Graniteville: Actinolite & Apatite Rockhounding in Iron County, Missouri

Updated June 2026

Graniteville is a mapped rockhounding spot in Iron County, Missouri. Reported finds include actinolite, apatite, beryl, fluorite, galena, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Iron County
State: Missouri
Nearest road: County Road 96
Postcode: 63623
Coordinates: 37.66174, -90.68136

Geology at Graniteville

This spot sits on St. Francois Mountains intrusive suite (subvolcanic, alkali granitic ring complexes), mapped as alkali feldspar granite that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Granitic rock like this is where pegmatite pockets tend to occur, the coarse-crystal settings that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, mica, and feldspar.

Mapped unit: St. Francois Mountains intrusive suite (subvolcanic, alkali granitic ring complexes)
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: alkali feldspar granite
Elevation: 1,210 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 Graniteville

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FARMINGTON station (17 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 Graniteville

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 Graniteville.

Across the state line from Graniteville

Graniteville 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.

Graniteville FAQ

Where is Graniteville?+

Graniteville is in Iron County, Missouri, at 37.66174, -90.68136. Nearest road: County Road 96.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Graniteville?+

Graniteville is reported to produce Actinolite, Apatite, Beryl, Fluorite, Galena, Hematite, Magnetite, Orthoclase, Quartz, Topaz.

Is collecting allowed at Graniteville?+

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 Graniteville?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Graniteville?+

The most comfortable months at Graniteville are February to December.

How do I get to Graniteville?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.66174, -90.68136 in Google Maps. The nearest road is County Road 96.

More rockhounding in Missouri

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Open Graniteville on the map

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