Pan for Gems

The biggest attraction at the Rock, Fossil, and Dinosaur Shop is our old-fashioned mining sluice.  This popular tourist attraction in Massachusetts is a huge draw for treasure hunters from all over.

Participants begin by purchasing a bag of mining rough.
There are four different kinds of bags to choose from: 

With a bag of mining rough, identification chart, and screen box in hand, it’s time to find a space at the mining sluice.

Water from the sluice is used to wash the mining rough away and reveal your gems and fossils.  Panning for gemstones is similar to panning for gold, but much easier.  Just pour a small amount of the mining rough into your screen box and then lower it into the water. As the rough washes away, your gems will appear. 

Each gemstone bag has a wide variety of gems.  Fluorite, garnet, green quartz, obsidian, peridot, pyrite, rose quartz, smoky quartz, and topaz are just a few of the many gemstones you may find.  Every bag is different, you never know what your bag of mining rough will reveal. 

If you love fossils, try your hand at the Fossil Bag and for those that like Emeralds and Rubies, we have a special bag for you too.

Finally we have our special deluxe bag!  It contains gemstones, fossils and a unique specimen in each bag!

This is a fun way to learn a bit of mining history and have a fun day treasure hunting.  Kids and adults alike love spending time at the sluice.  An afternoon of fun awaits.

We’ll see you at the sluice!