Is there gold in Rhode Island? Yes, and the smallest state in America has a surprisingly documented gold mining history.
A man named Walton first documented a gold bearing quartz vein along Durfee Hill in Foster in 1738, making it one of the earliest gold mining records in New England.
In the mid 1700s, there were over 50 gold, limestone, iron, and copper mines and prospects around Cumberland’s Copper Hill area.
The Durfee Hill Gold Mine operated intermittently for centuries, with four shafts penetrating over 100 feet and following a vertical quartz vein more than 10 feet wide.
However, none of these operations were economically successful on a significant scale.
Gold deposits in Rhode Island are low grade, sporadic, and found primarily in association with pyrite in quartz veins.
Even at modern gold prices, no commercial mining operations exist. Rhode Island’s gold potential is extremely limited, but the geological history of hydrothermal gold deposited near ancient geothermal vents makes it genuinely interesting for mineral collectors and hobby prospectors.
TL;DR
- Gold Present: Yes, in small quantities. The Durfee Hill Gold Mine (Foster, 1738) is the oldest documented gold site. Copper Hill had 50+ mines and prospects in the 1700s. Gold in pyritiferous quartz veins with stamp mill processing documented. No significant commercial production recorded.
- Best Region: Providence County. The Foster area (Durfee Hill Gold Mine, South Foster Gold Mine, Homestake Gold Mine). Cumberland (Copper Hill Gold Mine, Diamond Hill area). Johnston had small scale mining with cyanide vats and sluice boxes.
- Gold Type: Primarily lode gold in quartz veins associated with pyrite. Some placer gold in streams near lode sources. Gold occurs as native metal in quartz veins and as thin films between pyrite crystals. Possible trace platinum reported from Johnston.
- Top Spot: Copper Hill in Cumberland, where a hydrothermal vent deposit created extensive mineralization. Mine dumps on the slopes may still contain gold bearing material. The Durfee Hill Gold Mine area in Foster is the most historically documented site.
- Legal Note: Most historic mine sites are on private property. Rhode Island’s small size limits public land options. State parks and forests may allow casual collecting with restrictions. Always get landowner permission.
- Verdict: Rhode Island’s gold is more interesting geologically than practically. The hydrothermal vent deposits and 1738 mining history are fascinating, but quantities are tiny. Prospectors should focus on streams near documented lode sources. Better gold prospecting is available in neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Commercial Production
No significant commercial production recorded. The Durfee Hill Gold Mine used a stamp mill and produced some gold. The Copper Hill operation was the largest mine opened. All operations petered out rather quickly, indicating deposits were not commercially viable.
Durfee Hill Gold Mine
First documented in 1738 when Walton found a gold bearing quartz vein in Foster. He mined for years without production records. In the late 1890s, Albert Potter and Walter Read operated four shafts penetrating over 100 feet, following a vertical quartz vein more than 10 feet wide. Produced gold and silver.
Copper Hill (Cumberland)
The largest mine after Durfee Hill. In the 1700s, over 50 gold, limestone, iron, and copper mines operated around Cumberland. The area is a hydrothermal vent deposit where gold forms under similar conditions to pyrite. Lead, silver, copper, nickel, and magnetite were also found. Mine dumps still visible.
Geology
Rhode Island’s basement is nearly 1 billion year old igneous crystalline rock from the microcontinent Avalonia. Gold deposits are associated with hydrothermal vent activity, where hot fluids deposited gold in quartz veins and with pyrite in fractures. Glaciation twice covered the state, depositing glacial drift.
Other Mine Sites
Homestake Gold Mine in Foster. Small operations in Johnston, Lincoln, and Cumberland. The South Foster Gold Mine produced gold from pyritiferous quartz veins (four water filled open pits and stamp mill foundations remain). Johnston had cyanide vats and sluice boxes. A trace of platinum was reported.
Mining Context
It was once said “there is no town in New England that is richer in mineral productions than Cumberland.” The town’s name came from Cumberland, England, known for its mineral wealth. Rhode Island is notable for granite, coal, gold mining periods, and modern aggregate extraction.
Is There Gold in Rhode Island?
