VIRGINIA
State Rock & Fossil: Chesapecten Jeffersonius (1993)
Virginia is a wonderful place for Rockhouders. This state contains a wide variety of rocks and mineral and numerous places to find them.
We can credit the Appalachian Mountains for this.
Popular with collectors are the high quality specimens of minerals like Epidote, Unakite, Amethyst, and Amazonite. These can be found in the central and western parts of the state.
Fossl collecting is best in Eastern Virginia
The best locations will be the old mines, and the gravels of rivers and streams. The towns of Laurel Fork and Stuart in particular. Kyanite mines close to Willis Mountain are also a great place too look.
These are a few of the things you may want to take along with you on your dig:
A small, handheld garden rake
A handheld trowel
Knee pads or an old cushion to kneel/sit on
A bucket, for holding your finds
Newspaper or grocery bags to wrap and protect your crystals
While digging crystals you will probably be outside for a long time. You may want to bring:
Water
Snacks
A wide hat
Sunscreen
Bug spray, and a small first aid kit (Quartz can be sharp!)
SCUFFLIN ACRES PROSPECT
261 Scufflin Acres Lane
Prospect, Virginia 23960
(434) 392-4321
MINE INFORMATON
A retired dairy farm that has opened it’s fields to rock hunter enthusiast. We have a variety of quartz, amethyst raging from smokey, to light, and dark purple.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Medium size pry bar
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
HOURS
Open 7 days a week
Closed for the fall, will reopen in the spring
Disclaimer
Please note that rock collecting locations are always changing so be sure to check with the site owner for the most current information before going.
Dig safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect rocks.