mineral notes, and nearby spots.

Top picks in Maine

10 best spots

Hand-picked standouts from the Maine list, chosen for unusual mineralogy, documented public access, or both. Each card links to coordinates, access notes, and what to look for.

Fee digs and gem mining in Maine

6 places in Maine where you pay to dig and keep what you find. Prices and seasons change, so check with the operator before you drive out.

Gem mining in Maine, on its own map →

Rock and mineral clubs in Maine

5 clubs in Maine. Clubs run field trips, shows and workshops, and many trips go to private claims you can't reach alone.

Full club directory →

Maine rockhounding FAQ

Is rockhounding legal in Maine?+
Yes, primarily on the pay-to-dig pegmatite mines of Oxford County (Bumpus, Songo Pond and others when open) and at Mount Apatite Park in Auburn for surface picking. Acadia National Park and Maine State Parks are closed. Most pegmatites are private.
Where can I dig tourmaline in Maine?+
On scheduled dig days at the few operators who run Mount Mica or Newry-area tailings, and at Bumpus Quarry. Most are weekend-only, May through October. Native tourmaline is rare even in the dumps, but smoky quartz, feldspar, and minor beryl finds are common.
Can I collect at Mount Apatite Park in Auburn?+
Yes. Mount Apatite Park allows hand collection of surface specimens and tailings, purple and pink apatite, smoky quartz, garnet, and pegmatite minerals. No digging into the quarry walls. Open year-round, weather permitting.
Are there public gem mines in Maine?+
Yes, though access is seasonal and depends on the operator. Bumpus Quarry near Albany Township and Songo Pond near Bethel are the most accessible fee digs. Mount Mica itself is private and not open to public digging.
What rocks and minerals can you find in Maine?+
Common targets include tourmaline (green, pink, watermelon), aquamarine and morganite (beryl), smoky quartz, apatite (purple and pink), garnet, spodumene, lepidolite, and Songo Pond emerald.
Where can I go rock hunting in Maine?+
Rock hunting, rock collecting and rockhounding are the same hobby under different names. 36 spots are mapped in Maine, 25 of them with public access. Oxford County, Washington County, and Androscoggin County have the most.
Where can I dig for crystals in Maine?+
24 mapped spots in Maine report quartz, amethyst, or smoky quartz, mostly in Oxford County, Androscoggin County, and Hancock County. Each one is in the list on this page with its land access.
Can you find geodes in Maine?+
None of the 36 mapped spots in Maine report geodes. The nearest state with mapped geode spots is New York (1).
Where can I go gold panning in Maine?+
4 mapped spots in Maine report gold, mostly in Franklin County, Oxford County, and Washington County. Check for mining claims before you pan: working someone else's claim is not allowed.

Map every Maine spot in the app

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