From the rolling hills of the Berkshires to the shores of Long Island Sound, and from the banks of the Connecticut River to the New York state line, Connecticut offers hidden treasures for gemstone enthusiasts.

Without knowing the exact locations, searching for tourmaline can be frustrating and time-consuming, often leading to disappointment.

But fear not! We’ve done the hard work for you, scouring the state to uncover the best spots for finding these colorful crystals.

We’ll reveal the top locations where you’re most likely to strike tourmaline gold. Save time, energy, and frustration by focusing your hunt on these proven hotspots.

How Tourmaline Forms Here

Tourmaline forms deep underground through intense heat and pressure. It originates from hot, mineral-rich fluids that move through fractures in rocks like granite and pegmatite. As these fluids cool, the minerals within them start to crystallize, forming tourmaline.

The color of tourmaline depends on the specific minerals involved, leading to a wide range of hues including pink, red, green, and blue.

Over millions of years, these crystals grow and become the beautiful, multifaceted stones we see today. Tourmaline is prized for its variety of colors and is often used in jewelry and decorative items.

The Types Of Tourmaline

Several incredible types of Tourmaline can be found in the US as well as in our state. Each is uniquely beautiful and interesting including:

Elbaite

Elbaite is found in pink, red, green, blue, yellow, and even colorless forms. What makes elbaite special is its ability to show multiple colors in a single crystal, like the famous “watermelon” tourmaline with pink and green hues.

This gem stands out due to its complex chemical makeup, which includes lithium, sodium, and aluminum. This composition gives Elbaite its diverse color range and dichroism, allowing it to display different colors when viewed from different angles.

Elbaite has a unique place in history as the first tourmaline variety in which lithium was discovered back in 1818. Some rare types, like the neon blue Paraiba elbaite, are highly sought after by collectors and jewelers.

Schorl

Schorl is known for its deep, rich color. It typically forms long, prismatic crystals with a shiny, glass-like surface when polished. Unlike other tourmalines, schorl gets its distinctive black color from high iron concentrations.

One of Schorl’s most fascinating features is its ability to become electrically charged through heating or rubbing. When charged, it can attract or repel small particles.

This unique electrical property makes Schorl valuable in various industries. It’s used in electronics and manufacturing to control static electricity and electromagnetic interference.

Despite being less colorful than other tourmalines, schorl’s practical applications make it an important and interesting variety.

Rubellite

Rubellite stands out with its vibrant pink to red colors. The most prized ones show a pure, saturated red without any brown or orange hints. This beautiful color comes from manganese in its makeup.

One cool thing about rubellite is its double refraction. It can look like it has two different colors when you view it from different angles.

Dravite

Dravite, or Brown Tourmaline, comes in shades from dark brown to light brown-yellow. It can look a bit like Smoky Quartz, with a semi-see-through quality.

Its crystals are often needle-like or prismatic, with points at both ends. This sets it apart from other tourmalines like the darker schorl or the colorful elbaite.

What makes dravite special is its rich sodium and magnesium content. This sets it apart from other tourmalines. It was first discovered in 1883 and named after the Drava River in Slovenia.

Indicolite

Indicolite is a rare and captivating blue to blue-green stone. It’s prized for its pure, bright blue color, which is considered the rarest within the tourmaline family. The hues can range from light blue-green to deep, rich blue, often with high clarity.

What sets Indicolite apart is its unique optical effects. It shows pleochroism, appearing to change color when viewed from different angles. Some specimens also display chatoyancy, creating a “cat’s eye” effect when cut in a certain way.

Indicolite is sometimes called “Brazilian sapphire” due to its resemblance to the precious gem. However, they’re different minerals.

The increasing demand for blue tourmalines has made indicolite highly sought-after in the gemstone market, appreciated for its beauty and rarity.

Watermelon Tourmaline

Watermelon tourmaline is truly one-of-a-kind. It looks just like a slice of watermelon, with a pink or red center and a green outer layer. This unique look happens because different elements join the crystal at different times as it grows.

These crystals often form in a rounded triangle shape. They’re see-through to somewhat clear and have a glass-like shine. When cut into slices, they really do look like little watermelons!

