Bolton Lime Quarry: Scapolite Rockhounding in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Updated June 2026

Bolton Lime Quarry is a mapped rockhounding spot in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Reported finds include scapolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Paid / fee dig
County: Worcester County
State: Massachusetts
Nearest road: Bob Horton Trail
Postcode: 01740
Coordinates: 42.43926, -71.56701

Geology at Bolton Lime Quarry

This spot sits on Nashoba Formation, mapped as schist and gneiss that formed roughly 1000 to 445 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this weathers into resistant float, and minerals that survive transport typically concentrate in nearby drainages.

Mapped unit: Nashoba Formation
Age: 1000–445 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Ordovician)
Rock types: schist and gneiss
Elevation: 310 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 Bolton Lime Quarry

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MAYNARD 2 station (6 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Pay-to-dig site

This is a fee-dig location. Hours, prices, and what you can keep vary by operator. Call ahead before driving out.

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 Bolton Lime Quarry

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

Scapolite

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Bolton Lime Quarry.

Across the state line from Bolton Lime Quarry

Bolton Lime Quarry 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.

Bolton Lime Quarry FAQ

Where is Bolton Lime Quarry?+

Bolton Lime Quarry is in Worcester County, Massachusetts, at 42.43926, -71.56701. Nearest road: Bob Horton Trail.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Bolton Lime Quarry?+

Bolton Lime Quarry is reported to produce Scapolite.

Is collecting allowed at Bolton Lime Quarry?+

Pay-to-dig site. This is a fee-dig location. Hours, prices, and what you can keep vary by operator. Call ahead before driving out. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Bolton Lime Quarry?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Bolton Lime Quarry?+

The most comfortable months at Bolton Lime Quarry are March to November.

How do I get to Bolton Lime Quarry?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.43926, -71.56701 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Bob Horton Trail.

More rockhounding in Massachusetts

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Open Bolton Lime Quarry on the map

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