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Even though Missouri isn’t mentioned often in the rockhounding community, many rockhounds are surprised to find out that this state has an amazing variety of minerals! Learn more about the fascinating rocks and minerals of the Show Me State in this overview.
In Missouri, rockhounds collect the following rocks and minerals:
- mozarkite,
- geode,
- agate,
- jasper,
- obsidian,
- flint,
- barite,
- galena,
- sphalerite,
- quartz,
- amethyst,
- chalcedony,
- dolomite,
- and calcite.
It’s easy to overlook some amazing rocks and minerals in Missouri if you don’t know what to keep an eye out for. Use this guide to ensure that you don’t miss out on treasures during your Missouri rockhounding adventures.
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding tools you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link).
What Rocks Are Found in Missouri
Missouri has all sorts of collectible rocks, including ones that you can’t find anywhere else in the U.S., such as:
Mozarkite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Warsaw | 38.241329, -93.347653 |
| Lincoln | 38.377105, -93.322933 |
| Edwards | 38.145271, -93.160885 |
| Mora | 38.523372, -93.203457 |
| Clinton | 38.355543, -93.808131 |
| Benton County | 38.201816, -93.158657 |
Missouri is home to a special stone called mozarkite, and it is only found in this state. Mozarkite, Missouri’s state rock, is a type of chert that typically appears with brown and pink streaks of color. Rare varieties appear with soft blue, green, and orange streaks in addition to the brown and pink.
Warsaw, Lincoln, and other areas in Benton County are excellent sites for Missouri mozarkite.
Recommendation box: All tools and equipment you need for rockhounding and rock identification* (Amazon links):
1. Estwing Rock Hammer – Light, comfortable, and extremely durable hammer.
2. Estwing Geologist Pick – Classic and the most trusted paleo pick in the world.
3. Finder 12-inch Chisels – Heavy-duty chisels set with hand protection.
4. Mini Handle Shovel – This is a great tool for digging deep in the dirt.
5 Ironclad Utility Work Gloves – Breathable, but they also protect the areas requiring them most.
6. 3M Safety Glasses – Comfortable and efficient goggles for rockhounding.
7. Convoy 8+ UV Light – 365nm UV LED flashlight with a patented glass filter.
8. Wesley’s Jewelers Loupe – High magnification options (30X and 60X) with carrying case.
9. Mohs Hardness Kit – A specially designed kit for rockhounds
*All recommended products are personally tested and regularly used by experts from this website.
Geode
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Alexandria & Wayland | 40.359380, -91.508885 |
| Weaver’s Branch | 40.454067, -91.579751 |
| Fabius River | 40.119758, -91.782745 |
| Weber Quarry | 38.480495, -90.289323 |
| Fox River | 40.527605, -91.872665 |
| Arnold | 38.420603, -90.388978 |
While most rockhounds visit Iowa to collect the famous Keokuk Geodes, you can actually find them right here in Missouri. Keokuk geodes are known for their beauty and reveal all kinds of minerals once opened, and the most common ones in Missouri contain calcite, pyrite, sphalerite, and dolomite.
Fortunately, geodes exist all over the place in Missouri; stop by the Fox River, Alexandria and Wayland, and the Fabius River for some gorgeous geodes.
Agate
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| La Grange | 40.051104, -91.494966 |
| Grand River | 42.923264, -85.361271 |
| Warsaw | 38.238796, -93.378467 |
| Gentry County | 40.225118, -94.448942 |
| Livingston County | 42.616251, -84.004947 |
| Daviess County | 39.957025, -94.012247 |
| Grundy County | 40.090927, -93.585302 |
Missouri is truly a great place to be if you enjoy collecting agates. From Lake Superior Agates to banded gem-quality agates, rockhounds bring home agates of all colors from this state, including blue, white, gray, pink, orange, and red varieties.
There are more than 35 recorded locations in the Show Me State where rockhounds find agates in abundance. Stop by La Grange, Grand River, or Warsaw for gem-quality Lake Superior Agates.
TIP: The most common opinion among scholars is that аgate and jasper are not the same minerals but are both varieties of chalcedony, a form of microcrystalline quartz. Find out more below:
Jasper vs. Agate: Crucial Differences (Are They Same?)
Jasper
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Gentry County | 33.144292, -89.943334 |
| Daviess County | 30.553505, -89.323106 |
| Livingstone County | 31.713948, -90.392053 |
| Grundy County | 31.503666, -91.501984 |
| Grand River (especially Gallatin) | 31.024149, -91.497440 |
| La Grange | 40.052221, -91.493936 |
In the Show Me State, you can find high-quality red or green jasper that looks stunning once polished. Additionally, this rock is plentiful throughout the state, so you should be able to collect some without going out of your way.
As you explore, keep in mind that any of the Missouri areas with jaspers usually have agates as well, so you’ll be able to collect two types of rocks from a single location.
Gentry County, Daviess County, and Livingston County are three of the best sites to go to for jaspers.
