Tomkinsville: Geode Digging in Monroe County, Kentucky

Updated June 2026

Tomkinsville is a mapped rockhounding spot in Monroe County, Kentucky. Reported finds include geode. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Monroe County
State: Kentucky
Nearest road: Deckard Street
Postcode: 42167
Coordinates: 36.70564, -85.70618

Geology at Tomkinsville

This spot sits on St. Louis Limestone, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 330 to 325 million years ago. Limestone country like this is classic geode ground: cavities in the carbonate rock can line themselves with quartz or calcite crystals.

Mapped unit: St. Louis Limestone
Age: 330–325 Ma (Late Mississippian)
Rock types: limestone
Elevation: 880 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 Tomkinsville

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 48°F in winter to 90°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SUMMER SHADE station (12 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 Tomkinsville

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

Geode Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Tomkinsville.

Across the state line from Tomkinsville

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

Tomkinsville FAQ

Where is Tomkinsville?+

Tomkinsville is in Monroe County, Kentucky, at 36.70564, -85.70618. Nearest road: Deckard Street.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Tomkinsville?+

Tomkinsville is reported to produce Geode.

Is collecting allowed at Tomkinsville?+

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 Tomkinsville?+

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 Tomkinsville?+

Tomkinsville is workable year-round.

How do I get to Tomkinsville?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.70564, -85.70618 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Deckard Street.

More rockhounding in Kentucky

See all 37 Kentucky spots →

Open Tomkinsville on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.