Tombigbee River: Fossil Hunting in Itawamba County, Mississippi
Updated July 2026
The Tombigbee River in Itawamba County flows past Cretaceous chalk and sand of the Coffee Sand, Demopolis, and Prairie Bluff units, the same fossil-bearing belt exposed farther south. Gravel bars along the river yield shark teeth, Exogyra oysters, and fragments of marine reptiles and fish weathered from the bluffs. The river's public accesses give collectors a legal way to reach this fossil-rich section. Reported finds include shark teeth. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Tombigbee River photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Tombigbee River in Itawamba County, Mississippi
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Itawamba County
- State
- Mississippi
- Nearest road
- Beans Ferry Road
- Postcode
- 38858
- Coordinates
- 34.21196, -88.40715
Geology at Tombigbee River
This spot sits on Eutaw formation, mapped as sand and clay that formed roughly 100 to 66 million years ago. Reworked sediments like these can carry fossils eroded from older beds upstream, typically as rolled bone fragments, teeth, and shell material.
- Mapped unit
- Eutaw formation
- Age
- 100–66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)
- Rock types
- sand and clay
- Elevation
- 270 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 Tombigbee River
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 51°F in winter to 90°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FULTON 3 W 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 Tombigbee River
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 Tombigbee River.
- PadenTop pick in MississippiTishomingo County, Mississippi · 27 mi awayAmber
- Twentymile CreekTop pick in MississippiPrentiss County, Mississippi · 29 mi awayFossils, Petrified Wood
- LukaTishomingo County, Mississippi · 42 mi awayRed Ocher, Yellow Ocher
- Holly Springs National ForestTop pick in MississippiMarshall County, Mississippi · 63 mi awayPetrified Wood
Across the state line from Tombigbee River
Tombigbee River is close enough to the Mississippi border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
Tombigbee River FAQ
Where is Tombigbee River?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Tombigbee River?+
Is collecting allowed at Tombigbee River?+
What tools should I bring to Tombigbee River?+
When is the best time to visit Tombigbee River?+
How do I get to Tombigbee River?+
More rockhounding in Mississippi
See all 12 Mississippi spots →Open Tombigbee River on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.
