Plainfield: Ankerite & Garnet Rockhounding in Hampshire County, Massachusetts
- Minerals reported
- 5
- Elevation
- 1,530 ft
- Best months
- April to November
Plainfield is a mapped rockhounding spot in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Reported finds include ankerite, garnet, quartz, rhodochrosite, rhodonite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Hampshire County
- State
- Massachusetts
- Postcode
- 01070
- Coordinates
- 42.53435, -72.92483
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 Plainfield
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 75°F in midsummer and 29°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 10°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, E HAWLEY station (4 mi away).
Geology at Plainfield
This spot sits on Hawley Formation, mapped as amphibolite, greenstone, and schist that formed roughly 440 to 425 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
- Hawley Formation
- Age
- 440–425 Ma (Llandovery to Wenlock)
- Rock types
- amphibolite, greenstone, and schist
- Elevation
- 1,530 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 Plainfield.
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.
- Massachusetts Geological Survey
- Massachusetts DCR rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Plainfield
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 Plainfield.
- Betts MineHampshire County, Massachusetts · 3 mi awayRhodonite
- Barrus Mine pegmatite outcropHampshire County, Massachusetts · 6 mi awayTourmaline, Lepidolite, Spodumene
- Barrus farm pegmatite localitiesHampshire County, Massachusetts · 6 mi awayGoshenite, Cleavelandite, Tourmaline
- ZoarFranklin County, Massachusetts · 8 mi awayTalc
- Lily PondHampshire County, Massachusetts · 8 mi awayEmerald, Goshenite, Smoky Quartz
- GoshenHampshire County, Massachusetts · 8 mi awayBeryl
- West ChesterfieldHampshire County, Massachusetts · 9 mi awaySmoky Quartz
- Davis MineFranklin County, Massachusetts · 11 mi awayChalcopyrite, Pyrite
Across the state line from Plainfield
Plainfield 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.
- BenningtonBennington County, Vermont · 26 mi awayBlue Quartz, Garnet, Feldspar
- HinsdaleCheshire County, New Hampshire · 29 mi awayPink Rhodonite
- Adams BrookWindham County, Vermont · 30 mi awaySerpentine, Quartz, Red Agate
- WinchesterCheshire County, New Hampshire · 35 mi awayRhodonite
- Spofford LakeCheshire County, New Hampshire · 35 mi awayFluorite
- Park HillCheshire County, New Hampshire · 38 mi awayStaurolite
Plainfield FAQ
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More rockhounding in Massachusetts
See all 46 Massachusetts spots →
Open Plainfield on the map
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