As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you.
There are many different types of rocks and minerals that lie tucked away in the vast prairies of Nebraska. In this guide, we’ll reveal both the common and rare rocks, minerals, and gems that exist in the Cornhusker State.
The common rocks and minerals of the Cornhusker State are:
- agate,
- opalized and agatized wood,
- jasper,
- geode,
- fossils,
- celestite,
- quartz,
- carnelian,
- opal,
- and calcite.
Information is crucial for finding the best rocks and minerals that Nebraska has to offer. With this guide in hand, you’ll know exactly what to expect from the Cornhusker State.
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 Nebraska
From rare agates to opalized wood, there are all kinds of rocks that are found in Nebraska, including:
Agate
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Whiteclay | 42.991926, -102.563096 |
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
| Orella | 42.895282, -103.501724 |
| Omaha | 41.299480, -96.132077 |
| Little Nemaha River | 40.516651, -96.121248 |
| Platte River | 40.930207, -98.233745 |
Did you know that Nebraska is one of the best states in the U.S. for agate-hunting? There are many unique types of agates in this state that any rockhound would love to collect, including Prairie Agates, Fairburn Agates, and Blue Chalcedony Agates.
The Prairie Agate is Nebraska’s state rock, and it is especially plentiful in the Oglala National Grassland. Unlike banded or other patterned agates, this agate doesn’t have a specific pattern. Instead, it displays its orange, white, and brown colors in splashes, swirls, and uneven lines.
Fairburn Agates are famous for their bright red, orange, black, and gray colors that are woven together with complex banding.
Renowned worldwide for their interrupted bands and beauty, Fairburn Agates are only found in Nebraska and South Dakota, so they are a top priority for rockhounds visiting the Cornhusker State.
And last but not least, the Blue Chalcedony Agates are great finds for rockhounds who enjoy more colorful rocks. Unlike other agates that reflect earthy tones, the Blue Chalcedony Agates possess bright blue and white bands that are so gorgeous that it’s difficult to look away from them.
In 1967, this blue stone was nominated as Nebraska’s state gemstone, and it’s generally found in Northwestern Nebraska.
Agates of all kinds are abundant in Nebraska, so no matter where you go, you should be able to collect quality agates. Some well-known spots for agate-hunting are Whiteclay, Dawes County, and the Platte River.
Opalized & Agatized Wood
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Lodgepole Creek | 45.098612, -113.315924 |
| Platte River | 40.930207, -98.233745 |
| Valentine | 42.882049, -100.555689 |
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
| Sioux County | 42.586180, -103.743837 |
| Chappel | 41.090971, -102.472400 |
| Keya Paha River | 42.989496, -99.625172 |
While petrified wood is common in Nebraska, there are two interesting types that you can find in the Cornhusker State. The first is opalized wood, which is essentially a combination between petrified wood and opal.
The second is agatized wood, which is similar to opalized wood except it’s composed of agate. As you can imagine, these unique fossils are gorgeous, especially with multicolored opals and agates.
Fortunately, petrified wood, opalized wood, and agatized wood all exist in Nebraska, so rockhounds can collect all three from a single state.
Opalized wood, agatized wood, and petrified wood are all very common in the Cornhusker State, especially in Dawes County and Sioux County.
TIP: The demand for natural petrified wood created the appearance of numerous fakes. Check out the differences between real and fake petrified wood in the article below:
Real vs. Fake Petrified Wood: Focus on These 10 Differences
Jasper
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
| Crawford | 42.684218, -103.422551 |
| Chappell | 41.090647, -102.468966 |
| Whiteclay | 42.996132, -102.568160 |
| Steele City | 40.035748, -97.022003 |
| Republican River | 40.187633, -100.577611 |
In the Cornhusker State, jaspers tend to display earthier tones, but rockhounds still find red and yellow specimens throughout the state. You can also find some pastel jaspers in Nebraska but only in specific locations.
For pastel jaspers, the Republican River is the place to go. You can also find jaspers in Crawford, Chappell, and Whiteclay.
