Best spot

Ludlow: Tourmaline & Pyrite Rockhounding in Windsor County, Vermont

Updated July 2026

A Route 103 road-cut just east of Ludlow village exposes black schorl tourmaline with diopside, calcite, talc, and pyrite in the metamorphic rock of the Black River valley. It is a straightforward roadside stop for sharp tourmaline crystals. The nearby active Imerys talc mine is off-limits, so collecting stays on the public road-cut. Reported finds include tourmaline, pyrite, talc, calcite, diopside. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Ludlow photos

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

1 photo

The Black River flowing past The Mill in Ludlow village, near the Route 103 tourmaline road-cut, Windsor County, Vermont.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Windsor County
State: Vermont
Nearest road: Vermont Route 103 South
Postcode: 05149
Coordinates: 43.39148, -72.67518

Geology at Ludlow

This spot sits on Moretown Formation - Whetstone Hill Member - phyllite facies, mapped as phyllite that formed roughly 540 to 470 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: Moretown Formation - Whetstone Hill Member - phyllite facies
Age: 540–470 Ma (Cambrian to Early Ordovician)
Rock types: phyllite
Elevation: 1,020 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 Ludlow

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 29°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 7°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CAVENDISH 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 Ludlow

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 Ludlow.

Across the state line from Ludlow

Ludlow 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.

Ludlow FAQ

Where is Ludlow?+

Ludlow is in Windsor County, Vermont, at 43.39148, -72.67518. Nearest road: Vermont Route 103 South.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ludlow?+

Ludlow is reported to produce Tourmaline, Pyrite, Talc, Calcite, Diopside.

Is collecting allowed at Ludlow?+

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 Ludlow?+

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 Ludlow?+

The most comfortable months at Ludlow are April to November.

How do I get to Ludlow?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.39148, -72.67518 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Vermont Route 103 South.

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