Board Camp Crystal Mine: Rockhounding in Polk County, Arkansas

Quick details

Access

Paid / fee dig

County

Polk County

State

Arkansas

Nearest road

AR 8

Postcode

71953

Coordinates

34.53712, -94.09109

Geology at Board Camp Crystal Mine

This spot sits on Stanley Shale, mapped as black shale, sandstone, and siltstone that formed roughly 360 to 325 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

Stanley Shale

Age

360–325 Ma (Mississippian)

Rock types

black shale, sandstone, and siltstone

Elevation

990 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 Board Camp Crystal Mine

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 48°F in winter to 87°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BIG FK 1 SSE station (7 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