Verified Rockhounding Destinations in Arkansas for 7 Gemstones

It’s no secret that this is a well-loved state by rockhounds; individuals are encouraged to get digging in public gem mines in Arkansas. If you are a crystal lover, then you’ll really appreciate the abundance of fine stones that can be found with some basic preparation.

You, too, can experience the Natural State and the quality and quantity of precious gems in Arkansas. Let us get to know where to find gemstones in Arkansas, how to find gemstones in Arkansas, and what stones are found in Arkansas.

You can find one of the most sought-after gemstones, the Diamond, at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, as well as some epic varieties of Quartz points, including Fine Clear Quartz, Amethyst, and Citrine in the Ouachita Mountain regions of Arkansas.

Many crystals found in Arkansas are of high quality, the Quartz here is often exceptionally clear, and you may dig up some massive points! These aren’t the only crystals to be found, so let’s learn more about the what, where, how, and the energy-healing value of Arkansas gemstones.

Basics of Rockhounding in Arkansas

State Symbols
State Gemstone	Diamond
State Mineral	Quartz
State Rock	Bauxite

History of Rockhounding and Gemstones in Arkansas

It is easy to see why this southeastern state is nicknamed the Natural State as over 50% of its area is covered by forests. It is home to incredible mountains, caves, and even natural hot springs.

The original rockhounds here were the Native American people. Among other minerals, they also greatly utilized and appreciated the Quartz that this region is famous for. They sculpted tools and also used these gems for ornamentation and ritual purposes.

The oldest evidence of indigenous people using Quartz is a fluted Clovis point arrowhead estimated to be from 9000 BC. Many other stone artifacts have been found since in Arkansas.

1930 was the start of commercial Quartz mining here, and today, Arkansas continues to be a popular location for extracting stunning Quartz stones, among other crystals and minerals.

Climate and Wildlife in Arkansas

Arkansas is categorized as a humid subtropical climate region. The weather is comparatively mild, but be sure to check the specifics for the time of year and locations you plan to visit.

There’s a significant amount of rainfall each month, but this can be beneficial when it comes to finding gems, especially Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds. After a good rain, it is easier to surface-collect Diamonds.

The Natural State was initially nicknamed the Bear State and is still home to a population of black bears on the rebound after years of overhunting. There are also elk, foxes, bats, butterflies, birds, rodents, armadillos, reptiles, deer, and more.

Best Arkansas Rockhounding Locations

These are some of the rockhounding locations for finding the best Arkansas gemstones. Be sure to conduct further research for the most current info and accessibility of each location.

Disclaimer: This list is based on cross-referenced research, as we have not visited these locations in person.

Location	What Can Be Found
Crater of Diamonds State Park	Diamonds, Garnet, and Quartz.
Ouachita Mountains	Quartz
Montgomery County	Quartz
Mt. Ida	Quartz
Hot Springs County	Quartz, Amber, Astrophyllite, Opal, and Garnet.
Saline County	Quartz, Astrophyllite, and Garnet.
Garland County	Precious Opal, Opal, and Garnet.
Pulaski County	Opal, Astrophyllite, Garnet, and Azurite.
Sevier County	Opal and Azurite.
Washington County	Opal
Pike County	Diamonds, Garnet, and Quartz.
Fulton County	Azurite

Top 7 Gemstones in Arkansas

There are plenty of the most precious gems to find in this state, so let’s learn more about the top gemstones you can find on an Arkansas gem-hunting adventure.

Diamond

In Arkansas, you have the rare opportunity to prospect for Diamonds within the Crater of Diamonds State Park which is an ancient volcanic crater filled with Diamonds. Mining here has a small fee, but considering that around 35,000 Diamonds have been found here, there is a good chance you take home a great reward.

You can directly scour the surface of the plowed volcanic fields or strategically fill and refine buckets of dirt using panning equipment while carefully looking out for colorless, yellow, or brown Diamonds.

Diamonds are not just attractive for their physical beauty and strength, but they also have a powerful, energetic vibration. The spiritual benefits of working with Diamond energy include increased passion, intelligence, abundance, and charisma.

Fun Facts: The biggest Diamond found at the Crater of Diamond State Park is called Uncle Sam and is a whopping 40.23 carats. Most recently (September 2023), a seven-year-old girl found a 2.95-carat golden brown Diamond here.

