Severance Hill: Beryl Rockhounding in Merrimack County, New Hampshire

Updated June 2026

Severance Hill is a mapped rockhounding spot in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. Reported finds include beryl. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Merrimack County
State: New Hampshire
Postcode: 03230
Coordinates: 43.52371, -71.89944

Geology at Severance Hill

This spot sits on Kinsman Granodiorite, mapped as granodiorite that formed roughly 420 to 395 million years ago. Granitic rock like this is where pegmatite pockets tend to occur, the coarse-crystal settings that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, mica, and feldspar.

Mapped unit: Kinsman Granodiorite
Age: 420–395 Ma (Early Devonian)
Rock types: granodiorite
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.

Best time to visit Severance Hill

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 77°F in midsummer and 27°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 5°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GRAFTON station (4 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 Severance Hill

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

Beryl Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Severance Hill.

Across the state line from Severance Hill

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

Severance Hill FAQ

Where is Severance Hill?+

Severance Hill is in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, at 43.52371, -71.89944.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Severance Hill?+

Severance Hill is reported to produce Beryl.

Is collecting allowed at Severance Hill?+

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 Severance Hill?+

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 Severance Hill?+

The most comfortable months at Severance Hill are April to October.

How do I get to Severance Hill?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.52371, -71.89944 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in New Hampshire

See all 38 New Hampshire spots →

Open Severance Hill on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.