Gold Mines Creek (East): Actinolite & Chlorite Rockhounding in Clay County, Alabama

Updated June 2026

Gold Mines Creek (East) is a mapped rockhounding spot in Clay County, Alabama. Reported finds include actinolite, chlorite, olivine, pyrope, gold, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Clay County
State: Alabama
Nearest road: Watts Mill Road
Postcode: 36266
Coordinates: 33.35474, -85.88204

Geology at Gold Mines Creek (East)

This spot sits on Poe Bridge Mountain Group, mapped as schist that formed roughly 4600 to 250 million years ago. Gold in metamorphic belts like this is typically tied to quartz veins and shear zones, with placer color in the creeks that cut them.

Mapped unit: Poe Bridge Mountain Group
Age: 4600–250 Ma (Precambrian to Paleozoic)
Rock types: schist
Elevation: 1,090 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 Gold Mines Creek (East)

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 55°F in winter to 90°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ASHLAND 3 ENE station (7 mi away).

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 Gold Mines Creek (East)

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

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Gold Mines Creek (East).

Across the state line from Gold Mines Creek (East)

Gold Mines Creek (East) is close enough to the Alabama border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Gold Mines Creek (East) FAQ

Where is Gold Mines Creek (East)?+

Gold Mines Creek (East) is in Clay County, Alabama, at 33.35474, -85.88204. Nearest road: Watts Mill Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Gold Mines Creek (East)?+

Gold Mines Creek (East) is reported to produce Actinolite, Chlorite, Olivine, Pyrope, Gold, Sillimanite, Talc.

Is collecting allowed at Gold Mines Creek (East)?+

Confirm rules before collecting. Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting — federal, state, and tribal rules differ. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Gold Mines Creek (East)?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Gold Mines Creek (East)?+

Gold Mines Creek (East) is workable year-round.

How do I get to Gold Mines Creek (East)?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 33.35474, -85.88204 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Watts Mill Road.

More rockhounding in Alabama

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Open Gold Mines Creek (East) on the map

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