Petrified Wood
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Grand River (especially Gallatin) | 31.024149, -91.497440 |
| Greenfield | 37.415852, -93.833994 |
| Marble Hill | 37.304209, -89.961672 |
| Cape Girardeau County | 37.321442, -89.511860 |
| Livingston County | 31.713948, -90.392053 |
| Grundy County | 31.503666, -91.501984 |
Did you know that you can find petrified wood in Missouri? Petrified wood from this state comes in all sizes, and it’s often discovered in gravels near rivers and waterways.
As you search for petrified wood, remember that it’s only found in certain areas of the state, so you will need to travel to specific locations to collect it.
Stop by Grand River, Greenfield, Marble Hill, or the other locations listed above to add petrified wood to your rockhounding collection.
Chert
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Warsaw | 38.240548, -93.380613 |
| Lincoln | 38.394985, -93.322102 |
| Timber Knob | 36.564374, -92.467911 |
| Greenfield | 37.409580, -93.835539 |
| Current River (near Doniphan) | 36.619599, -90.841429 |
| Doniphan | 36.614848, -90.831582 |
Gem-quality chert and flint are extremely common in Missouri, and rockhounds can find large specimens in various areas of the state. Blue chert, white chert with yellow bands, and multicolored mozarkite are some of the most popular types of chert that rockhounds collect from the Show Me State.
For gem-quality flint, head over to Doniphan. For large, gem-quality chert, the Current River is the place to go.
TIP: River rock is a natural stone that has been smoothed and shaped by the flow of water in a river. Find out more about river rocks in the article below:
River Rocks: This Makes Them Smooth and Round (How & Where)
What Minerals Are Found in Missouri
Get ready to dive into all the amazing gems and minerals that Missouri has to offer, which includes:
Barite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Washington County | 37.971064, -90.805529 |
| Morgan County | 38.327123, -92.808943 |
| Moniteau County | 38.823316, -92.458419 |
| Fabius River | 40.118096, -91.774905 |
| Cole County | 38.399276, -92.238431 |
| St Francois County | 37.849660, -90.457558 |
Did you know that Missouri is an important producer of barite in the U.S.? Most of the state’s barite production comes from Washington County, and you can uncover multiple types of barite in this area.
Blue, white, gray, yellow, red, and transparent barite are just a few colors of barite that rockhounds collect from Washington County and other areas in the Show Me State.
Along with Washington County, some other areas to explore for barite include Cole County, Moniteau County, and St. Francois County.
Galena
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Cole County | 38.399276, -92.238431 |
| Springfield | 37.201965, -93.357455 |
| Joplin | 37.076048, -94.504945 |
| Flat River | 37.820857, -90.556353 |
| Fredericktown | 37.574808, -90.311516 |
| Lincoln | 38.393639, -93.325706 |
Galena is one of the most popular minerals to collect from Missouri due to its accessibility. You can find this mineral in many of Missouri’s counties, especially in the southwestern parts of the state. If you see a silvery-gray stone during your Missouri rockhounding adventures, it’s probably galena.
Cole County, Joplin, and Springfield should be your first stops for galena in Missouri.
TIP: Geologists classify minerals based on various common characteristics depending on the sphere of geology in which the classification is used. Check out the complete guide below:
How to Guide: Classification of Minerals by PRO Geologist
Sphalerite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| St Francisville | 40.458178, -91.569649 |
| Fabius River | 40.116929, -91.783896 |
| Troy | 38.973367, -90.971654 |
| Cole County | 38.399276, -92.238431 |
| Springfield | 37.201965, -93.357455 |
| Joplin | 37.076048, -94.504945 |
If you hear the words Black Jack, Rosin Jack, Ruby Jack, or just Jack in the Missouri rockhounding community, they are talking about sphalerite. Sphalerite has many names in the Show Me State, and it comes in black, red, yellow, brown, and green shades.
Southwest Missouri is known for its large treasure troves of sphalerite, but you can find it in smaller quantities in the northern sections of the state.
Quartz
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Washington County | 37.971064, -90.805529 |
| Chariton River | 40.073757, -92.697676 |
| Newark | 39.994232, -91.970882 |
| Troy | 38.973367, -90.971654 |
| St Louis | 38.605244, -90.196787 |
| Cole County | 38.399276, -92.238431 |
Missouri has a couple different types of quartz, including drusy quartz and smoky quartz. Rockhounds often bring home gorgeous quartz specimens from Missouri, especially from areas in Washington County.
Some of the top places to visit for quartz are Washington County, the Chariton River, and Cole County.
Amethyst
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Steelville | 37.966738, -91.351978 |
| Ruepple Iron Mine | 38.270833, -91.140693 |
| Moselle Iron Mine | 37.833704, -91.832720 |
| Vida | 37.853969, -91.807112 |
| Stanton | 38.271244, -91.110294 |
| Chariton River | 40.073757, -92.697676 |
The southeastern mines of Missouri hold an abundance of high-quality amethyst for rockhounds. Some mines that are well-known for their amethysts are Ruepple Iron Mine near Stanton and Moselle Iron Mines near Vida.
Check out Steelville, Stanton, and Vida to find and collect Missouri amethyst.
