Ames: Fossil Hunting in Story County, Iowa
- Minerals reported
- 2
- Elevation
- 900 ft
- Best months
- March to November
Central Iowa lies under the Des Moines Lobe, the last glacier to cross the state, and its drift is salted with Lake Superior agate, chalcedony, and jasper carried south from the Superior basin. Around Ames these show up in Skunk River gravels and glacial gravel exposures, along with reworked Pennsylvanian and Mississippian fossils. The Iowa Geological Survey points to central-Iowa gravel as dependable agate ground. Reported finds include chalcedony, fossil. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Story County
- State
- Iowa
- Nearest road
- Audubon Trail
- Postcode
- 50013
- Coordinates
- 42.03361, -93.63183
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.
Access note: Collect loose agate and chalcedony on public Skunk River gravel bars below the ordinary high-water mark, using public bridge and boat accesses. Commercial gravel pits are private and require the operator's permission.
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 Ames
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 84°F in midsummer and 29°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 11°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, AMES MUNI AP station (3 mi away).
Geology at Ames
This spot sits on ground mapped as Augusta Group that formed roughly 355 to 330 million years ago. Fossils here are typically found in fresh exposures, where erosion keeps bringing new material to the surface.
- Mapped unit
- Augusta Group
- Age
- 355–330 Ma (Mississippian)
- Elevation
- 900 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 Ames.
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.
- Iowa Geological Survey
- Iowa DNR state park rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Ames
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 Ames.
- NevadaStory County, Iowa · 13 mi awayAgate
- Bells Mill ParkHamilton County, Iowa · 25 mi awayCalcite
- UnionHardin County, Iowa · 33 mi awayGeode
- EldoraHardin County, Iowa · 35 mi awayGeode
- Steamboat RiverHardin County, Iowa · 39 mi awayGeode
- Fort DodgeWebster County, Iowa · 40 mi awayGypsum
- ChapinFranklin County, Iowa · 60 mi awayGeode
- PershingMarion County, Iowa · 62 mi awayCalcite
Ames FAQ
Where is Ames?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Ames?+
Is collecting allowed at Ames?+
What tools should I bring to Ames?+
When is the best time to visit Ames?+
How do I get to Ames?+
More rockhounding in Iowa
See all 50 Iowa spots →
Open Ames on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.
