As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you.
Illinois, a place that’s famous for its rich history and rolling prairies, has more rocks and minerals than you might expect from a small state. From fluorite to yooperlite, there’s a wide variety of stones that exist in Illinois, and this guide will provide all the information you need to go rockhounding in the Prairie State.
When you go rockhounding in the Land of Lincoln, some common rocks and minerals you might notice are:
- dolostone,
- agate,
- sandstone,
- basalt,
- geode,
- yooperlite,
- fluorite,
- pyrite,
- calcite,
- barite,
- feldspar,
- and sphalerite.
Although some fortunate rockhounds are able to find treasures without any research or planning, luck favors rockhounds who are prepared. This list of rocks, minerals, and their locations will guide you to the natural treasures that exist in the Land of Lincoln.
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 Illinois
In Illinois, some common rocks that rockhounds can find include:
Dolostone
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Carroll County | 42.084284, -89.998996 |
| Joliet | 41.500644, -88.135409 |
| Kankakee | 41.101187, -87.855841 |
| Stephenson County | 42.383586, -89.738267 |
| Hancock County | 40.370006, -91.167302 |
| Nauvoo | 40.548731, -91.401015 |
Dolostone is the official state rock of Illinois, and it forms the bedrock of this state. This form of limestone plays a significant role in agriculture by enriching the soil, but it’s also used for construction.
Another interesting use for this stone is the production of glass or ceramics. As you can see, Illinois’ dolostone plays an important role in all kinds of industries due to its high mineral content.
Since dolostone comprises the bedrock of Illinois, it’s easy to acquire this stone all over the state. Check out Carrol County, Stephenson County, and Hancock County for this unique type of limestone.
Agate
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Madison County | 43.922881, -114.723441 |
| Fayville | 37.164430, -89.426880 |
| Hamilton | 40.385616, -91.370037 |
| Thebes | 37.206667, -89.458666 |
| Bishop Hill | 41.204749, -90.117812 |
| Jo Daviess County | 42.487230, -90.612945 |
Do you want to add Lake Superior Agates to your collection without taking a trip to Minnesota? If so, you’re in luck because Illinois has plenty of agates, including Lake Superior Agates! Most Illinois agates come in red, brown, orange, or yellow colors, and they have swirled or banded patterns.
To obtain agates in Illinois, visit Madison County, Jo Daviess County, or Thebes. All these areas have rivers, streams, or gravel beds where rockhounds can find these colorful stones.
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.
Sandstone
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Illinois River | 41.312868, -88.665359 |
| Jackson Hollow | 37.510338, -88.693111 |
| Ottawa | 41.359913, -88.829457 |
| Jackson County | 37.815498, -89.440497 |
| Williamson County | 37.719478, -89.002976 |
| Fox River | 42.202792, -88.222974 |
| Jo Daviess County | 42.487230, -90.612945 |
Illinois is full of sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone. Ironton Sandstone is one of the most common types of sandstone in Illinois, and it’s typically found in the northern parts of the state.
Some other types of sandstone that rockhounds have found in the Land of Lincoln are New Richmond Sandstone, Gatesville Sandstone, Trivoli Sandstone, and Eau Claire Sandstone.
Fortunately, sandstone is spread all throughout Illinois, so you won’t need to go out of your way to find some. Stop by Jackson County, Williamson County, and Jo Daviess County to see multiple types of Illinois sandstone.
Basalt
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hardin County | 37.460932, -88.225996 |
| Mississippi River | 37.280442, -89.420674 |
| Springfield | 39.779377, -89.750142 |
| Carbondale | 37.716455, -89.187260 |
| Rend Lake | 38.143569, -88.919482 |
| Hillsboro | 39.102399, -89.550740 |
Thousands of years ago, melted glaciers carried basalt and other igneous rocks into Illinois. In Illinois, basalt can appear green, brown, or black, depending on its mineral constituents.
As you search for basalt, it’s best to avoid the northwest corner of the state and its areas, such as Galena. The reason for this is that these parts of the state are called the “driftless areas,” meaning that the glaciers did not flow over them. For Illinois basalt, look near Hardin County, Carbondale, or Springfield.
Geode
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Keokuk Geode Beds | 40.383626, -91.374851 |
| Crystal Glen Creek | 40.384749, -91.374467 |
| McKee Creek | 39.826632, -90.660870 |
| Spillman Creek | 40.625120, -91.213827 |
| Mississippi River | 37.280442, -89.420674 |
| Nauvoo | 40.521824, -91.351371 |
| Hamilton | 40.388297, -91.370466 |
When you crack open an Illinois geode, you’ll most likely find clear quartz or a mixture of clear quartz, calcite, and fluorite. Occasionally, these geodes are filled with amethyst, sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcedony. You can find almost any of Illinois’ common minerals inside geodes from this state.
No matter where you decide to go in the Prairie State, you are sure to find geodes nearby. Be sure to explore the famous Keokuk geode beds and Crystal Glen Creek if you’re in the area!
