Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

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Educational Mineral Collecting for Mineral Clubs, Nature Centers, Schools and Connecticut Museums

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Collecting rocks and minerals on State land is NOT allowed, however, a limited number of mineral localities on state property are accessible on a permit basis for public educational mineral collecting.

Available Sites
The following sites are available for mineral collecting field days that are scheduled and sponsored by one or more of the mineral clubs, nature centers, schools or Connecticut museums:

  1. Case Quarries - Meshomasic State Forest, Portland
  2. Clark Hill Quarries - Meshomasic State Forest, East Hampton
  3. CCC Quarry - Cockaponset State Forest, Haddam

Application Procedure
Education Mineral Collection Permit Applications will be accepted after January 1 of each year for the period ending the following December 31st.  The DEEP will evaluate requests and issue permit letters to approved groups through their designated contact.  A maximum of one group per day will be scheduled for each site. Application processing takes several weeks, so plan ahead. You may also contact the Connecticut Geological Survey before submitting your permit application to ensure your requested field date is available for your selected site.

Collection Day Requirements
Requirements for the host group/contact leader and the participants of an educational mineral collection field day are as follows:

  1. Sites will be open for collecting from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the scheduled day.
  2. The field day group contact leader must carry a copy of the permit letter from the Commissioner on his or her person and make it available for inspection if requested by state authorities.
  3. The participants in the field day must be informed that they have been granted special educational collection permission for this specific day and site by the Commissioner under Section 23-4-1(b) of the Regulations Concerning the Order, Safety, Sanitation and Protection of Property Under the Control of the Department of Environmental Protection, and that the regulations in part state: "No person shall deface, destroy, alter, remove or otherwise injure in any manner, vegetation, earth or rock material, trees, nor shall any wildlife be molested or disturbed. The Commissioner may grant permission to take samples and conduct investigations for scientific or educational purposes." (Emphasis added).
  4. Participants must be notified of any special cautions or restrictions required under the site use authorization as outlined in the permission letter issued by the Commissioner.
  5. Participants must be notified that under Section 52-557g the State does not assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by an act or omission of the State.
  6. Participants must be cautioned and advised to wear hard-hats and eye safety goggles while on the site.
  7. Participants may collect minerals only by the use of small hand tools (trowel, garden scratcher, hammer). The reason for only allowing the use of these hand tools is to minimize extensive excavation, tunneling and the creating of unsafe site conditions for future participants.
  8. Participants may remove only samples for their own educational use that can be carried in their hands in one trip from the site per day. Participants are urged to consider that others probably would like to enjoy the history of the site and the unique educational experience in the future. No collected minerals may be sold or used for commercial purposes.
  9. The participants agree to act as conservation partners with the DEP and to report any unauthorized use and abuse of these public lands.
  10. Participants are reminded that future permission for educational mineral collecting field days is dependent upon adherence to the conditions in the Commissioner’s permission letter.

For further information, please contact Meghan Seremet at meghan.seremet@ct.gov or phone at 860-424-3583.

Content last updated October 25, 2021