Fossil-Hunting in NH - Any Recs? (Milford, Contoocook: high school, shops, moving to)

[NH2008]

Long shot, but my kindergartener has gotten interested in rocks and fossils and I told him we could take a field trip. In high school we went to a quarry where we got to walk around and pick up rocks and it was easy to find lots of tiny fossils we could keep. Any recs for someplace we could go (preferably in southern or central NH or northern MA) where we'd have a reasonable chance of success and be able to walk around freely?

[lisa g]

We did this in many (mostly informal off the beaten path) places in SoCal, but have not heard of any here. There is, however, a rock shop in Milford with quite a collection to browse through.
Quartz Source Rock Shop - Mom and Pop Rock Shops on Waymarking.com

[Rexicana]

Western Mass. - mainly the Pioneer Valley, has several dinosaur fossil sites, including some new ones. I have no information on them regarding where they are or what they offer, but you may want to ask in that forum or search the web for information.

[buck naked]

in Milan and West Milan, NH, I have found a huge selection of arrow heads. I found most of them while walking the railroad tracks.


when hiking ON TOP of Belknap mountain, I found a really cool fossil of a fish.

[yinduffy]

My Mom was a rock collector and since moving to NH I have found many interesting specimens but I have yet to find a fossil. I have looked in the shale (ledge) pieces without luck.
However, just looking in ornamental crushed granite can be fascinating with garnet crystals, white and black mica, and even, if you look close, flecks of native gold in the white quartz.
There is an inactive mica mine which is open to the public. Ruggles Mine.
I would be interested in a location for fossils too.

[buck naked]

here is a list of the recorded fossils found in NH

PaleoPortal: Search Results


also a little detail

The Paleontology Portal

[vter]

There are lots of places at Lake Champlain that have fossils, but probably too far for you to go. Have fun fossil hunting!

[buck naked]

The Clough Formation on Croydon Mountain (sillimanite zone) in west-central New Hampshire contains tetracorals.


also, check out the Fossil Museum in Contoocook - 400 specimens to touch
The Little Nature Museum, non-profit nature center, Contoocook, New Hampshire

[GregW]

I have been inder the impression that most of the bedrock in NH is either granite or very heavily metamorphosed sediments where the fossiles have been destroyed. I would think the Connecticut River might have similar rocks to the dinosaur footprint tracks in CT and MA.

[NH2008]

Thanks, these are great ideas! We will definitely check out that museum and the mine. I actually went to high school in western MA so all my geology field trips were in the Pioneer Valley and we could find fossils like dandelions. My son will be excited!