8 Gemstones in Mississippi: Where to Find Them and How to Use Them

Mississippi is a state that is often rated low when it comes to popular states for rockhounding gemstones. Despite this, it does have many fascinating fossils, native stone artifacts, minerals, metals, and some precious gems.

Are you ready to take on this challenge? Let’s prepare by learning how to find gemstones in Mississippi, what stones are found in Mississippi, and where are crystals in Mississippi found?

The Mississippi River, the streams that feed into it, and alluvial deposits in this state are the best places to look for crystals, including Agates, Quartz, Jaspers, Carnelian, and Geodes. Mississippi also has Opal, Amber, Pearls, Petrified Wood, and many Ancient Fossils.

Research, preparation, and patience are paramount when it comes to rockhounding in the Magnolia State. Let’s start with some interesting information, the basics of rockhounding in Mississippi, and the top gem and fossil varieties you may find here.

Basics of Rockhounding in Mississippi

State Symbols
State Gemstone	Opal
State Rock	Petrified Wood
State Fossil	Basilosaurus cetoides and Zygorhiza kochii (Prehistoric Whales)

Mississippi is home to many natural wonders, including a Petrified Wood forest, the Mississippi’s Little Grand Canyon (a bluff exposure of colorful, eroded red clay, soil, and sand), and an extinct volcano under its capital city, Jackson.

Mississippi is rich in fossils as it was covered by a shallow inland ocean that led to the fossilization of many sea creatures. Some dinosaur and mastodon fossils have also been found within this state.

With 21 different Native American tribes known to have lived in Mississippi to date, these indigenous people were the historical rockhounds, utilizing rocks to carve effigies and expertly knap flint into different arrowheads that can be found relatively easily in Mississippi today.

The  Mississippi terrain includes mostly lowlands, wetlands, and forests. It has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot summers and mild winters. The basement rocks of Mississippi are deep igneous and metamorphic, covered with sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomite, marl, and sandstone.

Wildlife in Mississippi includes a variety of 84 reptile species, including alligators and snakes, and 426 bird species, including mockingbirds. Dolphins, whales, flying squirrels, armadillos, deer, bats, and spiders live in the landscapes.

When rockhounding any state, including Mississippi, please be mindful of disturbing wildlife, damaging plants or natural ecosystems, and leaving as little trace as possible.

Best Mississippi Rockhounding Locations

These are the relevant rockhounding locations for the crystals discussed in this article. Please use this list to extend your research, finding the most current information on sites open to rock collection and the up-to-date laws and regulations for each location.

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

Location	What Can Be Found
Claiborne County	Opal
Tippah County	Opal
Tishomingo County	Opal and Amber.
Adams County	Jasper and Agate.
Harrison County	Jasper
Franklin County	Jasper, Agate, and Petrified Wood.
Lincoln County	Agate and Petrified Wood.
Copiah County	Agate and Petrified Wood.
Harrison County	Agate
Tallahatchie County	Amber
Mississippi River	Jasper, Agate, Sioux Quartzites, Geodes, and Freshwater Pearls.
Yazoo County	Petrified Wood (fossil palm)
Jones County	Petrified Wood (walnut-like hardwood)

Top 8 Gemstones in Mississippi

For rockhounds interested in the richness of geology, minerals, and the history of the Earth, the specimens of Mississippi are fascinating. Let’s learn a little about the main gems, crystals, and fossils in this US state.

Opal 

The first Mississippian Opal was found and confirmed as a Precious Opal variety as recently as 2004. This rare gemstone found in Mississippi was recently dubbed the state’s official gemstone.

Initially found in Claiborne County, in the Catahoula formation, sandstone combined with volcanic ash is said to have created these Opals with beautiful play of color. These precious gems are now also found in Tippah and Tishomingo Counties. 

The meaning of Opal is spiritual transformation. It has an energy that fosters inner harmony, balance, and inspiration. The spiritual properties of this gem include dream enhancement, Akashic Record accesses, channeling, and embracing the full embodiment of the highest reality.

Procuring Opal is surely not for beginners or evening intermediate rockhounds. If you’re considering searching for these precious gems, you likely already have the equipment and experience.

Hand-mining Opals requires excellent care, sinking a shaft in the correct spot using a larger pick and shovel and delicately removing Opals without a handpick or screwdriver. 

Jasper

A variety of opaque Mississippi Quartz. Red Jasper, Green Jasper, Brown Jasper, Yellow Jasper, Brecciated Jasper, and Bloodstone, as well as other colors and varieties, are a fairly common find in Mississippi. 

