Best spot

Bentonsport: Geode Digging in Van Buren County, Iowa

Updated July 2026

Bentonsport, a preserved 19th-century village on the Des Moines River, lies within the same lower Warsaw geode horizon that defines southeast Iowa. Tributary creeks cut the geode-bearing shales and drop quartz-lined geodes and silicified Mississippian coral into the river gravels. The stretch of the Des Moines River between Bentonsport and Farmington is a classic float-and-collect corridor. Reported finds include keokuk geode. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Bentonsport photos

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

1 photo

The iron bridge and historic village of Bentonsport on the Des Moines River, Van Buren County, Iowa

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Van Buren County
State: Iowa
Nearest road: Quail Road
Postcode: 52565
Coordinates: 40.70537, -91.86485

Geology at Bentonsport

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: 660 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 Bentonsport

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, KEOSAUQUA station (6 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 Bentonsport

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 Bentonsport.

Across the state line from Bentonsport

Bentonsport 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.

Bentonsport FAQ

Where is Bentonsport?+

Bentonsport is in Van Buren County, Iowa, at 40.70537, -91.86485. Nearest road: Quail Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Bentonsport?+

Bentonsport is reported to produce Keokuk Geode.

Is collecting allowed at Bentonsport?+

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 Bentonsport?+

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 Bentonsport?+

The most comfortable months at Bentonsport are March to November.

How do I get to Bentonsport?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.70537, -91.86485 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Quail Road.

More rockhounding in Iowa

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