Johnston: Quartz Rockhounding in Providence County, Rhode Island

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Providence County

State

Rhode Island

Nearest road

Apple Blossom Drive

Postcode

02919

Coordinates

41.84331, -71.52444

Geology at Johnston

This spot sits on Scituate Igneous Suite - granite, mapped as granite that formed roughly 385 to 360 million years ago. Granitic ground like this typically carries quartz veins and pockets, and weathered crystals tend to collect in the soils and drainages below.

Mapped unit

Scituate Igneous Suite - granite

Age

385–360 Ma (Late Devonian)

Rock types

granite

Elevation

340 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 Johnston

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PROVIDENCE station (10 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 Johnston

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

• QuartzEncyclopedia →