Rhode Island is a beautiful state. But it’s not a great state in which to hunt for rocks, crystals, and fossils.
Given its small size and geographic make-up, finding large quantities of crystals and sought after rocks is challenging at best.
However, there are a few places to find certain crystals. Even more places to find some nice rocks and other treasures. Here’s a list of the best places to search.
Rockhounding Rhode Island: Get Started Hunting Rocks, Crystals, And Fossils
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Laws are updated. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material.
1. Narragansett
Narragansett is a waterfront town in Washington county, Rhode Island. A summer tourist spot, there are plenty of places to stay and eat when rockhounding.
The basin is a great place to hunt for fossilized trilobites, ferns, insects, annularia, cattails, and amber. Beryl can sometimes be found around the basin.
There’s a chance of uncovering some agate, carnelian, or jasper pebbles while combing the gravel. Pretty sea glass is always in abundance.
2. Mt. Hope Bay
This spot is located at the mouth of the Taunton River, on the Massachusetts and Rhode Island border.
Graveling along these shores can uncover some tiny treasures. Sea glass aside, graveling can uncover pebble sized amethyst, agates, jasper, carnelian, and hematite in the form of thin plates.
Mount Hope bay is also a beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature. Bring a lunch and a blanket to make a day of it.
3. Cumberland Hill
Cumberland Hill is the most northern town in Providence county. This beautiful part of Rhode Island is a great place for the more adventurous rockhound to check out.
There are several quarries, like Beacon Pole Hill and Cumberland, where specimens may be found.
You may need permission from the land owner. Use care to watch out for signs.
The gravels are also a great place to look for quartz, agate, jasper, and chalcedony.
4. Sneech Pond
About 40 miles north of Boston, in Cumberland, Rhode Island, there is an old, collapsed copper mine.
The shafts are still open and go down about 8 feet into the earth. It lies near Sneech pond off route 122. Folks have been known to find epidote, magnetite, garnet, rhodonite, and interestingly formed rocks.
Near the old mine is a quarry where some digging may uncover other treasures like quartz.
5. Moosup River
The Moosup River is over 23 miles long. The area to explore for gems, rocks, and fossils would be in the town of Foster in the BennetvHill area.
Here, we may find hornblade, pyrite, garnet, serpentine, epidote, biotite, and orthoclase. Some deep digging into hilly areas have also unearthed amethyst.
6. Jamestown Bridge
The Jamestown Bridge is located in North Kingston. People have had luck searching the gravels and boulders near the shoreline under the bridge.
Crystals and minerals like staurolite, almandine, quartz, graphite and jasper can be found here. On the southern shore of Jamestown, there can be found sericite, quartz, and titanite.
At Potters Point you may be able to unearth some hematite, tourmaline, and calcite. Some areas may be difficult to get to and hike.
Research the area ahead of time to make sure you are physically able.
Also, to ensure you have the proper shoes and clothing for whatever type of rockhounding you plan to do.
7. Pawtuxet River
The largest river in Rhode Island, it runs 12 miles from Coventry to Cranston.
Along its shores and waters one can find agate, chert, petrified wood, fossilized plats, garnet, and some quartz. This is a great spot if looking for beautiful river washed stones as well.
The river area can be searched year round. But, of course, it’s advisable to go in warmer weather where you can pan and sift in the water without freezing!
8. Johnston
If you travel on route 295, into the town of Johnston, you may have some luck with your search for crystals and rocks.
The areas of Ochee Springs, Violet Hill, and off Manton Avenue have yielded some pretty good finds.
Stones like actinolite, calcite, pyrite, epidote, and magnetite can be found there. In the Hull’s cove area, zircon has popped up from time to time.
9. Westerly
Located on the southwestern shore of Washington county. This area has an abundance of shorelines and beaches.
They have gravel and sand that are great for rock and mineral hunting. Here you may find epidote, pyrite, a variety of petrified wood, sea glass, muscovite.
10. New Shoreham ( Block Island)
If you’re not adverse to a short boat ride, rock and crystal hunters may delight in this area. Located just off of mainland Rhode Island, Block Island has a year-round population of just over 400.
It’s recommended that rockhounding go in early spring or fall. Tourists invade in the summer and the weather can be harsh in the winter and early spring. On the island’s south shore you may find almandite, clay iron stone, limonite, pyrite, zircon, and magnetite.Rodman’s Hollow is said to be a particularly good spot for rock hunting. It’s suggested you bring or rent a bike to get around the island.
11. Bristol
The county seat of Bristol county has loads of coastlines and beaches where hunters can find some hidden gems.
Careful combing can uncover rocks and crystals like epidote, agate, hematite, rutile, limonite, and pyrite. There’s also a plethora of sea glass and petrified sand fragments.
12. East Greenwich
There are a few places in East Greenwich, Rhode Island to checkout if you want to do some digging. In Bald Hill you can find biolite and magnetite.
Travel over to the Bellefont area for some agate, hematite, epidote, and garnet. Norwood is the place to go for some pyrite.
We can’t promise any major discoveries in these areas. As stated, Rhode Island is a difficult state for serious rock hunters. But visiting any of the areas listed above will probably yield a few things worth keeping.
However, there are records of people finding huge pieces of quartz and other items. So there is hope. The areas are all beautiful and make for interesting digging.
