Chesterfield: Beryl & Kyanite Rockhounding in Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Updated June 2026

Chesterfield is a mapped rockhounding spot in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Reported finds include beryl, kyanite, staurolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Hampshire County
State: Massachusetts
Nearest road: Cowper Road
Postcode: 01012
Coordinates: 42.35547, -72.82344

Geology at Chesterfield

This spot sits on Waits River Formation, mapped as schist that formed roughly 420 to 395 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: Waits River Formation
Age: 420–395 Ma (Early Devonian)
Rock types: schist
Elevation: 1,100 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 Chesterfield

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WORTHINGTON station (5 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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.

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 Chesterfield

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 Chesterfield.

Across the state line from Chesterfield

Chesterfield 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.

Chesterfield FAQ

Where is Chesterfield?+

Chesterfield is in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, at 42.35547, -72.82344. Nearest road: Cowper Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Chesterfield?+

Chesterfield is reported to produce Beryl, Kyanite, Staurolite.

Is collecting allowed at Chesterfield?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Chesterfield?+

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 Chesterfield?+

The most comfortable months at Chesterfield are April to November.

How do I get to Chesterfield?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.35547, -72.82344 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Cowper Road.

More rockhounding in Massachusetts

See all 45 Massachusetts spots →

Open Chesterfield on the map

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