The federal mineral record holds 760 entries for New Hampshire — 376 mines that shipped ore, 214 prospects that never became mines, 114 recorded occurrences. Below it: 2 places where you can legally collect.
Mineral history, not an invitation. This mineral history comes from a federal record of historic mines, prospects, and occurrences. It is not a list of places to collect. Historic mine sites are usually on private land, under active mining claims, or unsafe to enter — and often all three. The places you can actually collect are in the legal-access directory below.
The commodities that drew miners and prospectors to New Hampshire, by number of historic records:
Feldspar · 252Mica · 240Beryllium · 85Silica · 56Copper · 52Lead · 48Zinc · 34Silver · 32
Records from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System, a legacy federal database last revised August 2022 and no longer updated.
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Moat Mountain Mineral Collecting Site
Conway, NH
smoky quartzamazonitemicrocline
Forest Service collecting area · Free with permit · open when the access road and trail are clear, roughly late spring through fall; High Street is a dirt road and passes a gate 1.4 miles in
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Grafton, NH
muscovite micaberylblack tourmaline
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal · 2026 season opened May 22; Thursday-Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 9am-3pm. Confirm before a long drive, since the mine has had closed years
Checked against its source August 16, 2026
Yes — at places that allow it. This page lists 2 in New Hampshire: fee digs, designated collecting areas, and official localities, each checked against its source. Everywhere else, legality depends on who owns the land and what rules apply. Before any trip: check land ownership and current mining claims, get permission, respect closures, and never enter old mine workings.
Treat New Hampshire's historic mines as history, not destinations. Most sit on private land or active mining claims, and old workings are dangerous even to walk. The mineral record on this page tells you what the ground holds — the directory tells you where you are welcome to look for it.