Is it worth searching for gold in Rhode Island? Realistically, the state has very limited gold potential. However, for hobby prospectors and mineral collectors, there are still a few spots that can make for an interesting and worthwhile outing.
Foster Area (Providence County)
Foster is the center of Rhode Island’s gold mining history. The Durfee Hill Gold Mine, first documented in 1738, operated intermittently for over 150 years. In the late 1890s, a professional operation ran four shafts over 100 feet deep following a wide quartz vein. The South Foster Gold Mine, about 6 miles south of Foster center, produced gold from pyritiferous quartz veins. Four water filled open pits and stamp mill foundations are still visible at the site. The Homestake Gold Mine in Foster also yielded some gold.
Cumberland (Providence County)
Copper Hill in Cumberland was the center of Rhode Island’s most extensive mining operations. The hydrothermal vent deposit created diverse mineralization including gold, copper, lead, silver, nickel, and magnetite. In the 1700s, over 50 mines and prospects operated in this area. The mine tunnel and shaft are now filled in, but mine dumps on the slopes of Copper Hill are still visible and contain mineralized material. This is an excellent location for mineral collecting.
Diamond Hill, also in Cumberland (west of Diamond Hill Reservoir), has reported gold occurrences. The Diamond Hill area is a well known mineral collecting destination in New England.
Johnston and Warwick
Small scale gold mining took place around Johnston, where a diabase dike cuts across granites and schists. Cyanide vats and sluice boxes are reportedly still visible. A local chemist reported a trace of platinum in mine tailings. Early 19th century efforts at Snake Den Quarry in Johnston used cyanide to extract gold from rocks, though no economically significant amounts were found.
Best Places to Look for Gold in Rhode Island
- Copper Hill mine dumps (Cumberland): The hydrothermal vent deposit created extensive mineralization. Mine dumps on the slopes may still contain gold bearing material. Excellent for mineral collecting even if gold is scarce.
- Durfee Hill area (Foster): The oldest documented gold site in the state (1738). Streams draining the mineralized zone may contain fine placer gold.
- South Foster Gold Mine area (Foster): Pyritiferous quartz veins. Stamp mill foundations and water filled pits remain. Surrounding streams may carry gold from these sources.
- Diamond Hill (Cumberland): Gold reported near the reservoir. A well known mineral collecting site with diverse mineralization.
- Streams near Johnston: Where diabase dikes cut crystalline rocks. Trace platinum reported. Small amounts of gold possible in stream gravels.
- Moosup River gravels (western RI): Diverse minerals including epidote, pyrite, garnet, and labradorite. Gold not specifically documented but the mineralized gravels are worth sampling.
Tips for Gold Prospecting in Rhode Island
Gold prospecting in Rhode Island requires a slightly different approach due to the state’s limited gold deposits and fine particle sizes.
These tips can help improve your chances of finding small amounts of gold.
- Focus on streams near documented lode sources. Rhode Island’s gold is associated with specific lode deposits, not widespread glacial distribution. Pan streams that drain the Durfee Hill, Copper Hill, Diamond Hill, and Foster mine areas.
- Look for pyrite. Gold in Rhode Island is strongly associated with pyrite. Pyrite rich quartz veins are the primary gold hosts. If you find pyrite in stream gravels, you may be near a gold source.
- Try mineral collecting at Copper Hill. The mine dumps contain diverse mineralized material from the hydrothermal vent deposit. This may be more rewarding than gold panning itself. Bring a gold pan and a rock hammer.
- Manage expectations. Rhode Island has the smallest land area of any state and very limited gold deposits. Finding gold here would be a genuine accomplishment, but do not expect significant quantities.
- Consider neighboring states. Massachusetts and Connecticut have somewhat better gold potential. New Hampshire has the Ammonoosuc Gold District with real lode and placer gold. A short drive opens up dramatically better options.
What Else Can You Find in Rhode Island?
Gold may be scarce, but Rhode Island has other treasures worth hunting. The same beaches, river gravels, and mine dumps that draw gold prospectors also produce some interesting finds for collectors and hobbyists.
