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Kentucky, often known as the Bluegrass State, is famed for its historic horse racing traditions, bluegrass music, and plentiful natural resources such as coal and limestone. This guide to Kentucky’s 15 most frequent rocks and minerals will pique the attention of any rockhound seeking the state’s unique geological gems.
Deep down underneath the bluegrass fields and plains of Kentucky, rockhounds can find:
- geodes,
- flint,
- agate,
- peridotite,
- bituminous coal,
- limestone,
- sandstone,
- fluorite,
- pyromorphite,
- celestine,
- galena,
- calcite,
- barite,
- hemimorphite,
- and chalcedony.
Just as every treasure hunter needs a map, every rockhound needs information before searching for rocks and minerals. This guide to Kansas’ common rocks and minerals will lead you to the best treasures for your collection.
If you want to check out the best rockhounding tools, you can find them here (Amazon link).
What Rocks Are Found in Kentucky
Coal, limestone, and geodes are just a few of the rocks you can find in Kentucky, among others, such as:
Geodes
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | 37.370682, -84.364004 |
| Kentucky Lake | 36.531314, -88.054954 |
| Green River | 37.219468, -86.382152 |
| Lyon County | 37.041956, -88.061443 |
| Lincoln County | 37.469214, -84.567606 |
| Adair County | 37.198994, -85.258332 |
| Warsaw Formation | 36.705498, -85.706292 |
Kentucky is a treasure trove for rockhounds, particularly those looking for geodes. These magnificent rocks come in a variety of forms and sizes, with quartz and calcite being the most frequent crystals discovered within.
While translucent quartz and calcite are common, fortunate rockhounds may find smoky quartz or darker calcite among Kentucky geodes.
Geode hunting in Kentucky is frequently a pleasant activity, especially around Mount Vernon, Kentucky Lake, or the Green River. Lyon, Lincoln, and Adair counties are well-known for their abundance of geodes.
Flint
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Carter County | 38.302399, -83.083364 |
| Harlan County | 36.893427, -83.075941 |
| Trigg County | 36.840645, -87.963480 |
| Flint Ridge | 37.197415, -86.073672 |
| Hardin County | 37.724180, -85.847776 |
| Barren County | 36.904436, -86.047109 |
If you’re on the hunt for flint, you have a great variety to choose from in Kentucky. Some popular types of flint and chert that you can seek out in this state include:
- Sonora Flint,
- Flint Ridge Chert,
- Nethers Chert,
- Boyle Chert,
- Haney Chert,
- and Paoli Chert.
Kentucky flint comes in plenty of colors, such as green, blue, black, and tan, and the quality varies depending on the location.
In addition to the fan-favorite location of Fling Ridge, you can also find high-quality flint in Carter County, Trigg County, and Hardin County.
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.
Agate
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Graves County | 36.760214, -88.624396 |
| Eddyville | 37.069116, -88.095754 |
| Lyon County | 36.980547, -88.021617 |
| Estill County | 37.720119, -83.990920 |
| Jackson County | 37.434412, -83.990197 |
| Rockcastle County | 37.370800, -84.365470 |
| Lee County | 37.568127, -83.730078 |
Agate is Kentucky’s state rock, so it’s no surprise that rockhounds may locate them all around. Banded agates in bright red, black, yellow, and grey are common across the state, making them simple to find.
Graves, Lyon, Estill, and Jackson counties provide the greatest agate hunting in Kentucky. The rivers and streams in these places are well-known for their abundance of high-quality agates!
Peridotite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Elliot County | 38.126969, -83.089805 |
| Ison Creek | 38.125279, -82.998707 |
| Crittenden County | 37.427112, -88.281299 |
| Caldwell County | 37.115155, -87.709400 |
| Livingston County | 37.233419, -88.451528 |
| Brushy Creek | 38.162932, -82.987325 |
Peridotite is a coarse, dark-green igneous rock that’s mainly composed of the mineral olivine, which is peridot that’s not gem quality. A rare variant of peridotite that’s found in Elliot County is kimberlite, a rock that’s known for containing diamonds.
