Murfreesboro, AR
diamond, amethyst, jasper
State park dig · Checked against its source August 16, 2026
What's in the ground where you live — and where you're allowed to dig for it
Two answers, kept honest and kept separate: the mineral story told by 265,790 historic federal records across the fifty states, and the 159 places where collecting is actually legal — fee digs, designated public-land areas, and official localities, each with its source and the date we last checked it.
Mineral history, not an invitation. This mineral history comes from a federal record of historic mines, prospects, and occurrences. It is not a list of places to collect. Historic mine sites are usually on private land, under active mining claims, or unsafe to enter — and often all three. The places you can actually collect are in the legal-access directory below.
Open your state's drawer
Drawers worth driving for
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Middleville, NY
herkimer diamonds, doubly terminated quartz, calcite
Fee dig · Checked against its source August 16, 2026
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Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area
Plush, OR
oregon sunstone, clear labradorite feldspar, schiller feldspar
BLM collecting area · Checked against its source August 16, 2026
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Hiddenite, NC
emerald, hiddenite, aquamarine
Fee dig · Checked against its source August 16, 2026
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Topaz Mountain Rockhound Recreation Area
UT
topaz, bixbyite, red beryl
BLM collecting area · Checked against its source August 16, 2026
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Wise River, MT
quartz crystals, smoky quartz, amethyst
Forest Service collecting area · Checked against its source August 16, 2026
The field kit
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directory · every state
Filter legal collecting sites by state, mineral, fees, and kid-friendliness.
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reference · scratch, streak, luster
Three field questions narrow your find to its likely candidates. Printable field card.
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tool · museum drawer labels
Type mineral, locality, and date — print a catalog-style label at drawer-card size.