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Alabama is a state often dismissed by rockhounders as a place of little mineralogical interest. However, there are still plenty of rockhounding sites to be explored in this state. The northern part of the state is hilly and the northeastern portion is geologically complex, this being where the southern end of the Appalachian Mountain Range has its origin. The southern part of the state is made up of a generally flat coastal plain and isn’t as mineral-rich as the northern part of the state.
The best rockhounding spots in Alabama are:
| Site | Public or Pay | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| M & G Mine | Public | 33.379861, -85.796889 |
| Millsite Tin Mine | Public | 32.90694, -86.19028 |
| Pleasant Grove Road | Public | 33.323598, -85.685992 |
| Alabama Gold Camp | Pay | 33.239330, -85.643759 |
| Black Warrior River | Public | 33.278371, -87.399426 |
| Bob Lee Mine | Public | 33.335861, -85.871444 |
| Shirley Mine | Public | 33.979381, -86.567145 |
| Lake Martin | Public | 32.795714, -85.895645 |
| Buzzard Creek | Public | 33.324024, -85.932344 |
| Steven C. Minkin Palaeozoic Footprint Site | Public | 33.813346, -87.164990 |
| Brookwood | Public | 33.278361, -87.399417 |
| Shark Tooth Creek | Pay | 33.027497, -88.112988 |
Rocks and minerals that can be found in Alabama include gold, pyrite, chert, quartz, amethyst, apatite, calcite, fluorite, emerald, magnetite, fossils, opal, and others. While some are quite common, many others are not so easy to find.
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding tools you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link).
Rockhounding Regulations & Laws in Alabama
Alabama permits the collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils from public lands including state parks, national forests, as well as from private and public collection sites. Remember to check for the local rules at any site where you’re looking to rockhound; laws and regulations can change from place to place so it’s best to verify the local rules before you head out on your collecting expedition.
Each state park can have its own regulations on what visitors can and cannot take from the park. Also bear in mind that accessibility to sites both public and private can change as some sites might grow depleted or can be closed off by private landowners so verify rockhounding is allowed at the sites you’re interested in visiting before you head out on any collecting adventures.
Rockhounding is not allowed in national parks (not to be confused with Bureau of Land Management lands or national forests).
The rules regarding rockhounding in Alabama can be read here. The Alabama State Park Rules and Regulations can be read here.
Best Public Sites in Alabama
Here you can find a list of the best free sites to rockhound in the state of Alabama.
In case you need it, the map below shows you the exact locations for all of the best rockhounding sites (pay to dig included) mentioned below:
Millsite Tin Mine
Located in Rockford, Alabama, in Clay County, the Millsite Tin Mine was founded in the late 1800s and was in use for around three decades and was purportedly was one of the most prolific tin mines in the region while it was open. The site is a good place to look for gems such as topaz and tourmaline as well as other interesting mineralogical specimens.
The site hosts a large, open mine pit, tunnels, shafts, and several buildings. The site is an Alabama historic landmark and it is open to the public.
Here are some of the commonly and less-commonly found minerals that can be found at the Millsite Tin Mine:
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Apatite | Occasional |
| Cassiterite | Common |
| Epidote | Occasional |
| Garnet | Occasional |
| Topaz | Rare |
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
M & G Mine
The M & G mine site in Ashland is a good place to find crystals of apatite, garnet, and smoky quartz. Apatite can be found throughout much of eastern Alabama, but the M & G mine site is a particularly good place to look for this mineral.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Apatite | Common |
| Garnet | Rare |
| Smoky Quartz | Common |
Pleasant Grove Road
The landscape around the city of Ashland in Clay County has multiple locations where you can find nice mineral specimens. Quartz in particular can be found around the Pleasant Grove Road site. This place is one of the best sites to rockhound in the Ashland region. The site can be seen while driving on Pleasant Grove Road.
