Articles
Guides for rockhounds, built on USGS and state geological survey sources.
Laws & rules
Is It Legal to Collect Rocks on Public Land? BLM, Forest Service and National Park Rules
What federal rules say about rockhounding on BLM land, national forests and national parks.
Where to go
Best Rockhounding Spots in New Hampshire (2026): 10 Places With Verified Access
Permit sites, gold panning streams and fee digs in New Hampshire, each checked against the Forest Service, the state or the operator.
Where to find
Rockhounding in New Hampshire: Beryl, Mica and Pegmatite Country
Where USGS records New Hampshire mineral sites, by county, and what has been found.
Where to find
Tourmaline in Maine: Where Maine's State Mineral Comes From
Maine tourmaline, the 1820 Mount Mica discovery, and the pegmatites of Oxford County.
Identification
How to Tell if a Rock Is an Agate
Field clues for spotting agates, from state geological agencies.
Updated