Mount Pleasant: Geode Digging in Henry County, Iowa

Updated June 2026

Mount Pleasant is a mapped rockhounding spot in Henry County, Iowa. Reported finds include chert, geode. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Henry County
State: Iowa
Postcode: 52641
Coordinates: 40.95293, -91.56734

Geology at Mount Pleasant

This spot sits on ground mapped as Pella Fm and St. Louis Fm that formed roughly 340 to 325 million years ago. Geodes typically weather free of their host rock and collect as rounded float in soils and drainages.

Mapped unit: Pella Fm and St. Louis Fm
Age: 340–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Elevation: 660 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 Mount Pleasant

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MT PLEASANT 1 SW station (1 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 Mount Pleasant

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

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Mount Pleasant.

Across the state line from Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant is close enough to the Iowa border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Mount Pleasant FAQ

Where is Mount Pleasant?+

Mount Pleasant is in Henry County, Iowa, at 40.95293, -91.56734.

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

Mount Pleasant is reported to produce Chert, Geode.

Is collecting allowed at Mount Pleasant?+

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.

What tools should I bring to Mount Pleasant?+

Bring a crack hammer, a chisel, safety glasses, and a bucket. Candidates are rounder and lighter than solid rock; a soil pipe cutter opens them cleaner than a flat smash.

When is the best time to visit Mount Pleasant?+

The most comfortable months at Mount Pleasant are March to November.

How do I get to Mount Pleasant?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.95293, -91.56734 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Iowa

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Open Mount Pleasant on the map

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