The site lies 16 miles east of Buzzard Creek. To reach the site from Buzzard Creek take Mountain View Road east, turn right onto Clay County 31, then take a left on Tyson Road. Tyson Road turns into Talladega Street. Continue east through Lineville and take the Coach Jack Steward Memorial Highway to Pleasant Grove Road.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Quartz | Common |
Bob Lee Mine
The Bob Lee Mine can be found at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains within the Talladega National Forest near the town of Erin. This region has complex geology which provides for some good rockhounding. The best places to look for rocks and minerals are along the creek.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Garnet | Common |
| Opal | Rare |
Shirley Mine
This site is located about three quarters of an hour north of Birmingham in Cleveland, Alabama, being one of the rare rockhounding sites in a region of the state not particularly well known for rockhounding. The nearby riverbanks, gravel beds, and road cuts are all good places to look in the local area.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Opal | Rare |
| Garnet | Occasional |
| Kyanite | Occasional |
| Magnetite | Common |
| Tourmaline | Occasional |
Black Warrior River
The Black Warrior River is a great place to rockhound; the meandering course of the river has eroded and exposed a number of interesting mineral and rock types. There are various mines and pits along the banks of the Black Warrior River between Peterson and Brookwood.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Agate | Common |
| Hematite | Common |
| Jasper | Common |
| Kyanite | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
Lake Martin
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Martin is a good place to visit to look for mineral specimens. In addition to rockhounding the lake is a popular recreation spot. The lake was created in the 1920s when the Tallapoosa river was dammed. The shoreline of the lake, the creeks that feed it, the islands in it, and the surrounding environments are the best places to rockhound at Lake Martin.
To reach the lake, head to Dadeville and follow the signs to the lake.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Epidote | Occasional |
| Hematite | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
| Ruby | Rare |
| Sapphire | Rare |
| Unakite | Occasional |
Buzzard Creek
Buzzard Creek is located in the Ashland area in the Talladega National Forest at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains. The region is geological complex and is good for finding a variety of rock and mineral specimens.
To reach the site from Talladega, take the Ashland Highway. Ashland Highway turns into Alabama State Road 77; take this road to Porters Gap. At Porters Gap turn left onto Horns Lake Road. Horns Lake Road turns into Idaho Road. After five miles turn left onto Newbury’s Road which then intersects with Buzzard Creek. The site is located about one mile north along the creek.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Chlorite | Occasional |
| Green Quartz | Occasional |
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- BEST OPTION: Convoy 8+ 365nm UV LED Flashlight with Patented Glass Filter
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Steven C. Minkin Palaeozoic Footprint Site
Originally known as the Union Chapel Mine, the Steven C. Minkin Palaeozoic Footprint Site is a well-known fossil-hunting site can be found in the central part of the state. The coal-age fossils, which are older than the dinosaurs, are found in abundance at this site and are about 300 million years old.
Many of the fossils found here are tracks – footprints left in the mud which then turned to stone. This site is the best site for vertebrate tracks on the planet. Some of the tracks found here are from the earliest reptiles to evolve.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Fossils | Common |
Brookwood
The shores and banks of Holt Lake in the city of Brookwood, Alabama in Tuscaloosa County are a good place to hunt for fossils as well as minerals, as are the nearby road cuts.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Agate | Common |
| Hematite | Common |
| Jasper | Common |
| Kyanite | Common |
| Quartz | Common |
Best Pay to Dig Sites in Alabama
In addition to the free sites listed above there are some places in the state where you can pay to search for interesting mineral and fossil specimens.
Alabama Gold Camp
Situated in the Alabama gold belt, The Alabama Gold Camp is a pay to dig campground offering campsites ranging from primitive sites to prospecting shacks complete with beds, fridges, microwaves, air conditioning, and heat. There is a general store on site. A visitor pass cost $5 per day per person and includes admission, panning, sluicing, and metal detecting.
You can find the Alabama Gold Camp website here which includes detailed driving directions.
Alabama Gold Camp can be found ten miles from Lineville. From Lineville take AL 9 to Blakes Ferry Road. Take Blakes Ferry Road to a 4-way stop, in approximately eight miles. Turn right and drive for two miles until you cross a railway bridge. Turn left at the bottom of the bridge onto New Hope Road. Continue a mile down the road to the camp on the right side of the road.
Here are some of the rocks and minerals that can be found at the Alabama Gold Camp:
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Gold | Rare |
| Garnet | Rare |
| Fossils | Occasional |
| Citrine | Occasional |
Shark Tooth Creek
Shark Tooth Creek is a privately-owned fossil site located in west Alabama near the town of Aliceville.
Fossil hunting at Shark Tooth Creek is popular with young kids through seasoned fossil hunters. Teeth from sixteen species of shark can be found in Shark Tooth Creek; many of the teeth are from tiger and sand sharks with the occasional tooth from a prehistoric shark called Galeocerdo alabamensis, so named because most of the fossils found of it have been discovered in Alabama. These fossil teeth are from around 40 million years ago.