Although Elliot County is famous for its peridotite, the surrounding counties of Caldwell and Livingston are also excellent sites for this rock.
TIP: If you want to find olivine mineral specimens, especially the peridot gemstone variant in the U.S., you need to understand how it forms. Find out more in the article below:
Where to Find Olivine: Best Environments & Locations (USA)
Bituminous Coal
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Floyd County | 37.558784, -82.755512 |
| Harlan County | 36.893427, -83.075941 |
| Lawrence County | 38.077814, -82.720711 |
| Livingston County | 37.215923, -88.435735 |
| Clay County | 37.210547, -83.717442 |
| Marshall County | 36.895239, -88.295536 |
| Bell County | 36.692576, -83.745458 |
Bituminous coal is one of Kentucky’s most important resources, located largely in the Eastern and Western Kentucky Coal Fields.
This black rock is vital in the production of electricity, heat, steel, and iron. Despite being a sedimentary rock, coal has become Kentucky’s state mineral!
Floyd County and Harlan County, two of the 57 counties that produce coal, are among the greatest locations to visit.
Limestone
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Warren County | 37.012399, -86.427645 |
| Livingston County | 37.171071, -88.412389 |
| Meade County | 38.047879, -86.277390 |
| Christian County | 36.903255, -87.501913 |
| Lexington | 38.001166, -84.454411 |
| Warsaw | 38.781271, -84.909071 |
Did you know that over 50 percent of Kentucky’s surface rocks are limestone? Most of the limestones in Kentucky contain fossilized sea creatures from the shallow sea that covered the state millions of years ago.
No matter where you go in Kentucky, limestone will surely be nearby. Check out Warren County, Livingston County, and Meade County for this sedimentary rock.
Sandstone
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Breckenridge County | 37.813710, -86.490160 |
| Livingston County | 37.114146, -88.409643 |
| Carter County | 38.300782, -83.127309 |
| Grayson County | 37.455603, -86.282055 |
| Metcalfe County | 36.983117, -85.591518 |
| Wolfe County | 37.751496, -83.587377 |
The Bluegrass State contains a variety of sandstones, the most well-known of which is Berea Sandstone. Because of its great strength and durability, Berea Sandstone is a popular material for construction and landscaping.
The Red River Gorge, a national monument that draws millions of people each year, is one place in Kentucky famed for its towering sandstone arches and cliffs.
If you want to see some spectacular sandstone vistas, head to the Red River Gorge, but bear in mind that you can’t collect the sandstone because it’s a national landmark.
Wolfe County, Breckenridge County, and Livingston County are some of the greatest sites in Kentucky where sandstone can be found.
TIP: Today, geology is an extremely diverse science. The multitude of sub-disciplines within geology allows individuals to choose what interests them the most. Check out why studying geology is not boring in the article below:
4 Reasons Why Geology is Not Boring (Explained by Geologists)
What Minerals Are Found in Kentucky
Gorgeous gem-quality minerals exist all over Kentucky, and some of the most common ones are:
Fluorite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Marion | 37.328723, -88.077352 |
| Breckenridge County | 37.892866, -86.579424 |
| Crittenden County | 37.385659, -88.106204 |
| Carrsville | 37.399630, -88.375092 |
| Lincoln County | 37.488830, -84.564173 |
| Elizabethtown | 37.724237, -85.869340 |
Kentucky possesses gorgeous, high-quality pieces of fluorite that display purple, yellow, black, blue, green, and pink colors. Although rockhounds find fluorite all over the state, Western Kentucky has produced some of the best fluorite in the world.
Every rockhound should visit Marion at least once since it’s famous for its beautiful pieces of fluorite, but if you can’t make it to Marion, be sure to stop by Breckenridge County or Crittenden County.
Pyromorphite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Big Four Mines | 37.349671, -88.192516 |
| Crittenden County | 37.288482, -88.089725 |
| Sheridan | 37.351138, -88.199305 |
| Livingston County | 37.114146, -88.409643 |
| Lafayette Mine | 37.217984, -88.134514 |
| Frances | 37.219364, -88.141909 |
Pyromorphite, a mineral composed of lead chlorophosphite, is a popular collectible in Kentucky.