This was among the stones used by Native Americans to create beads and stone-carved effigies such as the owl effigy from Eastern Mississippi. Jasper spears and arrowhead artifacts are also found in this state.

The energy of all Jasper crystals is grounding and nurturing. Jasper can have a stabilizing and empowering effect on us. It is also regarded as a stone of increased connection to the earth.

Jasper can be found with relatively little effort on gravel bars and along shores or beds of the Mississippi River and its tributaries in this state. Take along your waterproof boots, hand shovel, and panning screens to increase your chances of finding unique Jasper gems or artifacts. 

Agate

A translucent banded or typically “Agate patterned” variety of microcrystalline Mississippi Quartz. Mississippi River Agates are finely banded in bright colors, often including red, tan, yellow, orange, purple, brown, and white. Moss Agates and Lace Agates can also be found.

Agates have been found in Adams, Franklin, Lincoln Copiah, Harrison Counties, and many other areas in the state and along the Mississippi River. The tools you need to collect these are your hands and a keen eye, or you can look more intensely by lifting sections of gravel into a sifting screen. 

On an energetic level, Agates are all about natural harmony. The spiritual properties of working with Agate crystals include grounding, deep meditation, and inner peace.

Amber

Fossilized tree resin, known as Upper Cretaceous Amber, can be found in Mississippi, within Tishomingo County or Tallahatchie County. Scientists are even studying unique fossil microorganisms from specimens found in this state. 

To find Amber fossils, you may get some good luck with surface collecting when sifting through alluvial deposits in particular regions. If you want to search for Amber, you will likely need to dig down and rake through sediments, so carry the appropriate tools accordingly.

On a vibrational level, the presence of Amber helps us to connect to nature and our inner reality on a deep level. It is a stone of patience, healing, true happiness, and harmony.

Sioux Quartzites

1.7 billion-year-old purple Quartzite was carried to Kansas by glacial activity, then to Missouri, and finally, boulders of Sioux Quartzite moved along the Mississippi River into what is now Mississippi State.

In crystal healing, Purple Quartzite is supportive, especially in times or situations of pressure. It has a strengthening and stabilizing effect on physical, mental, and emotional levels while helping us integrate higher spiritual perspectives. 

You can rockhound for Sioux Quartzite along the gravel bars of the Mississippi River and carry a screen and small shovel to assist you in this process. 

Petrified Wood

Petrified Wood can be understood as wood that has been turned into rock. Mississippi is well known for large and small specimens of ancient fossilized trees. This state even has petrified palm wood species and many other trees and fossilized plants.

As it is the state rock, you can find Petrified Wood throughout Northern Mississippi. A well-known park is the Mississippi Petrified Forest. You may not collect fossils within the park, but you can have fun looking for specimens within the designated area. 

Lincoln, Copiah, Franklin, Jones, and Yazoo Counties are Petrified Wood territories where you can pan, surface collect, or dig it up. Have all your classic hand-mining tools and safety gear nearby.

On an energetic level, Petrified Wood is deeply grounding. Working with a piece of it can help to relieve anxiety and stress as well as stabilize emotions. It is also helpful during past life regression and karmic healing.

Geodes

Although they are not commonplace, different Geodes can be found in Mississippi. One variety is Keokuk Geodes which have traveled by the river to this state. These are usually filled with White Quartz crystals but can also include Chalcedony, Calcite, Pyrite, Marcasite, Malachite, Selenite, and Aragonite.

Look for Geodes in gravel pits and keep an eye out for them along the Mississippi River. You may have more luck using your screen and shovel to sort through gravel and dirt.

Geodes are great for connecting with the powers of divine femininity. They power manifestation and creativity and can also encourage the energies of grace, flow, and nourishment in your life.

Pearls

A variety of Freshwater Pearls that are naturally colorful and almost always shaped irregularly can be found inside mollusks (oysters, mussels, and clams) along the Mississippi River.

If you happen upon a mollusk in your sifter while rockhounding, you can decide if you want to pry it open ( you will need a flat, strong knife and some pliers). I don’t suggest damaging the creatures of the river in this way because there’s no guarantee that each will hold a Pearl.

If you do want to practice wild Pearl harvesting, please try to make the most of these creatures’ lives that are taken in the process and pack the muscles accordingly to eat them. Or consider researching methods that are more specialized ways of extracting Pearls that may cause less harm.

That being said, these Pearls are a wonder of nature, as they often form in light to deep rose colors with shining multicolored pearlescence, and the shapes are so varied.

Pearls symbolize purity and innocence. They have a peaceful energy that is refreshing. Pearls are said to boost charisma, creativity, and emotion 

How to Do Rockhounding in Mississippi

Consider the items below to ensure you are prepared to collect the gems and fossils of Mississippi. 

