Melvin Hill: Blue Beryl & Golden Beryl Rockhounding in Sullivan County, New Hampshire

Updated June 2026

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

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Sullivan County
State: New Hampshire
Nearest road: Logging Road
Coordinates: 43.51301, -71.98713

Geology at Melvin Hill

This spot sits on Littleton Formation, Metaconglomerate and quartzite, mapped as metaconglomerate and quartzite 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: Littleton Formation, Metaconglomerate and quartzite
Age: 420–395 Ma (Early Devonian)
Rock types: metaconglomerate and quartzite
Elevation: 1,800 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 Melvin Hill

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 76°F in midsummer and 26°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 4°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 Melvin Hill

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 Melvin Hill.

Across the state line from Melvin Hill

Melvin 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.

Melvin Hill FAQ

Where is Melvin Hill?+

Melvin Hill is in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, at 43.51301, -71.98713. Nearest road: Logging Road.

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

Melvin Hill is reported to produce Blue Beryl, Golden Beryl.

Is collecting allowed at Melvin 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 Melvin 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 Melvin Hill?+

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

How do I get to Melvin Hill?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.51301, -71.98713 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Logging Road.

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