Mississippi River - Tunica County

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:

• Lake Martin Rockhounding Area
• M & G Mine
• Horseshoe Mine

Chalcedony

Microcrystalline quartz found in many varieties including agate, jasper, and petrified wood. Widespread throughout the US in volcanic and sedimentary rocks.

Also found at:

• Black Warrior River Sites
• Saddle Mountain
• Opal Basin

Chert

Also found at:

• Mount Vernon Rockhounding Area
• Bell Creek
• Holly Springs National Forest

Petrified Wood

Ancient wood turned to stone. Arizona's Petrified Forest and Washington's Ginkgo Petrified Forest are world-famous.

Also found at:

• Petrified Forest BLM Area
• Petrified Forest National Park
• Homedale / Owyhee Jasper

Bell Creek

Biloxi, Mississippi · Public Land

Creek collecting in coastal plain deposits of Harrison County. Flat terrain, beginner-friendly. Quartz, agate, jasper, and chert specimens found along...

Mississippi Petrified Forest

Flora, Mississippi · Fee Dig

Privately owned petrified forest with 30+ million-year-old logs. Self-guided tours. Nearby gravels contain petrified wood specimens for collecting.

Mississippi Petrified Wood Beds

Forest, Mississippi · Public Land

Mississippi Petrified Forest — privately owned but public area for viewing. Collecting on nearby public gravel pits for petrified wood.

W.M. Browning Cretaceous Fossil Park

Frankstown, Mississippi · Public Land

Designated fossil park at the intersection of US-45 and County Road 7450. A creek bed site where Cretaceous fossils (shark teeth, oysters, marine foss...

Mississippi Gulf Coast Fossils

Gulfport, Mississippi · Public Beach

Gulf Coast beaches for fossil shark teeth and shells. Eroding bluffs and dredge spoil islands produce Miocene and Pliocene marine fossils.

Holly Springs National Forest

Holly Springs, Mississippi · USFS Land

Over 150,000 acres of national forest in northern Mississippi. Collect quartz, jasper, chert, and agate from creek beds and erosional banks. Maximum 2...