Almandine garnet, Connecticut's state stone. Photo by Rob Lavinsky |
Just in the town where I live, Barkhamsted there are several different verities of gemstones including almandine garnets, beryl, corundum, kyanite, quartz, soapstone, zircon and the usual rock forming minerals.
Beryl crystals on Feldspar. Photo by Rob Lavinsky |
The trap ridges of the Connecticut River Valley and in Woodbury contain specimens of amethyst, datolite and prehnite that are found in vugs in the trap rock. Some of these occurrences are also Dana localities. Many of them are also world famous. Connecticut has over 600 recognized mines that are now abandoned scattered mainly across the western half of the state, but there is still plenty of gems to be found in eastern Connecticut .
Microlite-Elbalite and Lepidolite found in the pegmatites of Connecticut. Photo by Rob Lavinsky |
The beaches in eastern Connecticut are littered with moonstones that have eroded from the granite eastern Connecticut is known for. Another stop you should make is the Connecticut Mining Museum that is part of the Sloan-Stanley Museum in Kent where many of the minerals found in Connecticut are displayed along with lots of information about the mining industry that used to be found in the state. According to many authorities modern mining was developed in Connecticut then spread out all over the world.