Keokuk: Geode Digging in Lee County, Iowa

Updated June 2026

Keokuk is a mapped rockhounding spot in Lee County, Iowa. Reported finds include keokuk geode, calcite, chalcedony, limonite, marcasite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Lee County
State: Iowa
Nearest road: Valley Road
Postcode: 52632
Coordinates: 40.38749, -91.45175

Geology at Keokuk

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: 500 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 Keokuk

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, KEOKUK L&D 19 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 Keokuk

Each chip 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 Keokuk.

Across the state line from Keokuk

Keokuk 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.

Keokuk FAQ

Where is Keokuk?+

Keokuk is in Lee County, Iowa, at 40.38749, -91.45175. Nearest road: Valley Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Keokuk?+

Keokuk is reported to produce Keokuk Geode, Calcite, Chalcedony, Limonite, Marcasite, Pyrite, Sphalerite.

Is collecting allowed at Keokuk?+

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 Keokuk?+

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 Keokuk?+

The most comfortable months at Keokuk are March to November.

How do I get to Keokuk?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.38749, -91.45175 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Valley Road.

More rockhounding in Iowa

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Open Keokuk on the map

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