Where to Find Chert in the United States
95 mapped chert spots across 12 U.S. states. Chert is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.
Map showing where to find chert across the United States, with 95 mapped spots
Top states for chert
States ranked by number of chert spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused chert-in-state list.
Every chert spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
Chert rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find chert in the U.S.?+
Florida, New Mexico, Missouri have the highest concentrations of chert in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many chert rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
95 mapped spots across 12 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect chert on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like chert is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify chert in the field?+
Field identification of chert comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt chert on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
