FossilAR
Johnson's Well, Top Of Capitol Hill, Corner Of Battery And 9th Streets
Fossil collection site in the Clayton, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsRockhounding sites near Little Rock
24 rockhounding collecting sites within about 100 miles of Little Rock, Arkansas.
This page lists 24 natural rockhounding sites near Little Rock, Arkansas, sorted by distance within about 100 miles.
Where can you collect near Little Rock?
Near Little Rock, Arkansas, our directory maps 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 100 miles of the city center — including 4 quartz & crystalss, 8 fossilss, 3 gold & mineralss, and 9 others. The closest mapped spot is Johnson's Well, Top Of Capitol Hill, Corner Of Battery And 9th Streets (0.4 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
At a glance — rockhounding sites near Little Rock
| Central place | Little Rock, Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 100 miles |
| Mapped spots | 24 |
| Closest listing | Johnson's Well, Top Of Capitol Hill, Corner Of Battery And 9th Streets (0.4 mi) |
| Specimen types | Quartz & Crystals (4), Fossils (8), Gold & Minerals (3), Other (9) |
| Typical fees | 24 varies |
All rockhounding sites near Little Rock
24 rockhounding collecting sites in Arkansas, sorted by distance from the city center. For live GPS sorting, use rockhounding sites near me.
BauxiteAR
Bauxite Quarries
Bauxite Quarries is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Bauxite, Heliotrope Bauxite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossilAR
Red Bluff
Fossil collection site in the White Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Environment: estuary/bay. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilAR
Pri 896
Fossil collection site in the White Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View details
QuartzAR
Unnamed Location (smoky Quartz & Calcite)
Unnamed Location (Smoky Quartz & Calcite) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Smoky Quartz, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Feldspar. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsSerpentineAR
Unnamed Location (serpentine)
Unnamed Location (Serpentine) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Serpentine. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View details
MineralAR
Cove Creek
Cove Creek is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Pyrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsQuartzAR
Unnamed Location Near Cemetery
Unnamed Location Near Cemetery is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Smoky Quartz, Brookite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsMelaniteAR
Unnamed Location (melanite)
Unnamed Location (Melanite) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Melanite, Nepheline, Biotite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsApatiteAR
Cove Creek Bridge
Cove Creek Bridge is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Apatite, Monticellite, Magnetite, Perovskite, Kimseyite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsSpheneAR
Unnamed Location (magnet Cove Area)
Unnamed Location (Magnet Cove area) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Sphene, Nepheline syenite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsUranium oreAR
Unnamed Location (uranium/columbium)
Unnamed Location (Uranium/Columbium) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Uranium ore, Columbium ore. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFluoriteAR
Lake Catherine (south Side)
Lake Catherine (South Side) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Fluorite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsQuartzAR
Coleman’s Crystal Mine
Coleman’s Crystal Mine is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Quartz crystals. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsQuartzAR
Ron Coleman Mining
Ron Coleman Mining is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Quartz Crystals, Amethyst, Smoky Quartz. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossilAR
Articulate Brachiopods, St. Clair Limestone, Searcy County, Arkansas
Fossil collection site in the St. Clair Limestone, Searcy County, Arkansas. Environment: deep subtidal ramp. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsMineralAR
West Mount
West Mount is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Pyrite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsSlateAR
Unk
Unk is a historic mining site in Garland, Arkansas, documented by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. Reported specimens include Slate.
View detailsFossilAR
Pri 897
Fossil collection site in the Moodys Branch, Cleveland County, Arkansas. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsWavelliteAR
Unnamed Location (wavellite #2)
Unnamed Location (Wavellite #2) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Wavellite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsWavelliteAR
Unnamed Location (wavellite/variscite)
Unnamed Location (Wavellite/Variscite) is a documented mineral occurrence near AR. Reported specimens include Wavellite, Variscite. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.
View detailsFossilAR
High Bluff
Fossil collection site in the Nacatoch, Clark County, Arkansas. Environment: coastal indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilAR
M 29
Fossil collection site in the Moodys Branch, Cleveland County, Arkansas. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsFossilAR
Hearn
Fossil collection site in the Marlbrook Marl, Clark County, Arkansas. Environment: coastal indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.
View detailsMap of rockhounding sites near Little Rock
Pins within about 100 miles — open a listing for fees, access, and directions.
