Rockhounding in Cornwall

6 mapped spots in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Tap any spot for coordinates and the minerals reported there, then check land access before you head out.

Top minerals found in Cornwall

Counts reflect how many spots in this list mention each mineral.

Quartz6
Cassiterite5
Chalcopyrite4
Arsenopyrite3
Pyrite3
Scorodite2
Wolframite2
Botallackite1
Chalcophyllite1
Liroconite1
Malachite1
Mimetite1

Cornwall rockhounding: before you go

Permission and private land

Rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but none of them grant a general right to collect on private land. Ask the landowner before visiting mine dumps, quarries, or fields.

Beaches and foreshore

Casual pebble collecting is generally tolerated on beaches and public foreshore, much of which is Crown Estate. Watch tides, stay off cliff faces, and check local bylaws.

Protected sites

SSSIs, National Nature Reserves, and scheduled monuments are protected by law, and UK national parks are mostly private land inside a designation rather than open collecting ground. Never hammer or dig at a designated site.

Every rockhounding spot in Cornwall

Tap coordinates to open in Google Maps, or open RockHoundR for the full map view with geology and weather.

Spot	Area	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Chapel Porth Beach	St Agnes	Cassiterite Chalcopyrite Malachite Pyrite Quartz	50.3008, -5.2378	Public
Cligga Head	Perranzabuloe	Cassiterite Wolframite Arsenopyrite Scorodite Chalcopyrite Quartz	50.3401, -5.1834	Public
Kit HillKit Hill Road	Stokeclimsland	Cassiterite Wolframite Molybdenite Pyrite Scorodite Quartz	50.5207, -4.2939	Public
Poldice Mine	Gwennap	Arsenopyrite Olivenite Chalcophyllite Liroconite Mimetite Quartz	50.2405, -5.1740	Permission
Trevaunance Cove	St Agnes	Cassiterite Pyrite Chalcopyrite Sphalerite Schorl Quartz	50.3197, -5.2046	Public
Wheal Cock, Botallack	St Just	Arsenopyrite Cassiterite Chalcopyrite Botallackite Quartz	50.1435, -5.6905	Permission

Cornwall rockhounding FAQ

Do you need permission to collect rocks in Cornwall?+

Often, yes. There is no general public right to collect on private land in the UK, and most land is private, so mine dumps, quarries, and fields usually need landowner permission. Beaches and public foreshore generally tolerate casual pebble collecting, subject to tides and local bylaws. SSSIs and scheduled monuments are protected, so confirm each site before a trip.

What rocks and minerals can you find in Cornwall?+

Cornwall spots in this list most commonly produce Quartz, Cassiterite, Chalcopyrite, Arsenopyrite, Pyrite. The full list across all spots is broader.

How many rockhounding sites are in Cornwall?+

RockHoundR currently lists 6 rockhounding spots in Cornwall. The app keeps growing and lets you save your own private finds alongside the public ones.

Collecting near a city

Day-trip guides for cities whose range covers Cornwall spots, with distances and drive times.

Map every Cornwall spot in the app

Open the RockHoundR app to see Cornwall on a real map with geology, weather, and your saved finds.