Terre Haute: Fossil Hunting in Henderson County, Illinois

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Henderson County

State

Illinois

Nearest road

1100E

Coordinates

40.65578, -90.98002

Geology at Terre Haute

This spot sits on Meppen Limestone, Fern Glen Formation, and Burlington-Keokuk Limestone, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 360 to 330 million years ago. Limestone like this typically forms in ancient seas, so marine fossils such as brachiopods, corals, and crinoids tend to weather out of fresh exposures.

Mapped unit

Meppen Limestone, Fern Glen Formation, and Burlington-Keokuk Limestone

Age

360–330 Ma (Mississippian)

Rock types

limestone

Elevation

690 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Terre Haute

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 15°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LA HARPE station (5 mi away).

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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Terre Haute

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

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