Where to Find Quartz in West Virginia

West Virginia quartz concentrates in the Appalachian sandstone country of the eastern panhandle. Berkeley Springs in Morgan County and the surrounding Lost River drainage in Hardy and Hampshire counties yield doubly-terminated quartz crystals ("diamonds") in sandstone vugs, similar in habit to the Herkimer diamond of New York. The crystals are small (under a centimeter) but well-formed and water-clear. Smaller showings of milky and smoky quartz occur in the Greenbrier Limestone outcrops of the southeast. Most collecting is on roadcuts and creek beds in eroded sandstone bluffs; active quarry access is limited. The most productive ground is in Berkeley Springs sandstone (Morgan County), Lost River drainage (Hardy County), Hampshire County roadcuts.

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

Berkeley Springs sandstone (Morgan County) is the standout. Other strong ground includes Lost River drainage (Hardy County), Hampshire County roadcuts.