Best spot

Gassetts: Quartz & Garnet Rockhounding in Windsor County, Vermont

Updated July 2026

The Route 103 road-cuts at Gassetts slice through silvery garnet-mica schist, one of Vermont's classic metamorphic mineral localities. The rock carries almandine garnet, staurolite, and blue kyanite, with muscovite and a nearby calc-silicate band of diopside and actinolite. It is an easy roadside stop in the Williams River valley near Chester. Reported finds include quartz, garnet, tourmaline, staurolite, kyanite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Gassetts photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

The historic Stone Village at Chester, near the Route 103 garnet-schist road-cuts at Gassetts, Windsor County, Vermont.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Windsor County
State: Vermont
Nearest road: Vermont Route 103 North
Coordinates: 43.33219, -72.61580

Geology at Gassetts

This spot sits on Biotite-quartz-plagioclase gneiss, mapped as gneiss that formed roughly 1600 to 1200 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this typically carries quartz veins and sweats, and weathered crystals tend to end up in the soils and streams below.

Mapped unit: Biotite-quartz-plagioclase gneiss
Age: 1600–1200 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: gneiss
Elevation: 850 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 Gassetts

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 30°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CAVENDISH station (4 mi away).

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 Gassetts

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 Gassetts.

Across the state line from Gassetts

Gassetts 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.

Gassetts FAQ

Where is Gassetts?+

Gassetts is in Windsor County, Vermont, at 43.33219, -72.61580. Nearest road: Vermont Route 103 North.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Gassetts?+

Gassetts is reported to produce Quartz, Garnet, Tourmaline, Staurolite, Kyanite, Actinolite, Diopside, Calcite, Sphene, Pyrite.

Is collecting allowed at Gassetts?+

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 Gassetts?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Gassetts?+

The most comfortable months at Gassetts are April to November.

How do I get to Gassetts?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.33219, -72.61580 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Vermont Route 103 North.

More rockhounding in Vermont

See all 29 Vermont spots →

Open Gassetts on the map

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