Shirley Mine: Garnet & Kyanite Rockhounding in Blount County, Alabama

Quick details

Access

Check locally

County

Blount County

State

Alabama

Nearest road

Hazelrig Road

Postcode

35049

Coordinates

33.97938, -86.56714

Geology at Shirley Mine

This spot sits on Pottsville Formation (lower part), mapped as sandstone that formed roughly 360 to 300 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit

Pottsville Formation (lower part)

Age

360–300 Ma (Carboniferous to Pennsylvanian)

Rock types

sandstone

Elevation

600 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Shirley Mine

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 55°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 35°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ONEONTA station (9 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Confirm rules before collecting

Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting — federal, state, and tribal rules differ.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Shirley Mine

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

• GarnetEncyclopedia →
• KyaniteEncyclopedia →
• MagnetiteEncyclopedia →
• TourmalineEncyclopedia →