Geode
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Blue River | 40.701259, -96.988315 |
| Dawes County | 42.732758, -103.253027 |
| Sioux County | 42.555839, -103.713624 |
| Holmesville | 40.200341, -96.657930 |
| Wymore | 40.116601, -96.657656 |
| Gage County | 40.228324, -96.708028 |
Geodes can be filled with all kinds of minerals, and the ones in Nebraska usually have quartz, chalcedony, or celestite.
Celestite geodes from Nebraska are stunning, especially since the blue celestite from this state is high-quality. You can also find geodes with drusy quartz in certain regions, but they are rarer than the other types.
Holmesville and Wymore are some of the best places to find geodes in the Cornhusker State. If you want to collect celestite geodes, head down to the Blue River.
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.
Fossils
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Scottsbluff Badlands | 41.851830, -103.705788 |
| Agate Fossil Beds | 42.436468, -103.735779 |
| Montrose | 42.920392, -103.730705 |
| Sioux County | 42.503215, -103.763063 |
| Little Badlands | 42.857572, -103.586438 |
| Whiteclay | 42.996132, -102.568160 |
Nebraska is a great place to be for rockhounds who enjoy gathering fossils! From small pieces of petrified palm wood to massive mammoth fossils, rockhounds find all sorts of fossils in this state.
The fossils of Nebraska are diverse, but the most common finds are plant fossils and small animal or insect fossils. The mammoth is Nebraska’s state fossil, which is surprising due to its enormous size, but these fossils are common in the Cornhusker State.
Scottsbluff Badlands, Little Badlands, and Sioux County are renowned for their diverse Nebraska fossils.
TIP: Some people like fossils the way they are, while others like to make them shiny or polish them. Check out the complete guide on making your fossils shiny in the article below:
Make Your Fossils Shiny (Simple Clearing & Polishing Tips)
What Minerals Are Found in Nebraska
Nebraska has just as many interesting minerals as rocks, as you’ll find out below:
Celestite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Otoe Creek | 40.080136, -96.703340 |
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
| Sioux County | 42.586180, -103.743837 |
| Blue River | 40.712320, -97.003422 |
| Fullerton | 41.374762, -97.966036 |
| Hay Springs | 42.683494, -102.692122 |
Celestite, or celestine, is a stunning, soft blue mineral that comes in multiple forms from the Cornhusker State.
In Nebraska, you may find celestite in the form of stunning, light blue crystals with high clarity, or you might find larger, tabular celestite structures. Typically, the celestite from Nebraska is of exceptional quality and highly sought-after by rockhounds.
If you are on the hunt for celestite geodes, scroll up to the geode portion of this article for rockhounding locations. If you want to collect celestite on its own, then Otoe Creek, Fullerton, and Hay Springs are great places to start.
Quartz
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Pine Ridge | 42.993747, -102.562367 |
| Wymore | 40.116601, -96.657656 |
| Blue River | 40.701259, -96.988315 |
| Sioux County | 42.586180, -103.743837 |
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
| Big Nehama River | 40.157761, -95.939662 |
Rockhounds often come across quartz in Nebraska, either in geode form or as singular crystals. However, lose singular crystals found from Nebraska’s waterways aren’t of the best quality since they become worn down over time. Because of this, rockhounds often prefer to find quartz inside geodes, where it remains untouched by rough waters.
Stop by Pine Ridge, the Blue River, and the Big Nehama River for quartz crystals from Nebraska.
TIP: No gemstone’s value is as elusive and variable as quartz. Check out the prices for different types of quartz in the article below:
How Much is Quartz Worth? Value for Common Quartz Varieties
Carnelian
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Orella | 42.916790, -103.473775 |
| Whitney | 42.923114, -103.436262 |
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
| Crawford | 42.684375, -103.422165 |
| Chadron | 42.827957, -103.009557 |
| Hay Springs | 42.663117, -102.724310 |
Would you have guessed that you could find carnelian in Nebraska? In specific locations, rockhounds are able to collect stunning, gem-quality carnelian for their collections. While it’s not as widespread across the state as other rocks and minerals, rockhounds are able to find it with ease from specific locations.
Check out Orella, Whiteny, and Dawes County to add Nebraska carnelian to your rockhounding collection.