TIP: Amethyst is present in many states across the U.S. However, some states seem to have plenty more amethyst locations than others. Find out more in the article below:
Where to Find Amethyst: Best Environments & Locations (USA)
Chalcedony
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hermitage | 37.942498, -93.328272 |
| Lincoln | 38.393639, -93.325706 |
| La Grange | 40.052221, -91.493936 |
| Gallatin | 31.024149, -91.497440 |
| Kahoka | 40.419277, -91.718247 |
| St Francisville | 40.458766, -91.570336 |
In the Show Me State, rockhounds find chalcedony on its own or inside geodes. Typically, rockhounds find this mineral near the creek beds, riverbanks, gravels, and other waterways of the state.
Swing by Hermitage, Lincoln, and La Grange for gorgeous chalcedony specimens or geodes.
Dolomite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Fredericktown | 37.574536, -90.310657 |
| Eldon and Etterville | 38.439916, -92.580008 |
| Joplin | 37.080516, -94.509394 |
| Cole County | 38.540128, -92.160147 |
| Springfield | 37.227119, -93.316255 |
| Steelville | 37.967144, -91.351892 |
Although dolomite can appear in many colors, the specimens from Missouri are typically white in color and possess a hexagonal crystal shape. There are multiple areas in the state where rockhounds can find this mineral, and some of the best specimens come from southern areas of Missouri.
Explore Fredericktown, Joplin, and Springfield to gather plenty of dolomite for your collection.
Calcite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Sugar Creek | 34.816252, -90.441154 |
| Grindstone Creek | 31.713948, -90.392053 |
| Chariton River | 31.692288, -90.481008 |
| Fabius River | 31.774767, -90.179303 |
| St Clair | 38.348809, -90.991766 |
| Joplin | 37.077777, -94.500124 |
Calcite comes in all the colors of the rainbow, and the kinds you find depend on your location. In Missouri, rockhounds often come across white, red, brown, and green calcite crystals of all sizes.
Additionally, rockhounds find this mineral inside geodes or attached to other common minerals within the state.
Venture near Sugar Creek, Grindstone Creek, or the Chariton River to bring home calcite crystals or geodes from Missouri.
TIP: Calcite occurs in numerous colored and crystal habit varieties, ranging from $3 to $25,000.00 for a specimen. Find out more in the article below:
Calcite Value: Main Factors & Prices for Different Units
FAQ About Common Rocks & Minerals in Missouri
Let’s delve into the rare rocks and minerals of Missouri with these FAQs:
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in Missouri
During your Missouri rockhounding expeditions, you might come across some rare rocks, including jaspers, agates, geodes, and mozarkites. Some rockhounds even find gem-quality flint and chert in this state.
Lake Superior Agates, Keokuk geodes, and mozarkites are a few of the most popular finds in the Show Me State, especially since mozarkite exists solely in Missouri.
The Grand River, Warsaw, and Lincoln are three excellent places to go if you want to find multiple types of rare rocks without traveling too far. You can also check out the locations listed above that note the best locations for each of these rare rocks.
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in Missouri
Missouri is a land that’s filled with rare minerals and glittering gems, and rockhounds can find sphalerite, gold, barite, amethyst, opal, fluorite, smokey quartz, siderite, vivianite, aragonite, staurolite, and cerussite in this state.
While these precious stones are not as easy to find as more common minerals, they are gorgeous, valuable, and well worth your time and effort.
High-quality gems only exist in specific areas of the state, so before you set out to explore Missouri, take a second to plan your route and include some of the destinations listed below.
Comb through areas near Warsaw, Grindstone Creek, Kahoka, and the Grand River to hunt for these rare gems and minerals. You can also visit the Chariton River, Lincoln, and Fox City, three areas that are also known for their precious stones.
BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links):
- Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals
- Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home)
- Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids)
What is the Most Famous Rock or Mineral Found in Missouri
Missouri has a lot to offer rockhounds, but the most famous rock that rockhounds seek is mozarkite. This rock is unique because it exists solely in Missouri, and it’s a type of chert that has a gorgeous display of swirling colors.
Generally, mozarkite appears with various shades of pink, red, purple, green, gray, and brown, and it looks gorgeous once polished. Mozarkite was nominated as Missouri’s state rock in 1967, and most specimens are around 450 million years old.
Warsaw, Lincoln, and other areas near Benton County are famous for their fine specimens of mozarkite, so be sure to add them to your rockhounding itinerary.
Conclusion
What a surprise that Missouri is so rich in rocks, minerals, and gemstones! Even though Missouri isn’t as famous as other states for rockhounding, this modest state has plenty of intriguing stones for every rockhound.
One-of-a-kind mozarkite, colorful Lake Superior Agates, stunning Keokuk geodes, and much more all reside in this state, making Missouri a worthwhile trip for any rock-lover.
For your next rockhounding trip, pack your bags and head over to the Show Me State; you’ll soon see just how many rocks and minerals Missouri can show you!
TIP: Missouri is a state that might be overlooked, however, this is a big mistake for any true rock hunting enthusiast. Check out the complete guide in the article below:
Best Rockhounding in Missouri: Where to Go & What to Find