Palestine: Siderite Rockhounding in Crawford County, Illinois

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Crawford County

State

Illinois

Nearest road

North Main Street

Postcode

62451

Coordinates

39.00378, -87.61273

Geology at Palestine

This spot sits on Bond Formation, mapped as shale, sandstone, and limestone that formed about 305 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this dissolves and weathers readily, so fresh road cuts, quarries, and creek exposures are typically the most productive ground.

Mapped unit

Bond Formation

Age

305–305 Ma (Pennsylvanian)

Rock types

shale, sandstone, and limestone

Elevation

470 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 Palestine

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PALESTINE station (0 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 Palestine

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

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