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Pegmatite Outcropings: Cassiterite & Feldspar Rockhounding in Coosa County, Alabama

Updated July 2026

Coosa County is widely regarded as the richest single county in Alabama for variety, with pegmatites and the historic tin belt producing feldspar, muscovite, tourmaline, cassiterite, beryl, and garnet. Its quartz veins also host the rutile-included star blue quartz that Alabama named its state gemstone in 1990, which forms in the Precambrian schists of this part of the Piedmont. The old pits sit on private land, so the pegmatite float in public road cuts and creek gravels is the practical place to collect. Reported finds include cassiterite, feldspar, muscovite, quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Pegmatite Outcropings photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Main Street in Rockford, the seat of Coosa County, Alabama; the county's pegmatite and tin belt lies in the surrounding hills

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Coosa County
State: Alabama
Postcode: 35136
Coordinates: 32.92624, -86.21743

Geology at Pegmatite Outcropings

This spot sits on Wedowee Group; Wedowee Group undifferentiated, mapped as mica schist and phyllite that formed roughly 4600 to 250 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this typically carries quartz veins and sweats, and weathered crystals tend to end up in the soils and streams below.

Mapped unit: Wedowee Group; Wedowee Group undifferentiated
Age: 4600–250 Ma (Precambrian to Paleozoic)
Rock types: mica schist and phyllite
Elevation: 730 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 Pegmatite Outcropings

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 54°F in winter to 88°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ROCKFORD 3 ESE station (5 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Pegmatite Outcropings

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 Pegmatite Outcropings.

Across the state line from Pegmatite Outcropings

Pegmatite Outcropings 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.

Pegmatite Outcropings FAQ

Where is Pegmatite Outcropings?+

Pegmatite Outcropings is in Coosa County, Alabama, at 32.92624, -86.21743.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Pegmatite Outcropings?+

Pegmatite Outcropings is reported to produce Cassiterite, Feldspar, Muscovite, Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Pegmatite Outcropings?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Pegmatite Outcropings?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Pegmatite Outcropings?+

Pegmatite Outcropings is workable year-round.

How do I get to Pegmatite Outcropings?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 32.92624, -86.21743 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Alabama

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Open Pegmatite Outcropings on the map

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