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Rockhounding in Tennessee

59 mapped spots across 36 counties. Tennessee produces a wide range of rockhounding-grade material — see the full list of spots, minerals, and access notes below.

Map showing 59 rockhounding spots in Tennessee

Top minerals found in Tennessee

Counts reflect how many spots in this list mention each mineral.

Rockhounding near major Tennessee cities

Day-trip range. Each section lists the closest mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of the city — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive.

Neighboring states with rockhounding

Geology rarely respects state borders. These states share mapped rockhounding country with Tennessee — useful when Tennessee is the start, not the whole trip. Each card links to the closest county across the line.

Rockhounding by county in Tennessee

County pages are linked once we have at least 3 mapped spots for a focused guide with coordinates, mineral notes, and nearby spots.

Every rockhounding spot in Tennessee

Sorted by county. Tap coordinates to open in Google Maps, or open RockHoundR for the full map view with land overlays and weather.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Horse MountainTuliptree RoadBedford County
  • Horse Mountain Agate
35.5130, -86.4200Public
Pannell RidgeHorse Mountain RoadBedford County
  • Agatized Coral
35.5300, -86.3855Public
Philippi ChurchPhilippi RoadBedford County
  • Agatized Coral
35.5141, -86.3859Public
Sugar CreekSR 64Bedford County
  • Agatized Coral
35.4550, -86.5108Public
FriendsvilleQuarry Hollow RoadBlount County
  • Marble
35.7764, -84.1071Public
Montvale SpringsMontvale RoadBlount County35.6395, -83.9668Public
TownsendFox Hollow RoadBlount County35.6662, -83.7519Public
Blue SpringsOld Blue Sprgs RoadBradley County35.0876, -84.9131Public
ClevelandOld Chattanooga Pike SouthwestBradley County35.1124, -84.9213Public
JellicoUS 25WCampbell County36.5512, -84.0692Public
Cannon CountyGassaway RoadCannon County35.8298, -86.0590Public
WoodburyIvy Point LaneCannon County35.7933, -85.9896Public
Roan MountainLaurel Hylands RoadCarter County36.1940, -82.0825Public
Stony CreekWillow Springs RoadCarter County36.3732, -82.1549Public
Straight Creek MinesStraight Creek RoadClaiborne County36.3892, -83.6427Public
Big CreekJoy WayCocke County
  • Green Quartz
35.8390, -83.0958Public
Del RioOld Fifteenth RoadCocke County35.9094, -83.0452Public
Del RioDean WayCocke County35.9367, -83.0263Public
Mine RidgeBible WayCocke County35.8327, -83.1229Public
Rag MountainGulf RoadCocke County35.8117, -83.0461Public
BeechgroveOscar Crowell RoadCoffee County
  • Chalcedony Nodules
35.6082, -86.2315Public
Crab OrchardCrab Orchard Rock Quarry RoadCumberland County
  • Crab Orchard Sand Stone
35.9109, -84.8690Public
Tennessee River & StreamsDecatur County
  • Pearls
35.3859, -88.1751Public
BoatlandFentress County36.4109, -85.0446Public
Carpenter Hollow and Buffalo CoveGlenobey RoadFentress County36.3798, -84.9861Public
GreenevilleCedar AvenueGreene County36.1795, -82.8651Public
RussellvillePinkney CircleHamblen County36.2565, -83.1856Public
Missionary RidgeLine StreetHamilton County
  • Bauxite
35.0391, -85.2510Public
Coffee BluffCoffee LoopHardin County35.2778, -88.2921Public
GreeneHipshire Hollow RoadHawkins County36.4245, -82.9167Public
CentervilleM R Kimbro RoadHickman County
  • Cobalt
  • Nickel
35.7475, -87.4690Public
Mossy CreekHicks RoadJefferson County36.1106, -83.4770Public
New MarketJefferson County36.1001, -83.5357Public
MascotMascot RoadKnox County36.0653, -83.7348Public
LawrenceburgUS 64Lawrence County35.2315, -87.3733Public
Marion CountyDancing Fern RoadMarion County35.1470, -85.5968Public
MonteagleI 24;US 64Marion County
  • Calcite Onyx
35.2088, -85.8192Public
Little Tennessee RiverMount Pleasant RoadMonroe County35.5402, -84.0898Public
SweetwaterSweetwater Vonore RoadMonroe County35.6058, -84.3866Public
LivingstonCelina HighwayOverton County36.4510, -85.3557Public
CopperhillGrassy Creek RoadPolk County35.0046, -84.3993Public
DucktownStansbury Mountain RoadPolk County35.0325, -84.3655Public
CookevillePoplar Grove RoadPutnam County36.1358, -85.4288Public
MontereyLivingston HighwayPutnam County36.1781, -85.2877Public
SpringfieldBecky LaneRobertson County36.5172, -86.8983Public
MurfreesboroMiddle Tennessee BoulevardRutherford County35.8552, -86.3704Public
GatlinburgGrassy Branch TrailSevier County35.6967, -83.5081Public
Nun's CoveSharp RoadSevier County35.8722, -83.4156Public
BristolUS 421;SR 44Sullivan County
  • Onyx
36.5416, -82.1242Public
KingsportCleek RoadSullivan County
  • Limestone
36.5512, -82.4764Public
MemphisTN 59Tipton County35.5114, -89.9334Public
Bumpus Cove mining districtBumpus Cove RoadUnicoi County36.1518, -82.4898Public
Flag PondJames H. Quillen ParkwayUnicoi County36.0164, -82.5479Public
Limestone quarriesUnicoi DriveUnicoi County36.2605, -82.3205Public
Unaka MountainsAppalachian TrailUnicoi County36.1102, -82.3815Public
New Prospect MineHelms Ferry RoadUnion County36.3982, -83.8414Public
Ben Lomond MountainWarren County35.6284, -85.7732Public
Bumpus CoveGraveyard Hill RoadWashington County
  • Blue Jasper
36.1684, -82.4750Public
Wayne CountySouth High StreetWayne County35.3196, -87.7635Public

Tennessee rockhounding FAQ

Is rockhounding legal in Tennessee?+
Casual hand collecting is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Tennessee, with daily and annual limits set by the managing field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal lands are off-limits. Always confirm rules with the local agency before a trip.
What rocks and minerals can you find in Tennessee?+
Tennessee spots in this list most commonly produce Calcite, Pyrite, Celestite, Quartz, Geode. The full list across all spots is broader.
How many rockhounding sites are in Tennessee?+
RockHoundR currently lists 59 rockhounding spots in Tennessee across 36 counties. Many more exist; the app keeps your private finds saved alongside the public ones.
Can I take rocks home from Tennessee public land?+
On most BLM and Forest Service land, recreational hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed in reasonable amounts. Vertebrate fossils, archaeological items, and posted mining-claim minerals are not. Check the field office for current limits.

Map every Tennessee spot in the app

Open the RockHoundR app to see Tennessee on a real map with public land overlays, weather, geology, and your saved finds.

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