Yates Center: Amethyst & Quartz Rockhounding in Woodson County, Kansas

Updated June 2026

Yates Center is a mapped rockhounding spot in Woodson County, Kansas. Reported finds include amethyst, quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Woodson County
State: Kansas
Coordinates: 37.75517, -95.73315

Geology at Yates Center

This spot sits on Alluvium, mapped as sand, silt, and clay that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: sand, silt, and clay
Elevation: 950 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 Yates Center

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 90°F in midsummer and 43°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, YATES CTR station (9 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 Yates Center

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 Yates Center.

Across the state line from Yates Center

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

Yates Center FAQ

Where is Yates Center?+

Yates Center is in Woodson County, Kansas, at 37.75517, -95.73315.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Yates Center?+

Yates Center is reported to produce Amethyst, Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Yates Center?+

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 Yates Center?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Yates Center?+

The most comfortable months at Yates Center are February to December.

How do I get to Yates Center?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.75517, -95.73315 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Kansas

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Open Yates Center on the map

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