Where to Find Hematite in the United States
80 mapped hematite spots across 12 U.S. states. Hematite is iron oxide — the mineral that gives red rocks their color. Specular and crystalline hematite show up in Lake Superior iron ranges, and botryoidal kidney ore turns up in many Western districts.
Learn about hematite: properties & identification →Map showing where to find hematite across the United States, with 80 mapped spots
Top states for hematite
States ranked by number of hematite spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused hematite-in-state list.
Every hematite spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
Hematite rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find hematite in the U.S.?+
Utah, Missouri, North Carolina have the highest concentrations of hematite in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many hematite rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
80 mapped spots across 12 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect hematite on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like hematite is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify hematite in the field?+
Field identification of hematite comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt hematite on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
