St. Francisville: Geode Digging in Clark County, Missouri

Updated June 2026

St. Francisville is a mapped rockhounding spot in Clark County, Missouri. Reported finds include geode, barite, calcite, fluorite, malachite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Clark County
State: Missouri
Nearest road: County Road 197
Coordinates: 40.45408, -91.57839

Geology at St. Francisville

This spot sits on ground mapped as limestone that formed roughly 360 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.

Age: 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types: limestone
Elevation: 560 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 St. Francisville

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, KEOKUK L&D 19 station (11 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 St. Francisville

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 St. Francisville.

Across the state line from St. Francisville

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

St. Francisville FAQ

Where is St. Francisville?+

St. Francisville is in Clark County, Missouri, at 40.45408, -91.57839. Nearest road: County Road 197.

What rocks and minerals can you find at St. Francisville?+

St. Francisville is reported to produce Geode, Barite, Calcite, Fluorite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz, Sphalerite.

Is collecting allowed at St. Francisville?+

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 St. Francisville?+

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 St. Francisville?+

The most comfortable months at St. Francisville are March to November.

How do I get to St. Francisville?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.45408, -91.57839 in Google Maps. The nearest road is County Road 197.

More rockhounding in Missouri

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Open St. Francisville on the map

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