Opal
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
| Morill County | 41.737451, -103.085962 |
| Sioux County | 42.586180, -103.743837 |
| Omaha | 45.811143, -112.864360 |
| Whiteclay | 42.997105, -102.567517 |
Since rockhounds find opalized wood in Nebraska, it’s no surprise that they often come across opals as well. Gem-quality opals from this state are stunning, and some lucky rockhounds even find moss opals from certain counties.
Dawes County, Sioux County, and Morill County are some of the top places for opals in Nebraska. You can also explore the areas near Omaha and Whiteclay, but if you want to collect moss opals specifically, it’s best to stick with Dawes and the other two counties.
TIP: Opal and opalite are fundamentally different substances with almost identical appearances. Check out the differences between them in the article below:
Opal vs. Opalite: 6 Crucial Differences (Are They Same?)
Calcite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Cass County | 40.874441, -96.202604 |
| Gage County | 40.228324, -96.708028 |
| Wymore | 40.116601, -96.657656 |
| Lincoln | 40.823993, -96.727712 |
| Blue River | 40.701259, -96.988315 |
| Dawes County | 42.763012, -103.272253 |
Most of the calcite that comes from Nebraska are clear or white crystals; however, they become much more interesting under a UV light. Nebraska calcite possesses florescence, which shows up under a UV light in a wide variety of colors.
Before you search for this mineral, it’s important to note that it’s only collected from specific locations in Nebraska, so you might need to add an additional stop to your rockhounding journey for calcite.
For calcite crystals, visit Cass County, Gage County, and Lincoln. If you want to find calcite geodes, the Blue River and Dawes County are the places to go.
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 Nebraska
In the Cornhusker State, some rare rocks and minerals you can find are:
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in Nebraska
Nebraska has plenty of rare rocks for rockhounds, including multiple types of agates, fossils, jaspers, geodes, opalized wood, agatized wood, and petrified wood. Some interesting agates this state is known for are Fairburn Agates, Prairie Agates, and Blue Chalcedony Agates.
The Cornhusker State also boasts a wide variety of fossils, from opalized and agatized wood to mammoth fossils. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the geodes from this state are stunning, especially the ones filled with pale blue calcite crystals.
There’s a lot of rare rocks that you can find in Nebraska, as long as you know where to look. Dawes County and Sioux County are home to some of the best rockhounding locations in the state, so be sure to add them to your itinerary.
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in Nebraska
Although Nebraska might not have as many rare minerals and gems as other U.S. states, it does have some beautiful ones that any rockhound would be proud to have, including carnelian, opal, celestine, and even fluorescent calcite.
When exposed to UV light, Nebraska calcite displays a wide variety of hidden colors that appear clear or white without the UV beams. In addition, Nebraska’s celestine is known for its stunning color and clarity, making it a quality find for any rockhound.
As you can see, even though Nebraska doesn’t have a long list of precious minerals, the ones it does possess are beautiful, valuable, and unique. Check out the Blue River, Dawes County, and Wymore to add some of Nebraska’s minerals to your collection.
What is the Most Famous Rock or Mineral Found in Nebraska
Nebraska has some interesting rocks and minerals, but they cannot compare to the agates that come from this state. Nebraska is an agate-lovers paradise, and some rockhounds travel here solely to find agates.
The agates from the Cornhusker State are famous for their unique patterns, vivid colors, and high quality. Additionally, agates that are rarely found in other U.S. states are common in Nebraska, which is just another reason why so many rockhounds visit this state for its agates.
Some famous Nebraska agates you might come across during your travels include Prairie Agates, Fairburn Agates, and Blue Chalcedony Agates. Check out the agate section at the beginning of this guide to learn more about these gorgeous agates and where to find them.
Conclusion
While some rockhounds choose to visit Nebraska solely for its agates, it has much more in store for rockhounds who want to collect other rocks and minerals. Opals, carnelian, fluorescent calcite, agatized wood, opalized wood, and much more await rockhounds in this state.
After you wrap up your agate-hunting journey, take a look around the Cornhusker State; you will find much more than you expected to see!
TIP: Nebraska is a fantastic state for rockhounding as there are a variety of minerals and rocks. Check out the complete guide on rockhounding in Nebraska in the article below:
Best Rockhounding Sites in Nebraska & What to Find