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Where to Find Quartz in Missouri

Missouri quartz comes from two settings. The St. Francois Mountains in Iron, Madison, and Reynolds counties expose Precambrian rhyolite with vein quartz running through fault zones, and the surrounding drainages yield clear and milky quartz float. The Viburnum Trend mines (Sweetwater, Brushy Creek, Buick) produce drusy quartz on dolomite alongside the famous calcite and sphalerite specimens, including thin coatings on stalactitic calcite. The Ozark uplift broadly carries vein quartz in chert and dolomite outcrops across the southern half of the state. Most surface quartz is milky and weathered; underground mine specimens are clearer.

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Every quartz spot we track in Missouri

Standout quartz spots in Missouri

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

Best counties for quartz in Missouri

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

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 Missouri FAQ

Where can you find quartz in Missouri?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Crawford County, Iron County, and Saint Francois County. Known collecting areas include St. Francois Mountains (Iron County), Viburnum Trend mine dumps (Reynolds County), and Ozark plateau dolomite outcrops (Shannon County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many quartz spots are mapped in Missouri?+
22 spots across 16 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 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. 21 of the 22 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find quartz

More minerals to hunt in Missouri

Hunt quartz 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.

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