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Even though West Virginia isn’t as popular as its sister state Virginia, it still possesses some interesting rocks and minerals. Let’s study all the collectible rocks and minerals of West Virginia in this guide.
The common rocks and minerals of West Virginia are:
- geode,
- silicified coral,
- chert,
- petrified wood,
- opal,
- gold,
- quartz,
- celestite,
- and calcite.
Even the most skilled rockhounds need information before diving into a new state. Before you visit the Mountain State, take a look at this guide that contains everything you need to know about rockhounding in West Virginia.
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 West Virginia
Some of the most sought-after rocks in West Virginia are:
Geode
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Smoke Hole | 38.856843, -79.276301 |
| Keyser City | 39.442065, -78.992826 |
| Pendleton County | 38.652063, -79.422299 |
| Cabin Mountain | 39.004430, -79.419281 |
Geodes are not as plentiful in this state as they tend to be in other states, but they do exist in West Virginia! Geodes come from the limestone outcroppings in this state, and you’ll need to search at very specific locations to find them.
The areas that you can search for geodes in West Virginia are Smoke Hole, Keyser City, Cabin Mountain, and Pendleton County.
Silicified Coral
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Hillsboro | 38.133887, -80.216195 |
| Mill Point | 38.157600, -80.181074 |
| Williamsburg | 37.969882, -80.492860 |
One fascinating fossil that West Virginia has is called silicified coral. As you might have guessed, this fossil is what remains of ancient coral, and these stones tend to be blue or red in color.
Lithostrotionella is the name of the specific type of Mississippian coral that inhabited West Virginia, and it was designated as West Virginia’s state gem.
To collect red silicified coral, look near Williamsburg and Mill Point. If you want to collect blue silicified coral, Hillsboro will be your next stop!
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.
Chert
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Huntersville | 38.188428, -80.015958 |
| Possum Hollow | 38.178605, -79.991278 |
| Moss Mountain | 37.627975, -80.282711 |
| Franklin | 38.643821, -79.325179 |
White, yellow, and red chert are common in West Virginia, especially near the Huntersville Chert formation. Fortunately, West Virginia produces gem-quality chert, which is perfect for cutting and polishing.
In addition to Huntersville, you can collect gem-quality chert from Possum Hollow, Moss Mountain, and Franklin.
Petrified Wood
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Charleston | 38.340997, -81.634622 |
| Berry Hills Country Club | 38.319134, -81.691112 |
| Monongalia County | 39.629889, -80.157621 |
| Baker City | 39.040774, -78.745899 |
Petrified wood and silicified wood are two popular treasures that rockhounds come across in West Virginia. Petrified wood is a bit more common and spread throughout the state while silicified wood typically only appears in a certain area.
Silicified wood is gathered from Charleston, and the areas in Monongalia County are the best places to collect West Virginia petrified wood.
TIP: Many petrified kinds of wood are unsuitable for rock tumbling or lapidary work because it has too many faults and fractures. Find out how to cut and polish petrified wood in the article below:
How To Cut & Polish Petrified Wood: Follow These 3 Steps
What Minerals Are Found in West Virginia
Dive into the minerals of West Virginia with the following sections:
Opal
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Monongalia County | 39.629889, -80.157621 |
| Monroe County | 37.538505, -80.571382 |
| Jefferson County | 39.310137, -77.885520 |
| Coopers Rock | 39.636304, -79.815526 |
As you might expect, most of the opals from West Virginia are common opals. However, there have been instances where rockhounds have found precious and even fire opals in this state!
Monongalia County should be your first stop for opals in West Virginia, but Monroe County and Jefferson County are two other popular areas to search for opals.
Gold
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 39.310137, -77.885520 |
| Tucker County | 39.084402, -79.617307 |
| Smoke Hole Canyon | 38.875438, -79.267796 |
| Potomac River | 38.891591, -79.241185 |
| Big Bend Campground | 38.889612, -79.238578 |
Even though there aren’t any precious metal mines in West Virginia, many rockhounds pan for gold in the rivers and creeks. Additionally, the greenstone belts of this state contain gold on the inside, so they are perfect if you don’t want to pan in the river.