Cat’s Eye Tourmaline

Cat’s eye tourmaline is known for its mesmerizing chatoyancy effect. This creates a bright band across the stone’s surface, resembling a cat’s eye.

This stone comes in various colors, from green to pink to brown, and is usually semi-translucent to opaque.

What makes this stone special is the perfect alignment of tiny, needle-like inclusions inside it. These scatter light in a unique way, creating that eye-catching effect. It’s quite different from other tourmalines that don’t have this feature.

Unlike other cat’s eye stones, Tourmaline offers a wider range of colors and is often more affordable.

Achroite

Achroite is a rare, colorless variety of tourmaline that looks like a drop of clear water turned to stone. It’s completely transparent, making it unique among tourmalines which usually have color. The name comes from Greek, meaning “without color.”

What’s special about achroite is that it doesn’t change color when viewed from different angles. It means the stone can be cut in many ways without losing its clarity.

Verdelite

Verdelite is known for its beautiful green color. It can range from light green to deep emerald.

One thing that makes verdelite special is that you can find big, clear crystals of it. This isn’t always easy with other gemstones.

People love using verdelite in jewelry because its rich color and interesting light effects make it a popular choice for all kinds of accessories. Each piece of verdelite is like a little piece of nature you can wear.

Paraíba Tourmaline

Paraíba Tourmaline is a rare gemstone that catches the eye with its vibrant neon blue or green color. It’s like no other tourmaline you’ve seen before. The intense glow comes from copper in the stone, making it stand out from its cousins.

This stone is one of the rarest. For every 10,000 diamonds mined, only one Paraíba tourmaline is found.

It was only discovered in the late 1980s, making it a newcomer in the gem world. But Paraíba tourmaline’s unique color and rarity quickly made it a favorite among gem lovers.

Its discovery caused quite a stir in the gem community. Even small stones can be valuable because of how rare and beautiful they are.

What Rough Tourmaline Looks Like

When you’re out looking for rough Tourmaline on your own it’s important to know what you’re looking for.  Here are some tips to help you recognize rough tourmaline.

Look for Color Variations

Tourmaline comes in many colors, like pink, green, blue, and even black. Some pieces have multiple colors, like watermelon tourmaline, which is pink and green.

If you see these color mixes, it’s likely tourmaline. Keep an eye out for vibrant shades.

Assess the Density and Weight

Rough tourmaline is relatively heavy for its size. If you pick up a piece and it feels denser than expected, it could be tourmaline. This weight can help you confirm your find.

Examine the Crystal Structure

Tourmaline features distinctive crystal shapes, ranging from slender and elongated to chunky forms. Look for triangular cross-sections and striations on the surface, which indicate its unique growth patterns.

Check for Transparency

Some rough tourmaline can be slightly transparent. If you hold it up to the light, you might see through it a bit. This transparency can be a good sign that you have tourmaline.

A Quick Request About Collecting

Tips on where to look

Once you get to the places we have listed below there are some things you should keep in mind when you’re searching:

Look for Sedimentary Rocks

Sedimentary rocks are great places to find tourmaline. These rocks form from layers of sand, mud, and minerals. Over time, minerals like tourmaline can get trapped.

Look in riverbeds or areas where sediment has built up. You might find small pieces or even larger crystals. 

Explore Mines

Mines are great spots to find tourmaline. Many mines across the U.S. extract various gemstones, including tourmaline.

Some mines even allow visitors to search for gems themselves. Always check if they have guided tours or special digging days.

Search in Gravel Pits

Gravel pits are often overlooked, but they can be treasure troves. These pits dig deep into the earth, exposing layers of rock.

Tourmaline can be found in the gravel. Just sift through the material carefully.

The types of Tourmaline can you find around the state

Connecticut is home to several notable types of tourmaline, each with unique characteristics.

Rubellite is a vibrant variety that ranges in color from pink to deep red, often exhibiting purplish or orangish tones. These stones are prized for their transparency and can be cut into various shapes to highlight their rich colors.

Another interesting type found in the state is Achroite, which is colorless and often used in jewelry for its purity and brilliance.

Watermelon tourmaline is particularly distinctive, showcasing a beautiful combination of colors with a green outer layer and a pink or red core, resembling a watermelon slice.

