Elizabethtown: Fluorescent Calcite & Fluorite Rockhounding in Bartholomew County, Indiana

Updated June 2026

Elizabethtown is a mapped rockhounding spot in Bartholomew County, Indiana. Reported finds include fluorescent calcite, fluorite, marcasite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Bartholomew County
State: Indiana
Nearest road: County Road South 750 East
Postcode: 47236
Coordinates: 39.16591, -85.77775

Geology at Elizabethtown

This spot sits on ground mapped as Salamonie Dolomite that formed roughly 440 to 425 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this is the classic host for lead, zinc, and fluorite mineralization, which typically follows old cavities and replacement zones.

Mapped unit: Salamonie Dolomite
Age: 440–425 Ma (Silurian)
Elevation: 600 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 Elizabethtown

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, COLUMBUS station (8 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 Elizabethtown

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 Elizabethtown.

Across the state line from Elizabethtown

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

Elizabethtown FAQ

Where is Elizabethtown?+

Elizabethtown is in Bartholomew County, Indiana, at 39.16591, -85.77775. Nearest road: County Road South 750 East.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Elizabethtown?+

Elizabethtown is reported to produce Fluorescent Calcite, Fluorite, Marcasite.

Is collecting allowed at Elizabethtown?+

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 Elizabethtown?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses cover old mining-district ground. Stay out of shafts and adits; the best specimens typically come from dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Elizabethtown?+

The most comfortable months at Elizabethtown are March to November.

How do I get to Elizabethtown?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.16591, -85.77775 in Google Maps. The nearest road is County Road South 750 East.

More rockhounding in Indiana

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Open Elizabethtown on the map

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