Polk County Quarries: Fossil Hunting in Polk County, Florida

Updated June 2026

Polk County Quarries is a mapped rockhounding spot in Polk County, Florida. Reported finds include fossils, gypsum, petrified wood, uranium, vivianite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Polk County
State: Florida
Nearest road: Alcoma Grove Road
Postcode: 33898
Coordinates: 27.91161, -81.50670

Geology at Polk County Quarries

This spot sits on Reworked Cypresshead sediments, mapped as sand that formed within roughly the last 4 million years. Reworked sediments like these can carry fossils eroded from older beds upstream, typically as rolled bone fragments, teeth, and shell material.

Mapped unit: Reworked Cypresshead sediments
Age: 4 Ma to present (Late Pliocene to Pleistocene)
Rock types: sand
Elevation: 120 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 Polk County Quarries

Best months: October to May. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 75°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 50°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MTN LAKE station (6 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

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 Polk County Quarries

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 Polk County Quarries.

Polk County Quarries FAQ

Where is Polk County Quarries?+

Polk County Quarries is in Polk County, Florida, at 27.91161, -81.50670. Nearest road: Alcoma Grove Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Polk County Quarries?+

Polk County Quarries is reported to produce Fossils, Gypsum, Petrified Wood, Uranium, Vivianite.

Is collecting allowed at Polk County Quarries?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Polk County Quarries?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Polk County Quarries?+

The most comfortable months at Polk County Quarries are October to May.

How do I get to Polk County Quarries?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 27.91161, -81.50670 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Alcoma Grove Road.

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Open Polk County Quarries on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.