Shark Tooth Creek also offers camping, fishing, canoeing, and swimming. The site has restrooms, showers, cooking facilities, and a pavilion.
| Rocks / Minerals | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Fossils | Common |
Other Notable Rockhounding Spots in Alabama
Alabama is full of amazing rockhounding spots. So check of them, divided according to individual parts of Alabama, below:
Rockhounding Spots in Eastern Alabama
In addition to the more-popular sites listed earlier in the article, here are some more good rockhounding places that can be found in the east of Alabama.
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hog Mountain | Public | 33.075936, -85.849745 | Galena, Gold, Pyrite |
| Pleasant Grove Road | Public | 33.323598, -85.685992 | Quartz |
| East Shores of Lake Martin | Public | 32.807506, -85.896097 | Feldspar, Quartz, Unakite |
Rockhounding Spots in Western Alabama
If you’re looking for more places to rockhound in western Alabama, here are a few good sites to try.
| Site | Public / Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| South of Tuscaloosa | Public | 33.085059, -87.550775 | Petrified Wood |
| Strip Mine off Highway 216 | Public | 33.226676, -87.426471 | Petrified Wood, Quartz |
| Strip Mines about 4 miles from Brookwood | Public | 33.261450, -87.387527 | Hematite, Quartz, Agate, Petrified Wood |
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)
Rockhounding Spots in Northern Alabama
There are more places to rockhound in northern Alabama than what is listed earlier in this article. Here is an additional site you can investigate.
| Site | Public/Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob’s Mountain | Public | 34.814914, -86.184176 | Agate, Jasper |
Rockhounding Spots in Southern Alabama
In southern Alabama can be found more sites to rockhound; here is an additional place to check out on your rockhounding adventures if you find yourself in the area.
| Site | Public / Pay | GPS Location | Common Rocks / Minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahatta Formation | Public | 31.906316, -87.875300 | Agate |
TIP: Alabama’s gold rush kicked off in the early 1830s when gold was first discovered in Chilton County. Find out more about the gold prospecting in Alabama below:
Gold Prospecting in Alabama: 7 Best Locations & Laws
Rockhounding Clubs in Alabama
Alabama has some wonderful rock and mineral clubs. Here are a few for you to consider if you’re looking for information or to find new friends with similar interests.
The Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society
The Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society was founded in 1964 and is based in Birmingham. The club has has monthly meetings, a workshop with tools for member use, instructional classes, and field trips. The club also hosts an annual gem show.
The club’s focus is on stimulating interest in rocks, minerals, and gemstones and disseminating knowledge related to the earth sciences and the processes of collection, classification, identification, cutting, polishing, and the mounting of specimens.
Dothan Gem & Mineral Club
The Dothan Gem & Mineral Club is based in Taylor and hosts regular meetings where members can learn about jewellery making and where and how to best hunt for gemstones and minerals, as well as how to cut and polish them. The club offers regular meetings, workshops, and hosts an annual gem and mineral show.
The Club’s primary objectives are to encourage interest in lapidary and earth science and to cultivate interest in related fields.
Mobile Rock & Gem Society
Located in Mobile, the Mobile Rock & Gem Society is focused on encouraging interest in the earth sciences, geology, mineralogy, palaeontology, and lapidary arts, among other topics. The club also hosts an annual rock and gem show.
The club offers regular meetings, classes, and field trips. The society has a fully-equipped workshop for jewellery and lapidary arts available to the members of the society.
The Alabama Paleontological Society
The Alabama Paleontological Society is a non-profit organisation made up of amateur and professional palaeontologists interested in the collection and dissemination of knowledge of fossils and Alabama’s natural history.
The society offers members regular meetings which generally cover some aspect of fossils or geology, but occasionally have presentations on topics as broad as African animals, Alabama snakes and spiders, and climbing Mt. Everest.
Additionally, the society conducts field trips to fossil-finding sites as well as other related activities.
State Rock, Mineral, Gemstone, and Fossil of Alabama
The state rock of Alabama is marble. Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone or dolomite is subjected to pressure and heat. Marble can be found in a variety of colours and textures due to chemical impurities. Alabama marble, also called Sylacauga marble, is prized for its pure white colour and fine-grained texture and is found mostly in Talladega County. This is the longest marble deposit in the world, producing stone popular with architects and sculptors.
