Kasota: Fossil Hunting in Le Sueur County, Minnesota

Updated June 2026

Kasota is a mapped rockhounding spot in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Reported finds include fossilized coral. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Le Sueur County
State: Minnesota
Postcode: 56050
Coordinates: 44.28569, -93.99066

Geology at Kasota

This spot sits on Upper Cambrian, mapped as sandstone, siltstone, and shale that formed roughly 495 to 485 million years ago. Sedimentary layers like these are where fossils are typically preserved, and fresh exposures after rain or in active cuts tend to produce best.

Mapped unit: Upper Cambrian
Age: 495–485 Ma (Furongian)
Rock types: sandstone, siltstone, and shale
Elevation: 810 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 Kasota

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 22°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 3°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ST PETER station (3 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 Kasota

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

Fossilized Coral Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Kasota.

Across the state line from Kasota

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

Diamond BluffPierce County, Wisconsin · 71 mi awayDiamond

Kasota FAQ

Where is Kasota?+

Kasota is in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, at 44.28569, -93.99066.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Kasota?+

Kasota is reported to produce Fossilized Coral.

Is collecting allowed at Kasota?+

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 Kasota?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Kasota?+

The most comfortable months at Kasota are April to October.

How do I get to Kasota?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.28569, -93.99066 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Minnesota

See all 53 Minnesota spots →

Open Kasota on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.