Best spot

Mount Ida — Rockhounding in Montgomery County, Arkansas

Mount Ida sits in the heart of Arkansas's Ouachita quartz province, where hot fluids moved through fractured Paleozoic sandstone, shale, and chert to form crystal-bearing veins. That regional geology, documented by USGS and the Arkansas Geological Survey, is why the area remains the state's clearest benchmark locality for rock crystal collecting. Reported finds include quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Mount Ida photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material, with source and license attribution.

6 photos

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Montgomery County
State: Arkansas
Nearest road: Maplewood Lane
Coordinates: 34.54163, -93.63338

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Ouachita National Forest — Mineral Collecting
Crater of Diamonds State Park — Rules and finds
Arkansas Geological Survey
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Mount Ida

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Quartz Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Mount Ida.

Mount Ida FAQ

Why is Mount Ida one of the best rockhounding spots in Arkansas?+

Where is Mount Ida?+

Mount Ida is in Montgomery County, Arkansas, at 34.54163, -93.63338. Nearest road: Maplewood Lane.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Mount Ida?+

Mount Ida is reported to produce Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Mount Ida?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

How do I get to Mount Ida?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.54163, -93.63338 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Maplewood Lane.

More rockhounding in Arkansas

See all 32 Arkansas spots →

Open Mount Ida on the map

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