Some of the famous buildings and sculptures using Alabama marble include the bust of Abraham Lincoln in the United States Capitol rotunda and the interior of the United States Supreme Court Building.
The official state mineral of Alabama is hematite. Hematite is an abundant form of iron ore and its extraction was previously a major industry of the state. This mineral is what gives many soils and clays their red colour. Iron produced from Alabama hematite was used to cast the statue of Vulcan which stands atop Red Mountain, Alabama. This statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world, standing more than five stories in height.
The state gem of Alabama is star blue quartz. Quartz is one of the most commonly found minerals on the planet. It can be found in a variety of colours, with clear being the most common. The star blue variety of the mineral is an opaque to translucent blue variety of quartz.
The primary location to find this mineral is along the Flint River. This stone is considered one of the most attractive of the commonly found gemstones. This quartz gets its blue colouration due to inclusions in the crystals, most often magnesioriebeckite or crocidolite.
Originally believed to be a dinosaur, the state fossil of Alabama is the eel-shaped Basilosaurus cetoides, an early, large, predatory whale that lived during the late Eocene (from approximately 41 million years ago to 34 million years ago). This creature was one of the largest animals of its time, which grew up to 60 feet in length and exclusively ate fish and sharks. This whale was originally believed to be a dinosaur, hence the ‘saurus’ in the name (Basilosaurus means ‘king lizard’ in Latin).
Recommended Rockhounding Gear
While special gear is not required to find nice rocks and fossils, having the right tools will help you find more than what’s simply laying around on the open ground. Here are some of the more basic tools and safety gear for interested rockhounds.
Geological Hammer
This 22oz Pointed-Tip Rock Pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is recommended for its durability and shock-reducing grip.
A rock pick is essential when collecting mineral specimens from a hard substrate such as stone. The pick’s handle is shock-resistant, making it more comfortable for use for longer times in the field.
Geology Pick
The Geology pick by Estwing (Amazon link) is a good choice for those starting out in the hobby as well as seasoned professionals.
The hammer comes with a pointed tip on one side of the head and a chiseled end on the other. This pick is good for excavating interesting mineral and fossil specimens.
Mini Shovel
The Mini D-Handle Round Point Shovel by Stanley (Amazon link) pairs convenience with durability. Especially in areas of soft material such as sand or clay, it is nice to have a sturdy shovel that is easy to carry.
The D-shaped handle gives you more leverage when digging on your knees, which is something that similarly sized standard-handled shovels wouldn’t provide.
Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad
Working with your hands in rockhounding environments can be rough; it is easy to get cuts or abrasions when in the field. Protecting your hands is important, especially while working with sharp or abrasive rocks.
The Heavy Duty Work Gloves by Ironclad (Amazon link) protect your hands from sharp rocks and tools. They are machine washable, highly abrasion resistant, and durable.
Safety Glasses
Eye protection is a must when breaking up a rock or any sort of work where debris could cause injury to your eyes.
The 3M Safety Glasses (Amazon link) are anti-fog and have a corded earplug system, as well as a removable foam gasket. The clear, scratch-resistant lenses shield the eyes against harmful ultraviolet light as well as prevent eye injury from flying rock chips.
First Aid Kit
With its 299 pieces, the Only Emergency First Aid Kit (Amazon link) is a good one for rockhounds. Of course, it’s best to avoid injuring yourself but if things go wrong it’s good to be prepared.
Some of the items found in the kit include fabric and plastic bandages, painkillers, gauze and pads, cold packs, wound closers, and many more.
Conclusion
While not immediately coming to mind as a rockhounder’s delight, not at least when compared with other states, Alabama is still worth considering for your next rock-hunting expedition, as there are a number of fantastic rockhounding sites that can be found in the state. You will find that most of the best sites are clustered in the north and central parts of the state.
If you’re new to the area or hobby, contacting the various rockhounding clubs like some of those listed above is a good place to start to learn where and how to find rocks in Alabama and perhaps find some new rockhounding friends.
TIP: Before rockhounding in a new place, it’s helpful to have an idea of what rocks or minerals you can expect to see in the area. Check out list of common rocks and minerals in Alabama in the article below:
10 Common Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in Alabama