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Where to Find Amethyst in Virginia

Virginia amethyst comes from the same pegmatite belt that produces the state's smoky and rose quartz. Amelia Court House pegmatites in Amelia County (the Rutherford and Morefield mines) yield amethyst sceptres and tipped points alongside the feldspar that the mines originally pursued. The Morefield mine runs pay-to-dig weekends and is the most reliable amethyst source in Virginia. Scottsville in Buckingham County and the Goshen Pass area in Rockbridge County add scattered amethyst float, mostly as pale-purple cores in milky quartz. Color saturation is moderate compared to Reel Mine material from North Carolina; Virginia amethyst tends pale to medium purple.

Map of 16 amethyst collecting spots in Virginia

Best counties for amethyst in Virginia

Ranked by the number of mapped amethyst spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Every amethyst spot we track in Virginia

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
CharlottesvilleVirginia WayAlbemarle County37.9454, -78.4683Public
Cove CreekMonacan TrailAlbemarle County37.8748, -78.7228Public
Stockton CreekHeather Crest PlaceAlbemarle County38.0422, -78.7007Public
Amelia Court HouseButlers RoadAmelia County37.3582, -77.9185Public
Sayler's CreekSayler's Creek RoadAmelia County37.3109, -78.2301Public
AmherstAmethyst LaneAmherst County37.5466, -79.0112Public
Fancy HillThrashers Creek RoadAmherst County37.6702, -79.1263Public
Peaks of OtterSharp Top Access TrailBedford County37.4329, -79.6043Public
BrooknealWickliffe RoadCampbell County37.0612, -78.9329Public
Red HouseCampbell County37.2054, -78.8676Public
Charlotte CourthouseDogwood RoadCharlotte County37.0522, -78.6777Public
CentrevilleCompton RoadFairfax County38.8208, -77.4664Public
Morefield Gem MineGlen Aire RoadLouisa County37.9131, -77.8727Paid / fee
TreviliansBrickhouse RoadLouisa County38.0083, -78.1267Public
Saunders FarmTye Brook HighwayNelson County37.7215, -78.9707Public
MinnievilleRunning Creek DrivePrince William County38.6359, -77.3997Public

Before you go

Read the amethyst identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Amethyst in the encyclopedia.

Amethyst in Virginia FAQ

Where can you find amethyst in Virginia?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Albemarle County County, Amelia County County, and Amherst County County. Known collecting areas include Morefield mine (Amelia County), Rutherford pegmatite (Amelia County), and Goshen Pass (Rockbridge County). Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.
How many amethyst spots are mapped in Virginia?+
16 spots across 10 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect amethyst in Virginia?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 15 of the 16 mapped spots here sit on land marked public, and 1 is a fee-dig operation where you pay for access and keep what you find. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find amethyst

More minerals to hunt in Virginia

Hunt amethyst in Virginia with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.

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