Ball Ground: Staurolite Rockhounding in Cherokee County, Georgia

Updated June 2026

Ball Ground is a mapped rockhounding spot in Cherokee County, Georgia. Reported finds include staurolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Cherokee County
State: Georgia
Nearest road: River Mill Drive
Postcode: 30107
Coordinates: 34.30631, -84.39817

Geology at Ball Ground

This spot sits on Calcareous mica schist/ Micaceous marble/ Mica schist, mapped as mica schist and marble that formed roughly 4600 to 250 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit: Calcareous mica schist/ Micaceous marble/ Mica schist
Age: 4600–250 Ma (Precambrian to Paleozoic)
Rock types: mica schist and marble
Elevation: 920 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 Ball Ground

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 49°F in winter to 86°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, JASPER 1 NNW station (12 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 Ball Ground

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

Staurolite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Ball Ground.

Across the state line from Ball Ground

Ball Ground 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.

Ball Ground FAQ

Where is Ball Ground?+

Ball Ground is in Cherokee County, Georgia, at 34.30631, -84.39817. Nearest road: River Mill Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ball Ground?+

Ball Ground is reported to produce Staurolite.

Is collecting allowed at Ball Ground?+

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 Ball Ground?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Ball Ground?+

Ball Ground is workable year-round.

How do I get to Ball Ground?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.30631, -84.39817 in Google Maps. The nearest road is River Mill Drive.

More rockhounding in Georgia

See all 97 Georgia spots →

Open Ball Ground on the map

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