RockHoundR

Where to Find Calcite in Missouri

Missouri is one of the great calcite states in the world, and most collectors aim at two settings. The Sweetwater and Brushy Creek mines on the Viburnum Trend in Reynolds and Iron counties produce honey-amber, doubly-terminated calcite scalenohedrons up to a foot across, often with fluorite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite associates. The Tri-State chat fields around Joplin (Jasper and Newton counties) add white and translucent dogtooth and nailhead calcite on dolomite matrix. Specimens from the Buick and West Fork mines, when they reach the market, are among the most sought calcites in U.S. mineralogy.

Open the full map

Every calcite spot we track in Missouri

Standout calcite spots in Missouri

Hand-picked from the full list above, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for calcite in Missouri

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

Before you go

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

Calcite in Missouri FAQ

Where can you find calcite in Missouri?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Saint Louis County, Clark County, and Washington County. Known collecting areas include Sweetwater mine (Reynolds County), Brushy Creek mine (Iron County), and Joplin chat piles (Jasper County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many calcite spots are mapped in Missouri?+
29 spots across 25 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 calcite in Missouri?+
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. 28 of the 29 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find calcite

More minerals to hunt in Missouri

Hunt calcite in Missouri 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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play