From the rolling hills of Pennsylvania to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, from the Potomac River bordering West Virginia to the Atlantic Ocean, Maryland offers diverse landscapes for gem enthusiasts.

But finding tourmaline can be challenging, often leading to frustration and wasted time. But don’t worry! We’ve done the hard work for you.

This article reveals the top spots to discover tourmaline in Maryland, saving you countless hours of research and fruitless searches. Whether you’re a seasoned rockhound or a curious beginner, we’ll guide you to the most promising locations.

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

In Maryland, two notable types of tourmaline can be found: yellow tourmaline and verdelite.

Yellow tourmaline is characterized by its vibrant yellow hue and is often sought after for its unique color, while verdelite (a green variety of tourmaline) is appreciated for its rich green shades that can range from light to dark.

Both types of tourmaline are part of the broader tourmaline group, which includes a variety of colors and forms.

These gemstones are typically found in the state’s geological formations, particularly in areas with pegmatitic rocks where they can crystallize under specific conditions.

Some Great Places To Start

Here are some of the top locations in Maryland where you can begin your search for tourmaline. These sites are among the best in the state for finding this precious gemstone.

Susquehanna River

The area along the Susquehanna River in Castleton is a riverine environment located in the northern part of the state. This area is characterized by its proximity to the Conowingo Dam and the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay.

The river flows through a heavily forested and rocky terrain, making it a scenic spot for various outdoor activities. The area’s geological makeup, rich in quartz and feldspar, contributes to the presence of tourmaline.

For rockhounding enthusiasts, the best spots to search for tourmaline within the Susquehanna River area are typically along the riverbanks and in the rocky outcrops. 

The Susquehanna’s history of mineral wealth dates back centuries, with Native Americans once prizing the area for its stone resources.

Hunting Hill Quarry

Nestled in Rockville, Hunting Hill Quarry is a gem hunter’s paradise in central Maryland. This active quarry sits within the Ordovician-age Hunting Hill pluton, offering a unique geological landscape.

The site’s standout feature is its serpentinized dunite, creating an ideal environment for tourmaline formation.

As you explore, you’ll encounter a colorful array of minerals. Keep an eye out for rodingite, a striking rock composed of green chrome-bearing diopside, pink dolomite, and brown-orange grossular.

When searching for tourmaline, focus on areas where serpentinized dunite is exposed. These sections often yield the best finds.

Etchison Mine

Etchison Mine is a historical chromite mine, part of the gently rolling Piedmont Upland. The site’s shallow depressions and old dump piles, though often hidden by briars, are prime spots for uncovering tourmaline.

Besides tourmaline, you might stumble upon chromite and fuchsite, adding to the thrill of the hunt. The ancient formations of the surrounding Piedmont create an ideal environment for various minerals.

The mine’s location in the central part of the state also makes it easily accessible for a day trip. Remember to bring sturdy shoes and gloves – the terrain can be challenging, but the potential rewards are worth it!

Campbell Quarry

Campbell Quarry is a historic site famous for its Cockeysville Marble, a high-quality stone used in many notable buildings. But that’s not all it offers. The quarry’s unique geology makes it a hotspot for tourmaline hunters.

You might also spot tourmaline’s distinctive prismatic crystals mixed with other minerals like calcite and dolomite.

The quarry’s varied mineral makeup stems from its complex geological history, creating an exciting treasure hunt for gem enthusiasts.

Within Campbell Quarry, the best spots to find tourmaline and other minerals are typically in the exposed rock faces and the loose gravel at the base of the quarry walls. These areas are where mineral veins are most accessible and visible.

Scientists Cliffs

Scientists Cliffs is located along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County. This coastal gem is known for its towering cliffs that reach up to 100 feet high, creating a dramatic backdrop for beachcombers.

The area’s geological makeup, part of the Miocene-aged Calvert Formation, makes it a hotspot for mineral seekers.

What makes Scientists Cliffs special for tourmaline hunting is the constant erosion of the cliffs. This natural process regularly exposes new layers of sediment, revealing hidden minerals.

The best time to search is after storms or high tides when fresh material has been uncovered. As you explore the beach alluvials, keep an eye out for the distinctive prismatic crystals of tourmaline among the sand and pebbles.

While hunting for tourmaline, you might also stumble upon fascinating fossils of ancient marine life, adding an extra layer of excitement to your adventure at Scientists Cliffs.

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.