Highland Creek: Brown Sapphire Rockhounding in Morgan County, Indiana

Updated June 2026

Highland Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Morgan County, Indiana. Reported finds include brown sapphire. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Morgan County
State: Indiana
Nearest road: SR 39
Postcode: 46151
Coordinates: 39.51240, -86.45616

Geology at Highland Creek

This spot sits on ground mapped as Spickert Knob Formation, upper unit that formed roughly 360 to 330 million years ago. Hard resistant minerals typically weather out of the bedrock and concentrate in nearby soils and creek gravels.

Mapped unit: Spickert Knob Formation, upper unit
Age: 360–330 Ma (Early Mississippian)
Elevation: 650 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 Highland Creek

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 84°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MARTINSVILLE 2 SW station (7 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 Highland Creek

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

Brown Sapphire Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Highland Creek.

Across the state line from Highland Creek

Highland 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.

PalestineCrawford County, Illinois · 71 mi awaySiderite

Highland Creek FAQ

Where is Highland Creek?+

Highland Creek is in Morgan County, Indiana, at 39.51240, -86.45616. Nearest road: SR 39.

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

Highland Creek is reported to produce Brown Sapphire.

Is collecting allowed at Highland Creek?+

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 Highland Creek?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Highland Creek?+

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

How do I get to Highland Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.51240, -86.45616 in Google Maps. The nearest road is SR 39.

More rockhounding in Indiana

See all 33 Indiana spots →

Open Highland Creek on the map

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