Cartersville: Geode Digging in Bartow County, Georgia

Updated June 2026

Cartersville is a mapped rockhounding spot in Bartow County, Georgia. Reported finds include barite, geode, goethite, hematite, limonite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Bartow County
State: Georgia
Nearest road: Vulcan Quarry Road
Postcode: 30184
Coordinates: 34.20924, -84.70887

Geology at Cartersville

This spot sits on Granitic Gneiss / Gneissic Granite (augen or porphyritic), mapped as gneiss and granite that formed roughly 4600 to 250 million years ago. Plutonic rock like this weathers slowly into grus and boulders, and the most productive collecting is typically in weathered zones and drainages.

Mapped unit: Granitic Gneiss / Gneissic Granite (augen or porphyritic)
Age: 4600–250 Ma (Precambrian to Paleozoic)
Rock types: gneiss and granite
Elevation: 1,170 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 Cartersville

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 50°F in winter to 87°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ALLATOONA DAM 2 station (3 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Cartersville

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 Cartersville.

Across the state line from Cartersville

Cartersville is close enough to the Georgia border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Cartersville FAQ

Where is Cartersville?+

Cartersville is in Bartow County, Georgia, at 34.20924, -84.70887. Nearest road: Vulcan Quarry Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Cartersville?+

Cartersville is reported to produce Barite, Geode, Goethite, Hematite, Limonite, Iron, Manganese.

Is collecting allowed at Cartersville?+

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 Cartersville?+

Bring a crack hammer, a chisel, safety glasses, and a bucket. Candidates are rounder and lighter than solid rock; a soil pipe cutter opens them cleaner than a flat smash.

When is the best time to visit Cartersville?+

Cartersville is workable year-round.

How do I get to Cartersville?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.20924, -84.70887 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Vulcan Quarry Road.

More rockhounding in Georgia

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Open Cartersville on the map

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