West Mount: Pyrite Rockhounding in Garland County, Arkansas

Quick details

Access

Permission required

County

Garland County

State

Arkansas

Nearest road

Sunset Trail

Coordinates

34.50261, -93.09180

Geology at West Mount

This spot sits on ground mapped as Arkansas Novaculite that formed roughly 385 to 330 million years ago. Ore minerals here are typically tied to veins and replacement zones, with old workings marking the productive ground.

Mapped unit

Arkansas Novaculite

Age

385–330 Ma (Late Devonian to Early Mississippian)

Elevation

1,060 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 West Mount

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 51°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 31°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HOT SPRINGS ASOS station (2 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

• Ouachita National Forest — Mineral Collecting
• Crater of Diamonds State Park — Rules and finds
• Arkansas Geological Survey
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at West Mount

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

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