Greenhorn Creek: Gold Prospecting in Brown County, Indiana

Updated June 2026

Greenhorn Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Brown County, Indiana. Reported finds include gold. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Brown County
State: Indiana
Nearest road: Horse Trail B
Coordinates: 39.12892, -86.19632

Geology at Greenhorn Creek

This spot sits on Borden Group, mapped as siltstone that formed roughly 360 to 325 million years ago. In sedimentary country like this, any placer gold is typically recycled from older gravels, concentrating again in modern stream beds.

Mapped unit: Borden Group
Age: 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types: siltstone
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 Greenhorn Creek

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 (15 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 Greenhorn Creek

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

Gold Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Greenhorn Creek.

Across the state line from Greenhorn Creek

Greenhorn Creek 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.

Greenhorn Creek FAQ

Where is Greenhorn Creek?+

Greenhorn Creek is in Brown County, Indiana, at 39.12892, -86.19632. Nearest road: Horse Trail B.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Greenhorn Creek?+

Greenhorn Creek is reported to produce Gold.

Is collecting allowed at Greenhorn Creek?+

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 Greenhorn Creek?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Greenhorn Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Greenhorn Creek are March to November.

How do I get to Greenhorn Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.12892, -86.19632 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Horse Trail B.

More rockhounding in Indiana

See all 33 Indiana spots →

Open Greenhorn Creek on the map

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