Yooperlite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Lake Michigan | 41.960536, -87.629127 |
| Chicago | 41.845184, -87.616212 |
| Beach Park | 42.416218, -87.852825 |
| Waukegan | 42.354850, -87.832226 |
| Evanston | 42.039971, -87.672238 |
Who doesn’t love rocks that glow in the dark? Yooperlite is a florescent rock that glows a vibrant orange or red under UV light. The reason these grey rocks glow is because they are rich in sodalite, a florescent mineral. While these rocks are typically found in Michigan, they do exist in various parts of Illinois.
Anyone who’s on the hunt for yooperlites should stay close to Lake Michigan and Chicago, which are known for their glowing yooperlites.
What Minerals Are Found in Illinois
In addition to its rocks, Illinois is home to many interesting minerals, such as:
Fluorite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hardin County | 37.507245, -88.279897 |
| Pope County | 37.169259, -88.454639 |
| Cave-In-Rock | 37.467342, -88.171131 |
| Rosiclare | 37.411932, -88.350780 |
| Minerva Mine (surrounding areas) | 37.542661, -88.155991 |
| Lead Hill | 37.504953, -88.222448 |
Did you know that Illinois is the largest producer of fluorite in the United States? Fluorite, a mineral that comes in all the colors of the rainbow, is common in southern areas of Illinois, especially Hardin County and Pope County.
Purple, blue, green, yellow, and clear fluorite are the most common colors in this state, while red, pink, white, and black are rarer finds.
Fluorite from the Land of Lincoln is famous worldwide for its high quality, rich color, and luster, so don’t miss out on this lovely mineral when you visit Illinois!
As previously stated, Hardin County and Pope County produce some of the best pieces of fluorite, so every rockhound should add those two locations to their itineraries.
TIP: Fluorite can be extremely valuable because of these main factors: color, zonality, crystal habit, mineral paragenesis, and clarity. Find out more in the article below:
Fluorite Value: Main Factors & Prices for Different Units
Pyrite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hardin County | 37.507245, -88.279897 |
| Sparta | 38.131838, -89.693372 |
| Rosiclare | 37.411932, -88.350780 |
| Aurora | 41.782184, -88.366460 |
| Cave-In-Rock | 37.467342, -88.171131 |
| Grundy County | 41.337132, -88.470965 |
| Pope County | 37.169259, -88.454639 |
If you find a mineral that looks like gold in Illinois, it’s probably pyrite. Gold only occurs in minimal amounts in this state, but pyrite is abundant in Illinois’ rivers and streams. While pyrite might not be as valuable as gold, it’s still a beautiful mineral with many uses.
Additionally, the pyrite found in Sparta, Illinois, is unique because it forms large discs rather than small cubes. As a matter of fact, Sparta, Illinois, is the only location in the world where these discs are found regularly.
It’s also worth noting that pyrite is commonly found in geodes, so if you plan to go hunting for geodes in this state, you might find this shiny mineral inside them!
Sparta is the place to go if you want to find large discs of pyrite, but if you plan to collect smaller cubes, then Hardin County, Grundy County, and Pope County are excellent locations.
Calcite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Galena | 42.429987, -90.423250 |
| Hardin County | 37.507245, -88.279897 |
| Keokuk | 40.383626, -91.374851 |
| Aurora | 41.782184, -88.366460 |
| Cave-In-Rock | 37.467342, -88.171131 |
| Rosiclare | 37.411932, -88.350780 |
| Hancock County | 40.370006, -91.167302 |
If you notice a cluster of shiny crystals in Illinois limestone or dolomite, there’s a high chance that you’ve discovered calcite. In the Prairie State, calcite occurs in all shapes and colors, including white, yellow, clear, blue, red, and orange.
Sometimes, rockhounds find calcite that’s intertwined with fluorite, which creates a unique color dynamic. Rockhounds also find geodes filled with calcite crystals in this state.
For calcite crystals, check out Hancock County, Hardin County, and Jo Daviess County. To find calcite geodes or calcite with fluorite, take a look at the geode and fluorite sections of this guide.
TIP: Calcite occurs in numerous colored and crystal habit varieties, ranging from $3 to $25,000.00 for a specimen. Findo out more about calcite value in the article below:
Calcite Value: Main Factors & Prices for Different Units
Barite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Cave-In-Rock | 37.467342, -88.171131 |
| Crystal Glen Creek | 40.384553, -91.374424 |
| Hardin County | 37.507245, -88.279897 |
| Ohio River | 37.140115, -89.105365 |
| Saline County | 37.755970, -88.497119 |
| Harris Creek | 37.567837, -88.220355 |
Along with fluorite and calcite, rockhounds also come across barite in the Prairie State. Barite crystals appear clear, white, red, brown, yellow, pink, red, orange, blue, green, and black. In this state, barite is often found inside geodes or with other minerals, but you can find it by itself as well.
There are multiple places where rockhounds can pick up barite in Illinois, including Hardin County, the Ohio River, and Saline County.
