Brown County State Park: Geode Digging in Brown County, Indiana

Updated June 2026

Brown County State Park is a mapped rockhounding spot in Brown County, Indiana. Reported finds include geode, marcasite, aragonite, quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Brown County
State: Indiana
Nearest road: SR 46
Postcode: 47448
Coordinates: 39.17797, -86.26978

Geology at Brown County State Park

This spot sits on Borden Group, mapped as siltstone that formed roughly 360 to 325 million years ago. Concretions and geodes typically weather out of sedimentary beds like these, standing out as rounded, heavier-or-lighter-than-expected lumps.

Mapped unit: Borden Group
Age: 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types: siltstone
Elevation: 910 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 State Park

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 20°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BLOOMINGTON INDIANA UNIV station (13 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 Brown County State Park

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 State Park.

Across the state line from Brown County State Park

Brown County State Park 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 State Park FAQ

Where is Brown County State Park?+

Brown County State Park is in Brown County, Indiana, at 39.17797, -86.26978. Nearest road: SR 46.

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

Brown County State Park is reported to produce Geode, Marcasite, Aragonite, Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Brown County State Park?+

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 Brown County State Park?+

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 Brown County State Park?+

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

How do I get to Brown County State Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.17797, -86.26978 in Google Maps. The nearest road is SR 46.

More rockhounding in Indiana

See all 33 Indiana spots →

Open Brown County State Park on the map

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