24 sites mapped near Little Rock
Closest sites by distance
- Johnson's Well, Top Of Capitol Hill, Corner Of Battery And 9th Streets — 0 mi · Fossil
- Bauxite Quarries — 19 mi · Bauxite
- Red Bluff — 20 mi · Fossil
- Pri 896 — 24 mi · Fossil
- Unnamed Location (smoky Quartz & Calcite) — 28 mi · Quartz
- Unnamed Location (serpentine) — 35 mi · Serpentine
- Cove Creek — 35 mi · Mineral
- Unnamed Location Near Cemetery — 37 mi · Quartz
- Unnamed Location (melanite) — 39 mi · Melanite
- Cove Creek Bridge — 39 mi · Apatite
- Unnamed Location (magnet Cove Area) — 39 mi · Sphene
- Unnamed Location (uranium/columbium) — 44 mi · Uranium ore
- Lake Catherine (south Side) — 44 mi · Fluorite
- Coleman’s Crystal Mine — 45 mi · Quartz
- Ron Coleman Mining — 46 mi · Quartz
Types of rockhounding sites near Little Rock
Browse by specimen type in Arkansas — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Quartz & Crystals (4)
Quartz veins, crystal pockets, and pegmatite sites — from Herkimer diamonds to Arkansas clear quartz.
Fossils (8)
Trilobites, brachiopods, petrified wood, and other paleontological collecting on public land.
Gold & Minerals (3)
Placer gold, pyrite, copper minerals, and general ore-mineral localities open to casual collecting.
Other (9)
Mixed or specialty collecting — zeolites, fluorescent minerals, thundereggs, and unique regional finds.
Natural collecting sites in the Little Rock area
Little Rock is a practical launch point for day trips to natural rockhounding sites in Arkansas. Within about 100 miles you will find 24 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with Johnson's Well, Top Of Capitol Hill, Corner Of Battery And 9th Streets about 0.4 mi from the city center.
The mix spans quartz & crystals, fossils, gold & minerals, other — related terms searchers use include creek gravel collecting, desert washes, road cuts, and field collecting.
How distances work near Little Rock
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in Arkansas with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the Little Rock city center — not driving time. A creek rockhounding site 12 miles away on forest roads can take longer than a river access point 20 miles away on a highway.
Field collecting near Little Rock includes informal gravel bars, dry washes, quarry faces, and developed park collecting areas. Rules, fees, and seasonal access differ by land manager. Never assume collecting is allowed without checking the listing and posted signs the day you visit.
Safety and field conditions near you
Field conditions near Little Rock change after rain, snowmelt, and summer heat. Unstable slopes, heat exhaustion, loose rock, and flash floods are real risks at creek and quarry rockhounding sites — most sites have no supervision. Check weather and local advisories before you start digging.
We publish original planning copy, safety tips, and last-updated dates on each listing. See our editorial policy for sourcing standards, or contact us if access or conditions have changed.
Rockhounding sites near Little Rock — FAQ
Where can you collect near Little Rock?
Near Little Rock, Arkansas, our directory lists 24 natural rockhounding sites within about 100 miles — mainly 4 quartz & crystalss, 8 fossilss, 3 gold & mineralss, and 9 others. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
How many rockhounding sites are near Little Rock, Arkansas?
This page shows 24 mapped rockhounding collecting sites within about 100 miles of Little Rock. The full Arkansas directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
What is the closest rockhounding site to Little Rock?
The closest mapped spot to Little Rock is Johnson's Well, Top Of Capitol Hill, Corner Of Battery And 9th Streets (0.4 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
Are rockhounding sites near Little Rock free?
24 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
What types of rockhounding sites are near Little Rock?
Near Little Rock, documented specimen types include quartz & crystalss, fossilss, gold & mineralss, others. A rockhounding site is a natural outcrop, wash, or creek gravel bar — not a fee dig or shop. Filter by type on the Arkansas state page or open each card for specimen and access details.
When is the best time to visit rockhounding sites near Little Rock?
Late spring through early fall is the usual field season near Little Rock, but snowmelt, drought, and weekend crowds change conditions week to week. Check each listing before you drive — storms can make washes and creek banks unsafe.
Is it safe to collect near Little Rock?
Field collecting near Little Rock carries real risks: unstable slopes, heat, loose rock, and no rangers at most unofficial sites. Check weather and posted warnings the day you visit. Read our rockhounding safety basics guide and each listing's safety section before you dig.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.