Brown County: Corundum & Quartz Rockhounding in Brown County, Indiana

Updated June 2026

Brown County is a mapped rockhounding spot in Brown County, Indiana. Reported finds include corundum, quartz, topaz, diamond. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Brown County
State: Indiana
Nearest road: SR 46;SR 135
Postcode: 47448
Coordinates: 39.19612, -86.21168

Geology at Brown County

This spot sits on Borden Group, mapped as siltstone that formed roughly 360 to 325 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit: Borden Group
Age: 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types: siltstone
Elevation: 620 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 Brown County

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, COLUMBUS station (16 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Brown County

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 Brown County.

Across the state line from Brown County

Brown County 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.

Brown County FAQ

Where is Brown County?+

Brown County is in Brown County, Indiana, at 39.19612, -86.21168. Nearest road: SR 46;SR 135.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Brown County?+

Brown County is reported to produce Corundum, Quartz, Topaz, Diamond.

Is collecting allowed at Brown County?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Brown County?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Brown County?+

The most comfortable months at Brown County are March to November.

How do I get to Brown County?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.19612, -86.21168 in Google Maps. The nearest road is SR 46;SR 135.

More rockhounding in Indiana

See all 33 Indiana spots →

Open Brown County on the map

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