Board Camp Crystal Mine
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Primitive undeveloped crystal digging location in Polk County. No heavy equipment used; hand tools only for exploring virgin ground or surface collecting. Gained fame from Discovery Channel's 'Expedition Unknown: Hunt for Extraterrestrials'. Also offers guided tours. Not recommended for serious crystal miners as no commercial mining has occurred here.
🌐 Visit Official Site →🪨 What You Can Find Here
Quartz Crystals
Clear, smoky, and rose quartz crystals are among the most common and rewarding rockhounding finds. Arkansas produces world-class quartz.
Also found at:
📍 Nearby Locations in Arkansas
Arkansas Novaculite Beds
Hot Springs, Arkansas · Public Land
Ouachita Mountain wash slopes for novaculite — a unique sedimentary rock prized for whetstones. Also occasional quartz crystals.
Ouachita Mountain Quartz Mines
Hot Springs, Arkansas · Fee Dig
Numerous fee-dig quartz mines throughout the Ouachita Mountains. The region produces some of the world's finest clear quartz crystals.
Avant Quartz Mine
Jessieville, Arkansas · Fee Dig
Historic quartz mine in the Ouachita Mountains. Known for producing fine crystal specimens.
Arkansas Quartz Crystal Mines
Mount Ida, Arkansas · Fee Dig
Multiple fee-dig quartz mines in the Mount Ida area. World-famous for clear quartz crystals. Dig your own or buy specimens. Coleman's, Wegner's, and m...
Coleman Quartz Mine
Mount Ida, Arkansas · Fee Dig
Well-established fee-dig quartz mine. Known for excellent clusters and single crystals. A classic Arkansas rockhounding experience.
Twin Creek Quartz Mine
Mount Ida, Arkansas · Fee Dig
Family-operated quartz mine in the Mount Ida district. Known for producing crystal clusters and single points.
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Board Camp Crystal Mine with the right equipment.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35