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Where to Find Amethyst in Virginia

Virginia amethyst comes from the same pegmatite belt that produces the state's smoky and rose quartz. Amelia Court House pegmatites in Amelia County (the Rutherford and Morefield mines) yield amethyst sceptres and tipped points alongside the feldspar that the mines originally pursued. The Morefield mine runs pay-to-dig weekends and is the most reliable amethyst source in Virginia. Scottsville in Buckingham County and the Goshen Pass area in Rockbridge County add scattered amethyst float, mostly as pale-purple cores in milky quartz. Color saturation is moderate compared to Reel Mine material from North Carolina; Virginia amethyst tends pale to medium purple.

16 mapped amethyst rockhounding spots in Virginia, across 10 counties.

Map of 16 amethyst rockhounding spots in Virginia

Amethyst by county in Virginia

Counties ranked by number of amethyst spots in our database.

Every amethyst spot in Virginia

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
CharlottesvilleVirginia WayAlbemarle County37.9454, -78.4683Public
Cove CreekMonacan TrailAlbemarle County37.8748, -78.7228Public
Stockton CreekHeather Crest PlaceAlbemarle County38.0422, -78.7007Public
Amelia Court HouseButlers RoadAmelia County37.3582, -77.9185Public
Sayler's CreekSayler's Creek RoadAmelia County37.3109, -78.2301Public
AmherstAmethyst LaneAmherst County37.5466, -79.0112Public
Fancy HillThrashers Creek RoadAmherst County37.6702, -79.1263Public
Peaks of OtterSharp Top Access TrailBedford County37.4329, -79.6043Public
BrooknealWickliffe RoadCampbell County37.0612, -78.9329Public
Red HouseCampbell County37.2054, -78.8676Public
Charlotte CourthouseDogwood RoadCharlotte County37.0522, -78.6777Public
CentrevilleCompton RoadFairfax County38.8208, -77.4664Public
Morefield Gem MineGlen Aire RoadLouisa County37.9131, -77.8727Paid / fee
TreviliansBrickhouse RoadLouisa County38.0083, -78.1267Public
Saunders FarmTye Brook HighwayNelson County37.7215, -78.9707Public
MinnievilleRunning Creek DrivePrince William County38.6359, -77.3997Public

Amethyst in Virginia FAQ

Where can I find amethyst in Virginia?+
Virginia amethyst comes from the same pegmatite belt that produces the state's smoky and rose quartz. Amelia Court House pegmatites in Amelia County (the Rutherford and Morefield mines) yield amethyst sceptres and tipped points alongside the feldspar that the mines originally pursued. The Morefield mine runs pay-to-dig weekends and is the most reliable amethyst source in Virginia. Scottsville in Buckingham County and the Goshen Pass area in Rockbridge County add scattered amethyst float, mostly as pale-purple cores in milky quartz. Color saturation is moderate compared to Reel Mine material from North Carolina; Virginia amethyst tends pale to medium purple. The most productive ground is in Morefield mine (Amelia County), Rutherford pegmatite (Amelia County), Goshen Pass (Rockbridge County).
Is collecting amethyst legal in Virginia?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like amethyst is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Virginia, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.
What is the best amethyst location in Virginia?+
Morefield mine (Amelia County) is the standout. Other strong ground includes Rutherford pegmatite (Amelia County), Goshen Pass (Rockbridge County).

Other states for amethyst

Other minerals to find in Virginia

Hunt amethyst in Virginia on the map

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