‘Rockhounding New England: A Guide to 100 of the Region’s Best…’
Editor’s note: Due to a recent request, we’ve updated and moved this book review and story.
Beloved mountain with glacial grooves and views. Views. From a hike looking for the natural bridge.
Garnet is the state mineral of Connecticut.
Stone walls hold history. Land use patterns, human hands and work.
The state even has an official fossil. Because where (besides the upper Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts), are these impressions founds in such abundance? For a child growing up, or a curious adult, the region is a feast for curiosity — for those fortunate enough to have memories of those who led frequent outings to parks, the “Peabody” and libraries.
A track in Wethersfield, part of a park display.
Quartz/feldspar with garnet, a sheet of mica and lump garnet with a rock hammer my father gave me.
A sturdy and well-paged copy of Rocks and Minerals a Guide to Minerals, Gems and Rocks was brought along to help identify all of what was found. To match up a weighty stone in my hand to an illustration on the page and read about it planted a seed for the love of learning that grown a hundredfold – maybe more – since.
“Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.” Ray Bradbury
Quarry commute, a ladder.
Chunks of feldspar and bits of mica can still be seen on the grounds. CB/MDP