Jefferson County and Tucker County have plenty of places for gold panning, and the south branch of the Potomac River is also a great area for this shiny mineral.
Quartz
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Franklin | 38.644056, -79.328526 |
| Moss Mountain | 37.627839, -80.282625 |
| Alderson | 37.725222, -80.646386 |
| Knobly Mountain | 39.346512, -79.011154 |
| Berkeley County | 39.446579, -78.022230 |
| Harman | 38.920066, -79.524929 |
The two types of quartz that rockhounds often come across in West Virginia are crystal clear quartz and smoky quartz. Unfortunately, amethyst is rare in West Virginia, but it has been found in certain areas, such as Hancock County and Mineral County.
Franklin, Moss Mountain, Alderson, and Knobly Mountain have plenty of gorgeous clear, smoky, and even double-terminated quartz crystals for rockhounds to collect.
Celestite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Knobly Mountain | 39.346512, -79.010854 |
| Mineral County | 39.385281, -78.941107 |
| Pendleton County | 38.631683, -79.398953 |
| North Fork Gap | 38.985064, -79.241434 |
| Fort Spring | 37.744679, -80.538900 |
If you want to collect stunning, high-quality celestite, West Virginia won’t disappoint! Celestite, or celestine, from this state ranges from smoky blue to pure, ice blue.
Occasionally, you might come across West Virginia celestite that is yellow or orange from impurities. In many of the areas with celestite, you’re highly likely to find quartz as well.
Check out Knobly Mountain, Mineral County, and Pendleton County for high-quality celestite from West Virginia.
Calcite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Greer | 39.571875, -79.842041 |
| Knobly Mountain | 39.346512, -79.010854 |
| Berkeley County | 39.457183, -78.041456 |
| Harman | 38.918831, -79.525359 |
| Judy Gap | 38.706805, -79.460306 |
One mineral that’s extremely common in West Virginia is calcite. White, orange, pink, and blue crystals are the most common colors, and they are spread all throughout the entire state. Calcite is often discovered alongside other minerals in this state, including fluorite, celestite, and quartz.
Greer, Knobly Mountain, and Berkeley County have produced some beautiful, colorful calcite crystals that any rockhound would be proud to own.
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 West Virginia
As you explore West Virginia, keep a lookout for these rare rocks and minerals:
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in West Virginia
In the Mountain State, some rare rocks you might see are geodes, silicified coral, jasper, petrified wood, and silicified wood.
Silicified coral is a very popular find, especially since it’s the state gem of West Virginia. This coral appears red or blue, and there have been some amazing specimens from this state, which is why they are such an attraction for rockhounds.
To find each of these rare rocks, look at the locations listed in the sections above. For many of these rocks, there are multiple areas you can visit in order to collect them.
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in West Virginia
West Virginia has an interesting assortment of rare minerals to offer, which includes gold, celestite, opal, carnelian, fluorite, epidote, and diamond. From this list, fluorite, epidote, and diamond are the rarest and are not often discovered in this state.
However, if you want to collect gold, celestite, opal, or carnelian, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so in the Mountain State.
Knobly Mountain, Berkeley County, and Monongalia County are some great areas if you want to collect more than one rare mineral. To find a specific mineral or gem, use the locations listed in the previous sections.
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 West Virginia
One West Virginia rock that many rockhounds want to collect is silicified coral. This coral is a fossil from the Mississippian period, and it can appear red or blue in color. Despite the fact that this coral, called Lithostrotionella, is a fossil, it was nominated as the state gem of West Virginia.
Silicified coral shows up in Hillsboro, Mill Point, and Williamsburg. To learn more about silicified coral, take a look at the designated section above.
Conclusion
West Virginia might not be the most plentiful rockhounding state, but it still has some interesting and precious rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils.
During your trip to the Mountain State, you’ll have the opportunity to pan for gold, excavate for silicified coral, dig for calcite crystals, and more. No matter what you find in West Virginia, you are sure to have a rockhounding adventure that creates plenty of memories!
TIP: West Virginia boasts its own natural beauty and geological wonders waiting to be explored and appreciated. Check out the complete rockhounding guide in the article below:
Best Rockhounding Locations in West Virginia & What to Find