Jay Peak: Malachite & Chlorite Rockhounding in Orleans County, Vermont

Updated June 2026

Jay Peak is a mapped rockhounding spot in Orleans County, Vermont. Reported finds include malachite, chlorite, feldspar. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Orleans County
State: Vermont
Nearest road: Long Trail
Coordinates: 44.92234, -72.52263

Geology at Jay Peak

This spot sits on Jay Peak Formation - schist member, mapped as phyllite, muscovite schist, and quartzite that formed roughly 1000 to 485 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: Jay Peak Formation - schist member
Age: 1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)
Rock types: phyllite, muscovite schist, and quartzite
Elevation: 3,490 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 Jay Peak

Best months: May to October. Typical highs run 68°F in midsummer and 18°F in midwinter, with winter lows near -2°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, JAY PEAK station (1 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 Jay Peak

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 Jay Peak.

Across the state line from Jay Peak

Jay Peak is close enough to the Vermont border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Jay Peak FAQ

Where is Jay Peak?+

Jay Peak is in Orleans County, Vermont, at 44.92234, -72.52263. Nearest road: Long Trail.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Jay Peak?+

Jay Peak is reported to produce Malachite, Chlorite, Feldspar.

Is collecting allowed at Jay Peak?+

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 Jay Peak?+

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 Jay Peak?+

The most comfortable months at Jay Peak are May to October.

How do I get to Jay Peak?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.92234, -72.52263 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Long Trail.

More rockhounding in Vermont

See all 29 Vermont spots →

Open Jay Peak on the map

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