LIST: Minerals you can find in Central Virginia for National ‘Collect Rocks’ Day

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — In honor of National “Collect Rocks” Day, here’s a look at the wide variety of minerals — such as crystals and precious metals — that can be found across Central Virginia.

Sept. 16 is National “Collect Rocks” Day. For geology buffs, Virginia is a great destination, as quite a few varieties of minerals have been discovered in the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Department of Energy has a list of minerals that have been found in the state and documented. On the whole, the department says amazonite, calcite, epidote, feldspar, garnet, gold, hematite, kyanite, mica, pyrite, quartz and staurolite are Virginia’s most abundant minerals .

This Virginia Minerals guide , which is dated Feb. 1987, may not reflect the most up-to-date information. It may also include outdated locations or locations that are closed to mineral collection — so anyone looking to collect samples in any of the places listed below should verify that this is both possible and legal before visiting.

It is also important to note that some places in Virginia require any collector to have permission before taking samples. Others are entirely off-limits to mineral collection.

Here’s a breakdown of many of the minerals found in Central Virginia, sorted by locality.

Albemarle County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Albemarle County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Alberene soapstone quarry, Briar Fork, the Esmont slate quarry, the Faber lead mine, the Martin Marietta quarry and the Old Dominion soapstone quarry.

A variety of minerals have been found in Albemarle. This includes apatite, dolomite, talc, fluorite, pyrite, quartz, magnetite and malachite, among others.

Amelia County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Amelia County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Beryl pegmatite mine, the Champion and Jefferson pegmatite mines, the Ligon No. 1 pegmatite prospect, the Morefield pegmatite mine, the Rutherford pegmatite mines and the Trueheart pegmatite mines.

Many different minerals have been found in Amelia. This includes beryl, muscovite, quartz, rose quartz, tourmaline, topaz, zircon, apatite, cleavelandite, fluorite, amazonite and rutile, among others.

Buckingham County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Buckingham County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Anaconda mine (Eldredge Mill), the Morrow gold mine, the New Canton mines, the Slate River site, the Tourmaline site and the Willis Mountain Kyanite mine.

Many different minerals have been found in Buckingham. This includes azurite, epidote, malachite, pyrite, quartz, placer gold, gold, silver, covellite, tourmaline (schorl), hematite, kyanite, lazulite and iridescent limonite, among others.

Caroline County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the one Caroline County location with recorded mineral findings is the Last Mile pegmatite mine.

Three different minerals have been found in Caroline. This includes beryl, garnet and tourmaline.

Chesterfield County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the one Chesterfield County location with recorded mineral findings is the Dale Quarry.

A few different minerals have been found in Chesterfield. This includes apatite, beryl, garnet, microcline and molybdenite.

City of Richmond

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, a 23.75 carat Dewey diamond was found in 1855 in the City of Richmond. It was the largest diamond found in America prior to 1884.

The guide also lists vivianite as having been found in Richmond.

Fluvanna County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the one Fluvanna County location with recorded mineral findings is Kidds Store.

A few different minerals have been found in Fluvanna. This includes jasper, rhodonite and pyrolusite.

Goochland County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Goochland County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Moss gold mine and Nuchols farm prospects.

A few different minerals have been found in Goochland. This includes gold, pyrite, tetradymite, ilmenite and rutile, among others.

Hanover County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Hanover County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Feldspar Corporation quarry and the Harris pegmatite mine.

Several different minerals have been found in Hanover. This includes andesine, garnet, blue quartz, kyanite, muscovite, orthoclase (moonstone) and rutile, among others.

Louisa County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Louisa County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Allah copper mine, the Arminius mine and the Sulphur mine.

Many different minerals have been found in Louisa. This includes gold, magnetite, pyrite, silver, scheelite, copper (native), hornblende, tremolite and tourmaline (schorl), among others.

Mecklenburg County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the one Mecklenburg County location with recorded mineral findings is the Hamme tungsten district.

A few different minerals have been found in Mecklenburg. This includes fluorite, galena, scheelite and tetrahedrite, among others.

Powhatan County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Powhatan County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Herbb No. 2 pegmatite mine and the White Peak pegmatite mines.

Several different minerals have been found in Powhatan. This includes amazonite, muscovite, topaz, wodginite, biotite crystals, columbine-tantalite and samaskite, among others.

Prince Edward County

According to the 1987 Virginia Minerals guide, the Prince Edward County locations with recorded mineral findings include the Baker Mountain kyanite mine and Smith farm

Several different minerals have been found in Prince Edward. This includes chromian muscovite (fuschite), garnet, hematite, kyanite, pyrite, rutile and amethyst crystals.

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