Where to Find Garnets in Maine: 15 Mapped Sites
Maine has 15 documented sites where garnets have been reported, and the best-known are Bumpus Quarry, Mount Apatite Quarries, and Havey. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 14 of the 15 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Garnets Map: Maine
All 15 garnets sites in Maine. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Garnets Are Found in Maine
Garnets grow in mica schist and gneiss and in contact-metamorphic zones, then concentrate in stream sands. Check decomposed schist outcrops and pan the dark sands below them.
The richest reported sites in Maine: Bumpus Quarry, Mount Apatite Quarries, Havey, Pitts Garnet Mine, Scribner Ledge Quarry & Crocker Hill Mines.
Local reporting distinguishes Almandine Garnet (9 sites), Spessartine Garnet (1 site).
Of the 15 sites, 14 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Garnets Sites in Maine
- Bumpus Quarry — Public Access
- Mount Apatite Quarries — Public Access
- Havey — Public Access
- Pitts Garnet Mine — Public Access
- Scribner Ledge Quarry & Crocker Hill Mines — Public Access
- Bemis Stream Prospect — Public Access
- Hedgehog Hill Quarry — Public Access
- Porcupine Hill Quarry — Public Access
- Edgecomb Quarry — Public Access
- Singepole Mountain Quarry — Public Access
- Deer Hill Mineral — Public Access
- Ragged Jack Mountain — Public Access
- Lord Hill Mineral — Public Access
- Swift River — Public Access
- Deer Hill Area Prospect — Forest Service
How to Identify Garnets
Garnets form 12-sided (dodecahedral) crystals — little faceted balls in red, brown-red, or orange — with a glassy luster, hardness 6.5–7.5, and no cleavage. They resist weathering, so intact crystals roll free of rotten rock. A streak of dark red sand in a creek bed is often garnet concentrate announcing a source upstream.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find garnets in Maine?
Maine has 15 mapped sites where garnets have been reported. The best-known are Bumpus Quarry, Mount Apatite Quarries, and Havey. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many garnets sites are mapped in Maine?
We have 15 documented garnets sites in Maine, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect garnets in Maine?
Casual collecting is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal, non-commercial use — the standard BLM limit is 25 lbs per day plus one specimen. National parks, monuments, and many state parks prohibit collecting, and private land always requires the owner's permission. Check the site report for each location and verify current land status before you dig.
How do I identify garnet?
Garnets form 12-sided (dodecahedral) crystals — little faceted balls in red, brown-red, or orange — with a glassy luster, hardness 6.5–7.5, and no cleavage. They resist weathering, so intact crystals roll free of rotten rock. A streak of dark red sand in a creek bed is often garnet concentrate announcing a source upstream.
What kinds of garnets are found in Maine?
Reports from Maine distinguish Almandine Garnet (9 sites), Spessartine Garnet (1 site).
What should I bring to collect garnets?
The basics: a rock hammer, safety glasses, gloves, a bucket or padded bag for specimens, and a GPS app with the coordinates from this page. Add a spray bottle — wetting a stone makes color and banding far easier to judge in the field.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
More to Find in Maine
Garnets in Nearby States
Data: USGS Mineral Resources Data System, community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.