Bloomington: Fluorite & Aragonite Rockhounding in Monroe County, Indiana
- Minerals reported
- 4
- Elevation
- 860 ft
- Best months
- March to November
Bloomington is a mapped rockhounding spot in Monroe County, Indiana. Reported finds include fluorite, aragonite, calcite, barite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Monroe County
- State
- Indiana
- Nearest road
- North Oard Road
- Postcode
- 47404
- Coordinates
- 39.16961, -86.62275
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
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.
Best time to visit Bloomington
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BLOOMINGTON MONROE CO AP station (2 mi away).
Geology at Bloomington
This spot sits on West Baden Group, mapped as sandstone 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
- West Baden Group
- Age
- 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
- Rock types
- sandstone
- Elevation
- 860 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.
Today's weather
Is today a good day to go?
The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Bloomington.
Get the appSources & 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.
- Indiana Geological and Water Survey
- Hoosier National Forest
- Indiana DNR property rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Bloomington
Each name 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 Bloomington.
- HarrodsburgMonroe County, Indiana · 8 mi awayCalcite, Dolomite, Aragonite
- SpencerOwen County, Indiana · 11 mi awayBarite, Celestite, Siderite
- Lawrence CountyLawrence County, Indiana · 15 mi awayGeode, Calcite, Sphalerite
- Brown County State ParkBrown County, Indiana · 19 mi awayGeode, Marcasite, Aragonite
- Salt CreekLawrence County, Indiana · 19 mi awayGeode
- OoliticLawrence County, Indiana · 19 mi awayOolitic Limestone
- BeanblossomBrown County, Indiana · 21 mi awayGeode
- Brown CountyBrown County, Indiana · 22 mi awayCorundum, Quartz, Topaz
Across the state line from Bloomington
Bloomington 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.
- PalestineCrawford County, Illinois · 54 mi awaySiderite
- Louisville (quarry area)Jefferson County, Kentucky · 77 mi awayFossilized Quarry, Petrified Wood
Bloomington FAQ
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More rockhounding in Indiana
See all 33 Indiana spots →
Open Bloomington on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.
