Where to Find Quartz in California
California has 7 mapped collecting spots that report quartz, spread across 4 counties. The largest share sits in San Diego County County with 4 spots. 6 of the spots are on land mapped as publicly accessible, and 1 is a fee-dig site.
Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.
Map of 7 quartz collecting spots in California
Best counties for quartz in California
Ranked by the number of mapped quartz spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.
Every quartz spot we track in California
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Acorn MineChaparral Court | Kern County | 35.7167, -118.5000 | Public | |
| Unnamed Location (LA County)Heffner Road | Los Angeles County | 34.4367, -118.2229 | Public | |
| Himalaya Tourmaline Mine (Mesa Grande)Porter Lane | San Diego County | 33.0700, -116.6000 | Paid / fee | |
| Mine Dumps (San Diego Co.)Highway 76 | San Diego County | 33.2355, -116.7591 | Public | |
| Unnamed Location (Apatite/Aquamarine)Rancho Heights Road | San Diego County | 33.3905, -117.0693 | Public | |
| Ware MinePalomar Divide Road | San Diego County | 33.3329, -116.7675 | Public | |
| Golden Jubilee MineBoulder Lake Road | Trinity County | 41.1006, -122.7836 | Public |
Before you go
Read the quartz identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Quartz in the encyclopedia.
Quartz in California FAQ
Where can you find quartz in California?+
The mapped spots concentrate in San Diego County County, Kern County County, and Los Angeles County County. Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.
How many quartz spots are mapped in California?+
7 spots across 4 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 quartz in California?+
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. 6 of the 7 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 quartz
More minerals to hunt in California
Hunt quartz in California 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.
