RockWoofSketch map
Woof’s favorite find
Lyle Mine
We picked it because its USGS record mentions 3 gem or collectible minerals (Tourmaline, Quartz, Gold) and 5 of our card minerals overall. That ties with 1 other site(s), so we broke the tie by mine status (past producers first), then USGS record quality, then name. USGS lists it as occurrence for Gold. Minerals mentioned: Tourmaline, Quartz, Gold, Feldspar, Pyrite. Approx. location 48.620, -93.117. USGS record.
Ask first: a USGS record doesn’t mean you can visit. Find out who owns the land and get permission before collecting.
Field cards: what kind of sites?
Status not recorded.
The mineral was noted here, without development.
Produced ore or material at some point in the past.
Status terms come from USGS MRDS records.
Mineral cards
Gold
Mohs 2.5–3. Soft, heavy and bright yellow; it doesn’t tarnish. Mindat
5 sites
Pyrite
Mohs 6–6.5. Brassy “fool’s gold,” often cubic. Mindat
5 sites
Tourmaline
Mohs 7–7.5. Long striated crystals, often black (schorl) or green and pink (elbaite). Mindat
4 sites
Quartz
Mohs 7. Six-sided points; smoky quartz is NH’s state gem. Mindat
4 sites
Mica
Mohs 2–3. Peels into thin, flexible, shiny sheets. Mindat
1 site
Feldspar
Mohs 6–6.5. Blocky crystals with flat cleavage faces. Mindat
1 site
Counts are sites whose USGS record mentions the mineral or commodity. Hardness from Mindat.
Minerals recorded here
Gold 5Pyrite 2Chalcopyrite 1Pyrrhotite 1Commodities
Gold 5Sites
| Site | Commodity | Minerals recorded | Status | Approx. location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little America Mine | Gold | Chalcopyrite, Gold, Pyrite | Past Producer | 48.602, -93.168 |
| Lyle Mine | Gold | Gold | Occurrence | 48.620, -93.117 |
| Bushyhead Island Prospect | Gold | Gold | Unknown | 48.606, -93.118 |
| Grassy Island Prospect | Gold | Gold | Unknown | 48.618, -93.215 |
| Indus Prospect | Gold | Gold, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite | Unknown | 48.621, -93.851 |
| Koochiching County Peat Bogs | — | — | Occurrence | 48.411, -93.206 |
Nearby counties
Beltrami County · Lake of the Woods County · St. Louis County · Itasca County · Roseau County
Minnesota mineral guides
- Quartz in Minnesota
- Gold in Minnesota
- Mica in Minnesota
- Magnetite in Minnesota
- Pyrite in Minnesota
- Copper in Minnesota
Back to all Minnesota counties.
How we built this page: we counted named sites in the USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) for this area, left out sand, gravel, crushed stone, clay pits and unnamed sites, grouped them by Census county, and linked every site to its USGS record. We did not visit these sites, and MRDS does not tell you who owns the land or whether collecting is allowed.
Source: USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS). USGS ceased systematic updates to MRDS around 2011, so status and details may be out of date. Each site links to its USGS record.
Updated