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Weisburg: Fossil Hunting in Dearborn County, Indiana

Updated July 2026

Weisburg lies in the State Route 1 corridor of southeastern Indiana, part of the Cincinnatian (Upper Ordovician) outcrop belt that is world-renowned for abundant marine fossils. Road cuts and creek exposures here yield brachiopods, bryozoans, crinoid columnals, and enrolled Flexicalymene trilobites weathering from roughly 450-million-year-old limestone and shale. It is the strongest fossil-collecting region in the state. Reported finds include trilobites. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Weisburg photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

The village of St. Leon in the State Route 1 Cincinnatian fossil corridor of Dearborn County, Indiana, near Weisburg.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Dearborn County
State: Indiana
Nearest road: Weisburg Road
Postcode: 47041
Coordinates: 39.22221, -85.04841

Geology at Weisburg

This spot sits on Whitewater Formation, mapped as limestone and shale that formed roughly 485 to 445 million years ago. Limestone like this typically forms in ancient seas, so marine fossils such as brachiopods, corals, and crinoids tend to weather out of fresh exposures.

Mapped unit: Whitewater Formation
Age: 485–445 Ma (Ordovician)
Rock types: limestone and shale
Elevation: 980 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 Weisburg

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MILAN 5 NE station (4 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 Weisburg

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

Trilobites

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Weisburg.

Across the state line from Weisburg

Weisburg 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.

Weisburg FAQ

Where is Weisburg?+

Weisburg is in Dearborn County, Indiana, at 39.22221, -85.04841. Nearest road: Weisburg Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Weisburg?+

Weisburg is reported to produce Trilobites.

Is collecting allowed at Weisburg?+

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 Weisburg?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Weisburg?+

The most comfortable months at Weisburg are March to November.

How do I get to Weisburg?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.22221, -85.04841 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Weisburg Road.

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