Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures
West Paris, Maine
tourmalineaquamarineberylapatitelepidolitegarnetrose quartzsmoky quartzspodumenepollucite
Fee dig · Fee, seasonal
Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures
Mount Mica is where American tourmaline mining began in 1820 and it is still producing, and this operator runs the Sunday field trips onto the pegmatite. The rest of the week you sift tailings at their West Paris site, which is the gentler option with young diggers. Watermelon, pink, blue, green and black tourmaline all turn up, alongside beryl, lepidolite, pollucite and spodumene. Shovels, rakes, buckets and screens are the tools here; leashed dogs are welcome.
The card catalog
| What you can find | tourmaline, aquamarine, beryl, apatite, lepidolite, garnet, rose quartz, smoky quartz, spodumene, pollucite |
|---|---|
| Access | Fee dig — Fee, seasonal |
| Fees | Mount Mica Sunday field trip $65/adult and $35 for ages 8-16; the West Paris sifting site is cheaper. Limited shovels, sifting screens, potato diggers and rinse water provided |
| Season & hours | April through November, whenever the ground is not frozen. Sifting site open daily except Wednesdays, 10am-3pm; Mount Mica trips meet Sundays at 9am at 110 Bethel Rd, West Paris and leave promptly at 9:30am, returning about 3pm. No reservation necessary |
| Kids | Family-friendly — The West Paris sifting site is the family-friendly option. On the Mount Mica field trip, children under about 7 are generally not permitted, and hammers and chisels are not allowed there |
| Official source | Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures (operator) |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
More drawers in Maine
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Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area
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Before you go
What does Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures cost?
Mount Mica Sunday field trip $65/adult and $35 for ages 8-16; the West Paris sifting site is cheaper. Limited shovels, sifting screens, potato diggers and rinse water provided Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures open?
April through November, whenever the ground is not frozen. Sifting site open daily except Wednesdays, 10am-3pm; Mount Mica trips meet Sundays at 9am at 110 Bethel Rd, West Paris and leave promptly at 9:30am, returning about 3pm. No reservation necessary Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures good for kids?
Yes — Dig Maine Gems / Maine Mineral Adventures works for families. The West Paris sifting site is the family-friendly option. On the Mount Mica field trip, children under about 7 are generally not permitted, and hammers and chisels are not allowed there