Cumberlandite: Rhode Island’s State Rock
Found almost nowhere else on Earth, cumberlandite is a rare igneous rock containing magnetite, ilmenite, and olivine. The best collecting area is Iron Mine Hill in Cumberland, the same town as Copper Hill. It is so magnetic it will deflect a compass needle. For mineral collectors, this alone makes Rhode Island worth a stop.
Bowenite: Rhode Island’s State Mineral
A green serpentine used in lapidary work and sometimes mistaken for jade. Rhode Island’s official state mineral, found in the Smithfield and North Providence areas. It takes a good polish and cuts into nice cabochons. A solid target for anyone interested in gem-quality material from New England.
Sea Glass, Agate and Jasper: Narragansett Bay Beaches
The beach gravels of Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay are Rhode Island’s most accessible treasure hunting spots. Bonnet Shore Beach, Pawtuxet, and Warwick regularly turn up agate, carnelian, jasper, and well-frosted sea glass. Low tide after a storm is the best time to look. No equipment needed, just a good eye and a walk along the shoreline.
Amethyst and Garnet: Diamond Hill and Warwick
Amethyst quartz has been found at Diamond Hill in Cumberland and at Quartz Diamond Hill in Ashway, Washington County, where large specimens still turn up occasionally. Red almandine garnets occur in mica schists around Warwick, with purple almandine reported from East Warwick. The Moosup River gravels also produce epidote, labradorite, apatite, and serpentine for collectors willing to sift the gravels.
Rhode Island rewards collectors who know what to look for. The cumberlandite found at Iron Mine Hill in Cumberland is one of the rarest rocks in the world. That alone puts Rhode Island on the map for serious mineral hunters, even if the gold story is a modest one.
Resources
USGS: The Mineral Industry of Rhode Island
Official mineral production data for Rhode Island from the U.S. Geological Survey National Minerals Information Center, including historical records and the annual Minerals Yearbook.
Rhode Island Geological Survey (URI)
The official state geological survey at the University of Rhode Island, covering bedrock geology, economic geology, and mineral resources including the Providence County gold-bearing formations.
Gold Panning Laws in Rhode Island – Pan for Treasure
Before you head out, know the rules. Our complete guide to Rhode Island gold panning laws covers where you can legally prospect, permit requirements, and rules for state and private land.
Conclusion
Is there gold in Rhode Island? Yes, and the state’s gold history is more interesting than its size would suggest. Documented gold mining dates to 1738, and over 50 mines and prospects operated around Cumberland’s Copper Hill in the 1700s. The Durfee Hill Gold Mine followed a quartz vein over 10 feet wide to depths exceeding 100 feet. But none of these operations achieved lasting commercial success.
Rhode Island’s gold is more of a geological curiosity than a prospecting destination. The hydrothermal vent deposits at Copper Hill are fascinating for mineral collectors, and streams near Foster’s historic mines may yield traces of gold for patient panners. For genuine gold prospecting in New England, head to New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine where documented placer and lode deposits offer much better prospects. Browse the full state directory to find gold near you.
FAQ
Where is the best place to find gold in Rhode Island?
Streams near the Durfee Hill Gold Mine area in Foster and the Copper Hill mine dumps in Cumberland. Diamond Hill in Cumberland has also reported gold. Focus on areas near documented lode sources.
Has Rhode Island ever produced commercial gold?
Very little. The Durfee Hill Gold Mine used a stamp mill and produced some gold and silver. The Copper Hill area had extensive mining. No operations achieved significant commercial success. Production records are sparse or nonexistent for most sites.
What type of gold is found in Rhode Island?
Primarily lode gold in quartz veins associated with pyrite. Gold occurs as native metal in quartz and as thin films between pyrite crystals. Some placer gold possible in streams near lode sources. Trace platinum reported from Johnston area.
Is gold panning legal in Rhode Island?
No specific statewide regulations prohibit recreational panning, but most historic mine sites are on private property. The state’s small size limits public land options. Always get landowner permission before prospecting.
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Ryan Conlon is the founder of Pan for Treasure.
A lifelong gold panning enthusiast, he created this site to help beginners learn the ropes and share practical tips from his own time on the creek. [email protected]