Paden: Amber Rockhounding in Tishomingo County, Mississippi
- Mineral reported
- 1
- Elevation
- 410 ft
- Best months
- Year-round
The clay and lignite beds around Paden in Tishomingo County are one of the few documented sources of Upper Cretaceous amber in Mississippi, tied to the Coffee Sand and Tuscaloosa Group. The amber is scientifically notable: researchers recovered the first fossil microorganisms preserved in it from this material. Pieces turn up as small resin nodules weathering from the dark lignitic clays. Reported finds include amber. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Tishomingo County
- State
- Mississippi
- Coordinates
- 34.59801, -88.30398
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: Amber here occurs in private clay pits and lignite exposures, so secure landowner permission before collecting. It is rare and easily missed, found as small pieces rather than large masses. Do not enter active pit workings or dig into unstable clay faces.
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 Paden
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 50°F in winter to 89°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, IUKA station (13 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Paden
This spot sits on Eutaw formation, mapped as sand and clay that formed roughly 100 to 66 million years ago. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.
- Mapped unit
- Eutaw formation
- Age
- 100–66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)
- Rock types
- sand and clay
- Elevation
- 410 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 Paden.
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.
- Mississippi Office of Geology
- National Forests in Mississippi
- Mississippi State Parks rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Paden
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 Paden.
- LukaTishomingo County, Mississippi · 15 mi awayRed Ocher, Yellow Ocher
- Twentymile CreekPrentiss County, Mississippi · 19 mi awayFossil, Petrified Wood
- Tombigbee RiverItawamba County, Mississippi · 27 mi awayShark Tooth
- Holly Springs National ForestMarshall County, Mississippi · 59 mi awayPetrified Wood
Across the state line from Paden
Paden 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.
- Tennessee River (Muscle Shoals)Colbert County, Alabama · 38 mi awayChert, Fossil, Chalcedony
- Coffee BluffHardin County, Tennessee · 47 mi awayAmber
- BrilliantMarion County, Alabama · 50 mi awayPetrified Wood, Quartz
- Tennessee River & StreamsDecatur County, Tennessee · 55 mi awayPearl
- Bankhead National ForestWinston County, Alabama · 56 mi awayQuartz, Chert, Fossil
- Wayne CountyWayne County, Tennessee · 58 mi awayChert, Agatized Fossil, Flint
Paden FAQ
Where is Paden?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Paden?+
Is collecting allowed at Paden?+
What tools should I bring to Paden?+
When is the best time to visit Paden?+
How do I get to Paden?+
More rockhounding in Mississippi
See all 14 Mississippi spots →
Open Paden on the map
Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.
