Blandford: Beryl & Feldspar Rockhounding in Hampden County, Massachusetts

Updated July 2026

Blandford is a mapped rockhounding spot in Hampden County, Massachusetts. Reported finds include beryl, feldspar. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Hampden County
State: Massachusetts
Nearest road: Beech Hill Road
Postcode: 01008
Coordinates: 42.16621, -72.94626

Geology at Blandford

This spot sits on Moretown Formation, mapped as schist that formed roughly 485 to 465 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: Moretown Formation
Age: 485–465 Ma (Early Ordovician to Middle Ordovician)
Rock types: schist
Elevation: 990 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 Blandford

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 31°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WESTFIELD 3 SW station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Blandford

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 Blandford.

Across the state line from Blandford

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

Blandford FAQ

Where is Blandford?+

Blandford is in Hampden County, Massachusetts, at 42.16621, -72.94626. Nearest road: Beech Hill Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Blandford?+

Blandford is reported to produce Beryl, Feldspar.

Is collecting allowed at Blandford?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Blandford?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Blandford?+

The most comfortable months at Blandford are April to November.

How do I get to Blandford?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.16621, -72.94626 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Beech Hill Road.

More rockhounding in Massachusetts

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Open Blandford on the map

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