Wegner Crystal Mines: Rockhounding in Montgomery County, Arkansas

Quick details

Access

Paid / fee dig

County

Montgomery County

State

Arkansas

Nearest road

Wegner Crystal Ranch road

Coordinates

34.51410, -93.64016

Geology at Wegner Crystal Mines

This spot sits on Collier Shale, mapped as black shale that formed roughly 485 to 470 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

Collier Shale

Age

485–470 Ma (Early Ordovician)

Rock types

black shale

Elevation

860 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 Wegner Crystal Mines

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 50°F in winter to 89°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MT IDA 3 SE station (4 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Pay-to-dig site

This is a fee-dig location. Hours, prices, and what you can keep vary by operator. Call ahead before driving out.

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