Quartz

Arkansas is home to what is referred to as the Quartz capital of the world, Mt Ida. High-quality crystals are found inside pockets or veins within weathered sandstone. The points in Arkansas are exceptionally clear and may be stained brown with iron oxide from the ground.

Macrocrystalline Quartz varieties include Amethyst, Citrine, Smoky Quartz, Milky, and the most coveted Clear Quartz points and clusters. Cryptocrystalline Quartz varieties that are found in Arkansas include Chalcedony, Agate, and Jasper.

Quartz can be found in the Ouachita Mountains, Montgomery, Saline, and Garland Counties, as well as other locations. You will need your essential hand mining tools, including a pick and shovel, as well as safety gear.

The Wegner Quartz Crystal Mine, Twin Creek Crystal Mine, Sweet Surrender Miner, and Crystal Vista near Mt Ida are a few gem mines in Arkansas that you can visit. Some of these mines are even completely free!

Different types of Quartz crystals have nuanced benefits, but generally, Quartz points are sought after for energy healing and spiritual practices. This master healer crystal has the power to amplify the energy that it is intentionally programmed with.

Amber

Chunks of raw, yellow to brown Amber can be procured from the Malvern Claypits in Hot Springs County. Arkansas Amber is unique in that it has a rougher form, often has low clarity, and specimens can include pieces of brown matrix.

The Amber found here is not graded as gem quality. It is beautiful in its own way, however, and there have been a few new insect species discovered preserved with this fossilized tree resin from Arkansas.

Carry your basic hand-mining tools and safety gear to extract pieces of Amber from the soft lignite beds.

Amber is known to stimulate physical healing and transformation as well as increase patience and confidence. Its spiritual properties include deeply connecting to nature and encouraging gratitude.

Astrophyllite

It’s not technically a gemstone, but these metallic bronze, golden yellow, brown to red-brown starburst crystals are so rare and beautiful. Astrophyllite has been found in at least seven locations in Arkansas.

Astrophyllite is sought after in crystal healing, as it is a stone that guides us to integrate the knowledge and power of both the cosmos and Earth. Working with this crystal will encourage multidimensional perception, deep healing, and spiritual upgrades

Carry your mining tools and safety gear, and keep your eyes peeled for that metallic glimmer because this crystal can be found in pegmatites or quarries in Hot Springs, Saline, and Pulaski Counties.

Be sure to do some extra research and use your tools with precision and care, as Astrophyllite is very low in hardness.

Opal

There has been only a single mention of Precious Opal being found in Garland County, and it occurs minimally as a thin film with Vanadium. Common Opal is greenish yellow or gray with dark dendritic inclusions, or Hyaline Opal, a transparent colorless variety that coats other minerals, is found more often.

Search for these common Opals in Garland, Pike, Hot Springs, Pulaski, Sevier, or Washington County at Arkansas Opal mines or quarries. Research more on how to mine Opals and take your safety gear and tools, such as a hammer, chisels, pick, shovel, and flat screwdriver.

These are well-regarded stones for crystal healing. You can intentionally connect with the vibration of Opal for benefits, including abundance, harmony, improved cognition, and prosperity

Garnet

There are various members of the Garnet group present in Arkansas, including Andradite (Hot Springs, Garland, Saline, Pike, and Pulaski Counties), Almandine (Pike County), Grossular (Hot Springs County), and Pyrope (Pike County).

You may come across Garnets when digging for other gems, or you can seek them out in and around creeks in the counties mentioned above. Take along a shovel and your screens to sort through gravel to find them.

Garnets have a strong, energetic presence and effect. These crystals are deeply grounding and activating. Garnet revitalizes your body, emotions, and creativity.

Azurite

There are several types of copper ore minerals found in Arkansas, including Malachite, Chrysocolla, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite and, of course, Azurite.

Azurite has been found in mines and copper prospecting sites in Sevier, Fulton, and Pulaski Counties. You can carry your safety gear and set of mining tools to carefully extract any vivid blue Azurite crystal that you find while gem mining in Arkansas.

In terms of crystal healing, Azurite is a stone that activates divine expression and perception. It has benefits, including enhanced focus, mental clarity, and ease of communication.

How to Do Rockhounding in Arkansas

Gear and tools prepared and placed on the table

Here are a few things you should consider when preparing to go gem digging in Arkansas.

