Best spot

Lowell: Geode Digging in Henry County, Iowa

Updated July 2026

Lowell sits in the heart of the Keokuk geode district, where the Mississippian Warsaw Formation sheds hollow, quartz-lined geodes into the Skunk River and its tributary creeks. The geode is Iowa's state rock, and this corner of Henry County is its type region, producing crystal-lined cavities of quartz and calcite with occasional pyrite, marcasite, and goethite. Fresh geodes weather steadily out of the gray Warsaw shales into the creek gravels. Reported finds include keokuk geode. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Lowell photos

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

1 photo

Aerial view of Lowell, Iowa, on the Skunk River in the Keokuk geode district

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Henry County
State: Iowa
Nearest road: Shady Oak Lane
Postcode: 52645
Coordinates: 40.84118, -91.42014

Geology at Lowell

This spot sits on ground mapped as Augusta Group that formed roughly 355 to 330 million years ago. Geodes typically weather free of their host rock and collect as rounded float in soils and drainages.

Mapped unit: Augusta Group
Age: 355–330 Ma (Mississippian)
Elevation: 570 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 Lowell

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MT PLEASANT 1 SW station (12 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Lowell

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

Keokuk Geode Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Lowell.

Across the state line from Lowell

Lowell is close enough to the Iowa border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Lowell FAQ

Where is Lowell?+

Lowell is in Henry County, Iowa, at 40.84118, -91.42014. Nearest road: Shady Oak Lane.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Lowell?+

Lowell is reported to produce Keokuk Geode.

Is collecting allowed at Lowell?+

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 Lowell?+

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 Lowell?+

The most comfortable months at Lowell are March to November.

How do I get to Lowell?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.84118, -91.42014 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Shady Oak Lane.

More rockhounding in Iowa

See all 49 Iowa spots →

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