Where to Find Quartz in Missouri

Missouri quartz comes from two settings. The St. Francois Mountains in Iron, Madison, and Reynolds counties expose Precambrian rhyolite with vein quartz running through fault zones, and the surrounding drainages yield clear and milky quartz float. The Viburnum Trend mines (Sweetwater, Brushy Creek, Buick) produce drusy quartz on dolomite alongside the famous calcite and sphalerite specimens, including thin coatings on stalactitic calcite. The Ozark uplift broadly carries vein quartz in chert and dolomite outcrops across the southern half of the state. Most surface quartz is milky and weathered; underground mine specimens are clearer. The most productive ground is in St. Francois Mountains (Iron County), Viburnum Trend mine dumps (Reynolds County), Ozark plateau dolomite outcrops (Shannon County).

Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like quartz is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Missouri, 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.

St. Francois Mountains (Iron County) is the standout. Other strong ground includes Viburnum Trend mine dumps (Reynolds County), Ozark plateau dolomite outcrops (Shannon County).