Tools and Gear You Need to Dig and Find Crystals in Arkansas

Jewelers Loupe: Useful for magnifying crystals to observe their structure and beauty. It can be a helpful tool for identifying specimens.
Safety Gloves: Protecting you while moving rocks and using tools.
Safety Glasses: Protecting your eyes is super important when using mining tools.
Boots: Looking for crystal is often an activity in rough terrain, and tools are often involved, so a good pair of comfy boots is needed.
Hard Hat: This may come in handy in some mine locations. Safety first!
Shovels: For digging to reach crystalline material or for scooping gem-rich dirt into your buckets or screens.
Panning Equipment: Mesh screens for refining material that may contain gemstones.
Basic Mining Tools: A pick, hammer, chisel set, and flat screwdriver, or at least a few of these tools, are needed to mine most stones in Arkansas.
Brushes: Use a hard or soft bristle brush, according to a crystal’s durability to clean off sediments.
Boxes, Bags, or Buckets: Any container that is easy for you to carry crystals in as you collect them before sorting.

How to Pack and Transport Crystals You Find

Packaging: Use materials, such as bubble wrap, fabric, or layers of paper, to wrap crystals to prevent scratching and for safe transportation.
Cataloging: Create little labels or cards to fill in specimen information and attach these to the packaging on individual stones.
Transit: Place wrapped and labeled crystals packed in a way that they can easily shift around within a sturdy container or bag.

Safety Regulations and Mining Laws for Rockhounding in Arkansas

Laws: There are amazing designated areas for public gem mining where you can legally rockhound in Arkansas. Be sure to check the status of any non-designated sites that you choose to visit as it is illegal to collect in some locations.
Private Land: You must obtain permission from the landowner of any private land that you want to collect on.
Safety: Carry the necessary safety gear and have a small first-aid kit handy.

Tips for Rockhounding Like a Pro in Arkansas

Researching: Study area specific books, papers, and groups, blogs, and forums, as well as on Youtube to get a better understanding of the area, locations for rockhounding, and what you may find.
Respect the Land: Leave any area you visit clean and avoid damaging flora and fauna. Be grateful for whatever you find.
Local Knowledge: Talk to local Arkansa rockhounds and rockhounding groups. Try to get a local perspective on your questions and reach out about joining in on local group rockhounding missions.
Field Guides: Carry identification guides and field guides specific to Arkansas.
Patience: Patience is part of the essence of the experience of rockhounding. Enjoying the process of learning and finding gemstones will make them all the more valuable to you.

Find Arkansas Crystals and Start Using Them!

Honestly, this just scratched the surface with the stones discussed here because Arkansas is so rich in sought-after, fascinating, and powerful crystals, including other precious gems and metals.

Among many others, Cinnabar, Wavellite, Turquoise, Onyx, Aragonite, Baryte, Chlorite, Pyrite, Chrysocolla, Fluorite, Zircon, Spinel, Gold, Silver, Copper, and Pearls are some of the other treasures that form here.

Gemstone	Location	Tools You Need	Healing Properties
Diamond	Crater of Diamonds State Park (Pike County).	Shovel, panning screens, and buckets.	Strength, passion, intelligence, abundance, and charisma.
Quartz	Ouachita Mountains, Montgomery (Mt Ida), Saline, and Garland Counties.	Safety gear and basic hand-mining tools, including a pick and shovel.	Master healer crystal, amplifies energy, and can be programmed with specific intentions.
Amber	Malvern Clay Pits (Hot Springs County).	Safety gear and basic hand-mining tools, including a pick and shovel.	Physical healing, increasing patience, confidence, connecting to nature, and increased gratitude.
Astrophyllite	Hot Springs, Saline, and Pulaski Counties.	Safety gear and hand mining tools (consider a hammer, chisels, pick, shovel, and flat screwdriver).	Connection to the cosmos and the earth, multidimensional perception, deep healing, and spiritual upgrades.
Opal	Garland, Pike, Hot Springs. Pulaski, Sevier, and Washington Counties.	Safety gear and hand mining tools (consider a hammer, chisels, pick, shovel, and flat screwdriver).	Abundance, harmony, improved cognition, and prosperity.
Garnet	Hot Spring, Garland, Saline, Pike, and Pulaski Counties.	Shovel and screen.	Grounding, activation, vitality, and creativity.
Azurite	Sevier, Fulton, and Pulaski Counties.	Safety gear and hand mining tools (consider a hammer, chisels, pick, shovel, and flat screwdriver).	Divine expression, enhanced focus, mental clarity, and ease of communication.

Basics of Rockhounding in Arkansas