Maine Tourmaline and Gem Hunting Guide
Tourmaline is Maine’s state mineral. Western Maine’s pegmatites, mostly in Oxford and Androscoggin counties, produce green, pink and watermelon tourmaline along with smoky quartz, beryl, apatite, garnet and rose quartz. Most productive quarries are private claims, so knowing where public collecting is allowed matters.
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| Free site | Mount Apatite Park, Auburn: hand tools, 2 ft depth, dawn to dusk |
|---|---|
| Fee digs | Dig Maine Gems trips to Mount Mica, West Paris tailings, Coos Canyon |
| National forest | Deer Hill and Lord Hill; free permits, about 50 lb per permit |
| Season | May to October |
| What you will find | Green, pink and watermelon tourmaline, smoky quartz, beryl, apatite, garnet |
| Not allowed | Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park |
Mount Apatite Park, Auburn
Mount Apatite Park is a city park with old feldspar quarries and dumps. It is the easiest free public site in the state.
- Open dawn to dusk, year-round. No permit needed.
- Hand tools only, and only in the quarry and dump area, to a depth of two feet.
- No generators, pumps or other machinery. No camping.
- Expect quartz, feldspar, mica and garnet; tourmaline and apatite take patience.
Fee digs and guided trips
Private quarries open on set days for a fee. Options include Dig Maine Gems trips to Mount Mica, the West Paris tailings dig, Coos Canyon and Bethel sluicing. Collecting on a claim without permission is trespassing.
National forest sites
The part of the White Mountain National Forest in western Maine has designated mineral sites such as Deer Hill and Lord Hill. Hand tools only, personal use, and fill your holes. The forest’s free mineral permits allow about 50 lb (one 5-gallon bucket) per permit.
Where you cannot collect
Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park prohibit collecting rocks and minerals.
Season and gear
May to October is the usual season; access roads close with snow. Bring a hammer, chisel, safety glasses, gloves, a screen and newspaper to wrap crystals.
Questions
Where can I find tourmaline in Maine for free?
Mount Apatite Park in Auburn allows hand-tool collecting in its quarry and dump area at no cost.
Can I collect at Mount Mica?
Only on authorized fee trips. Mount Mica is a private mining property.
What tools are allowed at Mount Apatite?
Hand tools only, to a depth of two feet in the quarry area. Machinery is prohibited.
Can I collect rocks in Acadia National Park?
No. Collecting rocks and minerals is prohibited in Acadia.
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