Massachusetts
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Galena and Calcite - Loudville Lead Mine, Easthampton, MA
What you'll find - Galena in Calcite and other lead type minerals
What are they - Galena will be gray or black little cubes and the Calcite is light orange or tan around the Galena and other minerals.
Fees - None
Address - The Hartnett Manhan Memorial Forest is located on Loudville Road in Easthampton across from Drury Lane so set your GPS for that intersection. There's a small parking area and sign for the Hartnett Manhan Memorial Forrest. The trail heads down the hill to a stream and then bends left along the stream. At this bend, don't head left, but look to your right to see a clearing where you can collect minerals. There are signs regarding where you can and can't dig. The stream is handy for washing off rocks.
Tips - The orangy calcite comes in some neat shapes and is fun for the kids to collect, but the serious colectors come here for tiny rare minerals caused by the lead. This spot has a long history. It was first discovered in 1678 and was mined for galena (a type of lead) and silver.
Kid Fact - The lead from this mine was used for musket balls for soldiers fighting the Revolutionary War.
What are they - Galena will be gray or black little cubes and the Calcite is light orange or tan around the Galena and other minerals.
Fees - None
Address - The Hartnett Manhan Memorial Forest is located on Loudville Road in Easthampton across from Drury Lane so set your GPS for that intersection. There's a small parking area and sign for the Hartnett Manhan Memorial Forrest. The trail heads down the hill to a stream and then bends left along the stream. At this bend, don't head left, but look to your right to see a clearing where you can collect minerals. There are signs regarding where you can and can't dig. The stream is handy for washing off rocks.
Tips - The orangy calcite comes in some neat shapes and is fun for the kids to collect, but the serious colectors come here for tiny rare minerals caused by the lead. This spot has a long history. It was first discovered in 1678 and was mined for galena (a type of lead) and silver.
Kid Fact - The lead from this mine was used for musket balls for soldiers fighting the Revolutionary War.
Dinosaur Footprints - Holyoke, MA
What you'll find - Dinosaur Footprints
What are they - A variety of footprints in shale
Fees - None
Address - U.S. Route 5 north of Holyoke, about 1000 ft north of the intersection of Route 5 ant Mt. Park Road on the east side of the road. There's a small parking area and signs explaining what you'll find.
Tips - While you can't collect anything at this site, it's the only place I know of in the Eastern US where kids can actually walk on and touch dinosaur footprints.
Kid Fact - The tracks here are from 3 different types of 2 legged dinosaurs that all seem to be heading in the same direction.
What are they - A variety of footprints in shale
Fees - None
Address - U.S. Route 5 north of Holyoke, about 1000 ft north of the intersection of Route 5 ant Mt. Park Road on the east side of the road. There's a small parking area and signs explaining what you'll find.
Tips - While you can't collect anything at this site, it's the only place I know of in the Eastern US where kids can actually walk on and touch dinosaur footprints.
Kid Fact - The tracks here are from 3 different types of 2 legged dinosaurs that all seem to be heading in the same direction.
Massachusetts Museums
Harvard Museum of Natural History - Cambridge, MA
What you'll find - Several rooms of rocks and
minerals from all over the world. The nearby
display of glass flowers is stunning. They also have some dinosaur skeletons and fossils.
Hours - 9am - 5pm except Thanksgiving,
Christmas Eve, Christmas & New Years
Fees - The suggested admission price:
Adults $12
Children $8
Seniors and students $10
Website - www.amnh.org
Address - 28 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone - (617)495-3045
minerals from all over the world. The nearby
display of glass flowers is stunning. They also have some dinosaur skeletons and fossils.
Hours - 9am - 5pm except Thanksgiving,
Christmas Eve, Christmas & New Years
Fees - The suggested admission price:
Adults $12
Children $8
Seniors and students $10
Website - www.amnh.org
Address - 28 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone - (617)495-3045