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

• Jewellers Magnifying Glass: To easily identify and observe the exciting details of your finds.
• Shovels: Small and large shovels for digging or scooping up gravel to sift.
• Safety Gloves: Protect your hands from cuts and scrapes while searching for rocks and, most definitely, while using mining tools.
• Safety Glasses: Eye protection is necessary when using mining tools, such as hammers, picks, and chisels. 
• Boots: Long, waterproof boots, as Mississippi sites can get muddy and are often along riverways.
• Weather-Appropriate Clothing: Outdoor clothing that is fit for the weather and possible changes in weather 
• Panning Equipment: Cary your sifting screen to sort through gravel and dirt.
• Rock Hammers, Chisels, and Picks: Carry the best quality that you can afford of a set of chisels, rock hammers, and picks.
• Flat Screwdriver: Great for gently extracting crystals or getting into tricky spots.
• Brushes: To clean sediments off your crystals
• Secure Boxes, Bags, or Buckets: Whatever you find most comfortable to carry your crystals in the field as you’re collecting
• Flashlight: Useful for observing crystals, a light source can help to determine translucency, inclusions, and clarity and help with the identification

How to Pack and Transport Crystals You Find 

• Packaging: Bubble wrap or soft fabric for wrapping up delicate stones, and brown paper will do for wrapping hardy specimens.
• Cataloging: Create label cards that stick to each crystal’s packaging and have space for you to fill in all the details of the stone.
• Transportation: A solid box or bag where the crystals can be packed snugly so they don’t move around in transit.

Safety Regulations and Mining Laws for Rockhounding in Mississippi

• Laws: Collection for personal use is considered acceptable, but you should verify this with authorities at the specific public parks you plan to visit. 
• Permits: You must obtain a license if you are mining for commercial gain.
• Private Land: Ensure you have explicit permission from owners of any private land you want to rockhounds on.
• Safety: Prepare the correct safety gear and clothing, and keep a small first-aid kit in your pack for emergencies. Have local emergency numbers saved, and research the land and weather beforehand so you have some knowledge of possible dangers and move and act with care 

Tips for Rockhounding Like a Pro in Mississippi

• Research: Study all possible resources, such as books, forums, and groups, to research and prepare for the area you are visiting and what you want to find.
• Respect: Leave no trace and show consideration and care for the flora and fauna surrounding you.
• Patience: Rockhounding is a journey; enjoy the process and be patient while looking for crystals. Don’t give up too easily.
• Connect: Contact Mississippi local rockhounds or groups to ask questions, meet, or plan a rock-collecting field trip together.
• Field Guides: Carry some Mississippi-specific field guides that include maps, tips, and local specimen identification

Find Mississippi Crystals and Start Using Them!

For a dedicated and well-researched rockhound, Mississippi has some unique and collectible gems and fossils. And it’s definitely not limited to the varieties we discussed in more detail.

You may also happen upon or search for other varieties of Mississippi Quartz, Carnelian, Gypsum, Muscovite, Chert, and Halite. There are also fossils of corals, gastropods, crinoids, shark teeth, mastodon, dinosaurs, and more. You may even find a tiny bit of gold while panning!

Here is a summary of the crystals of Mississippi, their general location, the tools you may need to procure them, and their energy-healing properties.

Gemstone	Location	Tools You Need	Healing Properties
Opal	Clairborne, Tippah, and Tishomingo Counties.	Safety gear, picks, shovel, and flat screwdriver.	Spiritual transformation, inner harmony, balance, and inspiration.
Jasper	Mississippi River	Shovel and screens.	Grounding, nurturing, stabilizing, and empowering.
Agate	Adams, Franklin, Lincoln Copiah, Harisson counties, and along the Mississippi River.	Shovel and screens.	Natural harmony, grounding, deep meditation, and inner peace.
Amber	Tishomingo and Tallahatchie Counties.	Safety gear, rake, pick, shovel, hammer, and chisels.	Connected to nature, patience, healing, true happiness, and harmony.
Sioux Quartzites	Mississippi River	Shovel and screens.	Supportive, strengthening, stabilizing, and higher spiritual perspective.
Petrified Wood	Northern Mississippi, Lincoln, Copiah, Franklin, Jones, and Yazoo Counties.	Shovel and screens.	Grounding relieves anxiety, stabilizes emotions, past life regression, and karmic healing.
Geodes	Mississippi River	Shovel and screens.	Divine femininity, manifestation, creativity, grace, flow, and nourishment.
Pearls	Mississippi River	Screens, knives, and pliers.	Purity, innocence, peace, refreshment, charisma, and creativity boosting.