Feldspar
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 37.141486, -89.106267 |
| Kankakee County | 41.094978, -87.865797 |
| Hamilton | 40.385485, -91.372182 |
| Hardin County | 37.465837, -88.188573 |
| Mazon River | 41.257877, -88.347417 |
| Lake Michigan | 41.805470, -87.588467 |
Rockhounds often come across feldspar during their Illinois adventures, especially near granite and gneiss boulders. Sometimes, small pieces of feldspar can be picked up from areas with glacial drift.
Sadly, there haven’t been any popular varieties of feldspar, such as labradorite, in this state, but small pieces of feldspar are often discovered in rivers and gravel beds.
Any sandy area in Illinois is a great place to find feldspar. Search near the Mississippi River, Lake Michigan, and Hardin Counties to find this mineral and many others.
TIP: Quartz is the most common mineral on earth, and the minerals in the feldspar group make up almost 60% of the earth’s crust. Find out more in the article below:
Feldspar vs. Quartz: What’s the Difference? 5 Crucial Signs
Sphalerite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Cave-In-Rock | 37.467342, -88.171131 |
| Hardin County | 37.465837, -88.188573 |
| Harris Creek | 37.567837, -88.220355 |
| Hancock County | 40.370006, -91.167302 |
| Rosiclare | 37.411932, -88.350780 |
| Hamilton | 40.385485, -91.372182 |
Sphalerite usually goes hand in hand with galena, but in Illinois, it’s often connected with fluorite or calcite. This lustrous mineral is typically black in color, but Illinois sphalerite can come in yellow or orange hues.
Dark sphalerite with white calcite or vivid pieces of fluorite are popular among rockhounds due to the striking color combination produced by the two minerals.
Anywhere that you find fluorite, calcite, or galena in Illinois is highly likely to have sphalerite. Check near Cave-In-Rock, Rosiclare, and Hamilton for this glittering mineral.
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)
FAQ About Common Rocks & Minerals in Illinois
Dive into the following FAQs to learn more about the common rocks and minerals in Illinois.
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in Illinois
While it’s true that Illinois isn’t the largest U.S. state, there are plenty of collectible rocks that reside in its landscape, including agates, jaspers, geodes, yooperlites, thundereggs, and a wide variety of fossils.
Because Illinois was submerged under the ocean during the Cambrian and Mississippian Periods, rockhounds stumble across all kinds of unique fossils in this state.
Some popular fossils you might uncover in Illinois include blastoids, bryozoans, cephalopods, crinoids, and Tully Monsters.
The Tully Monster is Illinois’ state fossil, so it’s a popular find among local rockhounds. Despite its name, the Tully Monster is not large or scary and has a thin form that’s barely six inches in length.
The Mazon Creek fossil area in Grundy County is an excellent site for fossils. For agates, jaspers, geodes, and more, take a look at the locations listed above.
TIP: When we hear a rare gemstone collocation, we immediately imagine a sparkling diamond on a velvet pillow. But it’s just a huge misconception. Check out really rare gemstones in the article below:
13 Rarest Gemstones on Earth: You will be Shocked!
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in Illinois
Every rockhound dreams of finding precious gems, and in Illinois, you might be able to achieve that dream. In the Land of Lincoln, rockhounds can find many rare minerals, including amethyst, ruby, diamond, fluorite, and sphalerite.
Out of these minerals, fluorite is the most common, and Illinois fluorite can display purple, green, yellow, and blue colors. It can also appear clear, which looks similar to clear quartz.
The most popular rockhounding sites for minerals in this state are the Mississippi River and Hardin County, so be sure to book a trip to those two areas. You can also search near Pope County and Cave-In-Rock, two areas that are overflowing with all kinds of gems and minerals.
What is the Most Famous Rock or Mineral Found in Illinois
Did you know that Illinois is the top producer of fluorite in the United States? Fluorite is Illinois’ state mineral, and you can find it almost anywhere in the state.
Illinois fluorite comes in a wide range of stunning colors, including blue, green, yellow, purple, orange, and clear. Some of the less common colors of Illinois fluorite are pink, white, red, black, and brown.
Want to add a piece of Illinois fluorite to your collection? Look near Hardin County, Pope County, and Cave-in-Rock State Park for this colorful mineral.
BTW: If you are looking for the best UV light for rockhounding, find out my picks below (Amazon links):
- BEST OPTION: Convoy 8+ 365nm UV LED Flashlight with Patented Glass Filter
- BUDGET OPTION: Karrong Rechargeable 1200 Lumen 395nm UV Flashlight
- OPTION FOR INDOOR USAGE: Prime Upgraded Big Chip 396nm UV
Conclusion
From fluorite to yooperlite, Illinois has a unique set of rocks and minerals that are sure to stand out in any rockhound’s collection.
During your trip to the Land of Lincoln, pick up a colorful piece of fluorite or a glowing yooperlite to take back home. Who knows, you might even find some precious diamonds and rubies during your rockhounding adventures!
Before you visit Illinois, make room in your backpack so you have space for all the rocks and minerals you will find in this state!
TIP: Famous for its fluorite and geode specimens, Illinois is a modest rockhounding state. Check out the complete guide on rockhounding in Illinois in the article below:
Best Rockhounding in Illinois: Where to Go & What to Find