This mineral is renowned for its bright, lime-green crystals with flat terminations, making it a stunning addition to any rockhound’s collection. Kentucky’s pyromorphite is of exceptional quality, making it well worth the effort to find.
For the best chance of bringing home this lovely green mineral, explore the Big Four Mines, an area well-known for its pyromorphite.
Celestine
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 37.480657, -84.562113 |
| Meade County | 37.997574, -86.296616 |
| Trimble County | 38.599131, -85.331855 |
| Casey County | 37.298802, -84.941154 |
| Shelby County | 38.197288, -85.148050 |
| Livingston County | 37.114146, -88.409643 |
If you want to add some shiny celestine, also called celestite, to your collection, Kentucky has more than enough for any rockhound!
Celestine from Kentucky displays light blue or white colors and often takes on geode-like formations. Luckily, it’s easy for rockhounds to find celestine in Kentucky since it’s abundant all over the state.
Lincoln County, Meade County, and Trimble County are some of the best rockhounding places for Celestine in Kentucky.
TIP: The most common crystals found inside a geode are quartz and its purple variety, amethyst. Less common are calcite, aragonite, celestine. Find out more about crystals you can find inside geodes in the article below:
16 Most Common Types of Crystals You Can Find in Geodes
Galena
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Crittenden County | 37.288482, -88.089725 |
| Fayette County | 37.975215, -84.433629 |
| Lincoln County | 37.480657, -84.562113 |
| Henry County | 38.437059, -85.273383 |
| Cumberland County | 36.764427, -85.399601 |
| Kentucky River | 37.847972, -84.766689 |
Although galena from certain areas of the U.S. contains silver, the samples found in Kentucky are rarely argentiferous. Kentucky’s galena mostly contains lead, but its dark, cubic crystals are still valued by collectors.
The areas in Crittenden County, Fayette County, and Lincoln County all have plenty of galena for rockhounds to collect.
Calcite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Scott County | 38.238123, -84.530034 |
| Lexington | 37.974107, -84.449605 |
| Princeton | 37.089453, -87.890383 |
| Kentucky Lake | 36.938267, -88.179542 |
| Lincoln County | 37.447957, -84.665110 |
| Gratz | 38.477167, -84.960680 |
If you’re searching for clear, white, pink, green, blue, or orange calcite crystals, Kentucky is a great place to be!
The Bluegrass State has no shortage of calcite crystals for rockhounds, and you can find crystals on their own or inside geodes. You can also find sharp Dogtooth Calcite in certain areas of the state, so use caution when collecting these spikey crystals.
Scott County and Lexington both have plenty of calcite and if you want to collect calcite geodes, Kentucky Lake is your best bet.
TIP: Calcite occurs in numerous colored and crystal habit varieties, ranging from $3 to $25,000.00 for a specimen. Find out more about value of calcite in the article below:
Calcite Value: Main Factors & Prices for Different Units
Barite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Boyle County | 37.601536, -84.840531 |
| Lincoln County | 37.447957, -84.665110 |
| Bourbon County | 38.183121, -84.238927 |
| Caldwell County | 37.144169, -87.856342 |
| Crittenden County | 37.288482, -88.089725 |
| Kentucky River | 37.847972, -84.766689 |
Barite deposits have been found in 23 Kentucky counties, which essentially means you can find it just about anywhere in the state. Rose and clear barite are the most common finds, but you can also come across specimens with a blue tinge.
While it’s true that barite exists all over Kentucky, some areas are known to have more than others, such as Boyle County, Lincoln County, and Crittenden County.
Hemimorphite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Crittenden County | 37.288482, -88.089725 |
| Livingston County | 37.114146, -88.409643 |
| Lafayette Mine | 37.217984, -88.134514 |
| Cumberland County | 36.764427, -85.399601 |
| Kentucky River | 37.847972, -84.766689 |
| Lincoln County | 37.447957, -84.665110 |
Hemimorphite is an ore of zinc, and it’s usually found alongside galena in Kentucky. The most common colors of Kentucky hemimorphite are white and green, and unfortunately, the popular blue specimens do not occur in this state.
