Montgomery: Galena Rockhounding in Hampden County, Massachusetts

Quick details

Access

Permission required

County

Hampden County

State

Massachusetts

Nearest road

Southampton Road

Coordinates

42.21373, -72.79055

Geology at Montgomery

This spot sits on Goshen Formation, mapped as schist that formed roughly 420 to 395 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this commonly hosts vein and replacement mineralization, and old workings typically mark the productive zones.

Mapped unit

Goshen Formation

Age

420–395 Ma (Early Devonian)

Rock types

schist

Elevation

850 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 Montgomery

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WESTFIELD BARNES MUNI AP station (5 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 Montgomery

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

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