About Rockhounding.org: The Community Behind 1,000+ Verified Locations

Rockhounding.org is a free, community-built directory of rockhounding locations across all 50 U.S. states. We maintain over 1,000 GPS-verified sites — from BLM land and National Forest access points to paid dig sites and commercial mines — searchable by state, mineral type, and location type.

Every location includes GPS coordinates you can navigate to, access status (public, permitted, or commercial), what specimens have been found there, and seasonal collecting advice. The interactive maps let you explore locations visually, filter by what you want to find, and discover new sites near you.

We don't scrape other websites or bulk-import unverified lists. Every location in the database goes through a review process before it appears on the map:

• Source verification — Locations are cross-referenced against BLM surface management maps, USFS Motor Vehicle Use Maps, USGS mineral resource databases, and state geological survey publications.
• GPS accuracy — Coordinates must resolve to a real, accessible location. We reject submissions that point to private property, restricted areas, or coordinates that don't match the described site.
• Access validation — We verify whether a site is on public land, requires a permit, or is a commercial operation. Getting this wrong could send someone onto private property or into a restricted area.
• Community corrections — Visitors report when conditions change: access roads close, mines shut down, or regulations update. We review and apply corrections regularly.

No paid placements. No sponsored pins. If a location is on the map, it's because it passed the review — not because someone paid for it.

The database started with a few dozen locations and has grown through years of community contributions. Rockhounds across the country submit locations they've visited, share photos of their finds in the community gallery, and log their trips in public logbooks that help others plan their own adventures.

If you know a site that's missing from the map, submit it through any map page. The best rockhounding directories are the ones built by people who actually go outside and hit rocks.

Content on Rockhounding.org is written and maintained by a small team of rockhounding enthusiasts with backgrounds in geology, public land management, and field collecting. Our editorial process covers four areas:

• Location research — Every location guide is cross-referenced against BLM surface management maps, USFS records, and state geological survey data before publishing.
• Mineral identification — Specimen information is sourced from USGS publications, regional gem and mineral society resources, and field experience.
• Equipment and techniques — Gear recommendations are based on actual field use, not manufacturer claims. We only recommend tools our team has tested.
• Regulations and access — Land use rules are sourced directly from BLM, USFS, NPS, and state agency publications — not from other rockhounding websites.

All content published on Rockhounding.org follows these principles:

• Accuracy over speed — We'd rather leave a page unpublished than post inaccurate information about regulations, access, or mineral identification.
• Regulations from the source — Land use rules are sourced from agency publications (BLM, USFS, NPS, state agencies), not from other rockhounding websites.
• No paid endorsements — When we mention tools, gear, or paid dig sites, it's because our contributors have used them. Affiliate links are clearly identified.
• Community accountability — If you find an error, report it. We correct mistakes, we don't bury them.

Have a question, correction, or location to submit? We want to hear from you:

• Submit a location — Use the "Submit New Location" button on any map page.
• Report an error — If a location's information is outdated or incorrect, let us know so we can fix it.
• General inquiries — Reach us through the contact information on our site.