Members of the Worcester Mineral Club have several opportunities to join members-only field trips and gain access to some exceptional rockhounding locales. In addition, members enjoy sharing and acquiring specimens at events such as our Annual Auction and Annual Mineral and Gem Show.
For a photo gallery of past field trips and events, click here.
See below for an example of field trip locations.
Shaft 10 – Quabbin Aqueduct Worcester Co. Massachusetts
This location Babingtonite, Fluorite, Epidote, Almondine Garnets
A large rock dump was left by the construction of Shaft #10, part of the Quabbin Aqueduct system which feeds the Boston area with water from Quabbin Reservoir. Shaft #10 is located just north of Moose Pond.
Hewitt Mine, Haddam CT
This location contains Beryl, Aquamarine, Amazonite, Smoke Quartz, Heliodor, Morganite, Goshenite, Spessartine Garnet, Tourmaline
One of the few Gem Mines that is actively being worked and is accessible for Mineral Clubs. This Mine has seen over 80 years of intermittent mining activity and still has the ability to find amazing specimens.
PJ Keating, Lunenburg, MA
This location contains Quartz, Calcite, Kyanite, Diopside, Pyrite, Flourite
An active quarry, PJ Keating is now used for gravel and trap rock. As well as a concrete plant in which they use the material for aggerate. We are lucky enough to be allowed into this giant quarry to gather whatever minerals and specimens we can find during the day.
Cobleskill Stone Products Quarry, Cobleskill NY
Peckham Quarry, Catskill NY
This location contains Platyceras, Vertebrate, Brachiopods, Trilobites, and Crinoids.
On this trip, we are fortunate enough to be allowed into multiple Quarrys throughout a two-day trip. There you are guided into pits where death plates and small specimens are found with ease.
Betts Manganese Mine, Plainfield MA
This location contains Spessartine, Almandine Garnets, Rhodonite, Rhodochrosite, Quartz, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite, and many many more minerals.
One of the few manganese mines located in the Northeast USA. It was last mined in the middle 20th century; it is the home of Rhodonite, the official Massachusetts state gemstone!
Loudville Lead Mine Easthampton, MA – OPEN TO PUBLIC
This location contains Wulfenite, Pyromorphite, Cloudy Quartz, Epidote, Druzy Quartz, Galena, Malachite
Loudville Lead Mine was the first lead mine in the original colonies. These dumps are open to public dig year round, Please be aware of signage for digging boundaries. As well as to not undercut the root system of the trees in the location.
Emery Mines, Chester MA – CLUB ACCESS ONLY
This location contains Emery, Margarite
Herkimer Diamond Mines – CLUB ACCESS ONLY
Worcester Mineral Club members have full access to our Fonda, NY claim to dig for Herkimer Diamonds. There is a $5 per person daily co-pay members will need pay upon arrival. Please visit the members section for full details. If you are not yet a member of the Worcester Mineral Club, click Join The Club on the main menu above to find out more information on how to join the Worcester Mineral Club.
For information on past field trips to the Herkimer locale, please click here.