Lastly, Verdelite, the green variety of tourmaline, can range from light to dark green and is valued for its vibrant hues. Each of these types contributes to Connecticut’s diverse gemological landscape.

Some Great Places To Start

Here are some of the better places in the state to start looking for tourmaline in Connecticut:

Fillow Quarry

Fillow Quarry, also known as Branchville Quarry is located in the village of Branchville, within the town of Redding in Fairfield County.

This site is famed for its lithium-rich granite pegmatite, a geological wonder that’s home to various rare minerals, including tourmaline.

The quarry’s claim to fame is its manganese phosphates and unique spodumene alterations. Tourmaline here is typically found embedded in the pegmatite matrix, often in the quarry walls and open cuts.

The site’s rich history dates back to 1876 when Abijah Fillow first quarried it for mica. Since then, Fillow Quarry has been a hotspot for mineral discoveries.

In the late 1870s, it became the focus of Yale University researchers, leading to the identification of several new mineral species.

Despite being inactive since 1944 and partially flooded, it remains a significant location for mineral enthusiasts seeking tourmaline and other rare specimens.

Within Fillow Quarry, tourmaline can typically be found embedded in the pegmatite matrix. Rockhounds often search for tourmaline in the quarry walls and within the open cuts where the pegmatite is exposed.

Quarry Hill

Quarry Hill is situated in the Beaver Meadow District of Haddam, near the intersection of Filley Road and Turkey Hill Road. This area is in the central part of the state.

Quarry Hill’s story dates back to 1762 when Deacon Ezra Brainerd opened the first “granite” quarries here. The area later became known for its feldspar mining.

In 1837, a remarkable discovery occurred at the northern end of the complex. Hunters stumbled upon exquisite aquamarine beryl crystals, some with clear terminal portions up to 1/4-inch thick.

These specimens now grace displays at Wesleyan University and the Peabody Museum in New Haven.

For tourmaline seekers, focus on the coarse-grained pegmatite veins. These often contain other minerals like feldspar and quartz, making Quarry Hill a diverse collecting site.

Old Quarry Nature Center

The Old Quarry Nature Center is located in the heart of Danbury, in the southwestern part of the state. It encompasses about 80 acres and features two old limestone quarries, along with woods, fields, wetlands, and a stream.

Tourmaline enthusiasts will find the old quarry areas particularly exciting. These exposed rock surfaces are prime spots for discovering this colorful mineral.

As you explore the quarry edges, keep an eye out for the distinctive prismatic crystals of tourmaline.

The center’s limestone-rich terrain hints at a fascinating geological story. Over millions of years, these rocks have created ideal conditions for various minerals to form.

While searching for tourmaline, you might also stumble upon other interesting minerals typical of limestone environments.

Blue Stone Quarry

Blue Stone Quarry sits in the north of Waterbury, Connecticut. It’s a great spot for rock lovers, especially those looking for tourmaline.

The site’s gneiss formations and small pegmatites create an ideal environment for gemstone formation. Garnet mica schist adds to the quarry’s mineral wealth, making it a hotspot for enthusiasts.

Tourmaline hunters should focus their search on the scattered pegmatite veins throughout the quarry. These veins are the primary source of this coveted gemstone.

The area’s geological makeup also yields other interesting minerals, adding to the thrill of the hunt.

Collins Hill

Collins Hill is situated in the northeastern part of Portland, approximately 2.5 miles northeast of the town center. The hill is elongated, running about 1 mile north-south and 0.4 miles east-west.

What makes Collins Hill special for tourmaline hunters is the presence of granite pegmatites, particularly the Strickland Pegmatite. These pegmatite zones are where you’ll want to focus your search.

The area has a rich history of mineral exploration, with two small prospects opened in 1932 by the Eureka Flint & Spar Co.

The pegmatite dike here is known for its aquamarine and extends at least 180 feet in length. Besides tourmaline, lucky rockhounds might stumble upon other minerals like epidote in quartz veins, beryl, columbite-tantalite, and even rare monazite.

Places Tourmaline has been found by county

After discussing our top picks, we wanted to discuss the other places on our list. Below is a list of the additional locations where we have succeeded, along with a breakdown of each place by county.