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Daviess County: Fossil Hunting in Daviess County, Missouri

Updated June 2026

Daviess County lies in the glaciated plains of northern Missouri, where Pleistocene ice sheets carried Lake Superior agates south from the Great Lakes basin and dropped them in glacial drift and stream gravels. Collectors work the area's creeks and the Grand River gravels for banded fortification agate, jasper, petrified wood, and fossils. The agates are tumble-rounded and frost-pitted, distinct from the local sedimentary chert. Reported finds include lake superior agate, jasper, fossils, petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Daviess County photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

A polished Lake Superior agate showing red and orange fortification banding, the ice carried agate type that turns up tumble rounded in Daviess County glacial drift and Grand River gravels.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Daviess County
State: Missouri
Nearest road: 215th Street
Postcode: 64640
Coordinates: 39.96534, -93.99745

Geology at Daviess County

This spot sits on Kansas City Group, mapped as limestone and shale that formed roughly 325 to 300 million years ago. Limestone like this typically forms in ancient seas, so marine fossils such as brachiopods, corals, and crinoids tend to weather out of fresh exposures.

Mapped unit: Kansas City Group
Age: 325–300 Ma (Pennsylvanian)
Rock types: limestone and shale
Elevation: 720 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 Daviess County

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 35°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 16°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GALLATIN 1W station (4 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 Daviess County

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 Daviess County.

Across the state line from Daviess County

Daviess County 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.

Daviess County FAQ

Where is Daviess County?+

Daviess County is in Daviess County, Missouri, at 39.96534, -93.99745. Nearest road: 215th Street.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Daviess County?+

Daviess County is reported to produce Lake Superior Agate, Jasper, Fossils, Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Daviess County?+

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 Daviess County?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Daviess County?+

The most comfortable months at Daviess County are March to November.

How do I get to Daviess County?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.96534, -93.99745 in Google Maps. The nearest road is 215th Street.

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