Any location with galena is highly likely to have hemimorphite as well. Check out Crittenden County, Livingston County, and Cumberland County to add this mineral to your collection.
Chalcedony
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 37.447957, -84.665110 |
| Graves County | 36.729953, -88.587317 |
| Eddyville | 37.053910, -88.075498 |
| Hart County | 37.322524, -85.978217 |
| Jackson County | 37.350399, -83.992943 |
| Lee County | 37.556969, -83.683730 |
White, blue, and gray chalcedony are found almost anywhere in Kentucky, which isn’t surprising since agate is Kentucky’s state rock. One rare type of chalcedony that Kentucky possesses is botryoidal chalcedony, which resembles clusters of grapes.
Graves County, Hart County, and Lee County should be at the top of the travel itinerary for rockhounds who want to collect high-quality Kentucky chalcedony.
TIP: Rock tumbling is a rewarding hobby if you have patience. But where should you put your rock tumbler, and are they safe? Find out the answer in the article below:
Rock Tumblers: Where to Put Them & Proven Safety Tips
FAQ About Common Rocks & Minerals in Kentucky
Now that we’ve gone over the common rocks of Kentucky, let’s cover some of the rarer ones, such as:
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in Kentucky
Kentucky offers a wealth of rare rocks, making it a paradise for rockhounds. Some of the most popular finds include geodes, jaspers, agates, petrified wood, and peridotites.
During their adventures, rockhounds may also stumble upon various fossils of marine creatures from the Paleozoic Era. Among all the rare rocks in Kentucky, agate is the most sought-after.
As the state rock of Kentucky, agate is a prized find for many rockhounds. Kentucky’s banded agates are celebrated for their unique patterns and vibrant colors, including red, black, gray, and yellow.
For the best chances of finding rare rocks, visit Lincoln County, Lyon County, and Graves County. Whether you’re searching for agates, geodes, or petrified wood, Kentucky will not disappoint!
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in Kentucky
From rare gems such as rubies to multicolored pieces of rainbow fluorite, you’ll be able to find all sorts of rare minerals in Kentucky. On your expeditions, some rare minerals you might uncover are rubies, sapphires, onyx, fluorite, celestine, emeralds, and pyromorphite.
Even though pearls are technically not minerals, they are Kentucky’s state gemstone, so they are worth mentioning. The Bluegrass State is famous for its attractive freshwater pearls, which can be pulled from the Tennessee River Valley and Mississippi River Valley of Kentucky.
There are many counties in Kentucky where you can find precious minerals, so the easiest way to narrow down your search is to decide which minerals you want to collect and find the counties that have them.
Take a look at some of the popular rockhounding locations listed for the minerals above to see where your next destination should be.
What is the Most Famous Rock or Mineral Found in Kentucky
The most famous stone that’s found in Kentucky is agate, but fluorite is a close second. Kentucky agates are prized around the world for their bright and vivid bands of red, black, yellow, and grey.
Many of these agates were created during the Mississippian age, and rockhounds collect them from various counties in Kentucky.
A couple of well-known sites for Kentucky agates are Jackson County and Powell County, along with Madison and Estill Counties. For more Kentucky agate locations, see the chart listed in the agate section of this article.
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
Kentucky has a wealth of rocks and minerals hidden beneath its lovely bluegrass fields. Every rockhound will have the opportunity to find something distinctive and unique in this state.
With so many pyromorphites, agates, geodes, fluorites, and other minerals to find, no rockhound will go empty-handed. Whether you’re looking for Kentucky agates or multicolored fluorites, the Bluegrass State has it all and more!
TIP: This sunshine state is rich in rocks, minerals, and fossils – making it a rockhound’s dream. Find out the complete guide on rockhounding in Florida below:
Where to Rockhound in Florida (and What You Can Find)