La Grange: Agate & Chalcedony Rockhounding in Lewis County, Missouri
Updated June 2026
The Mississippi River gravels around La Grange in Lewis County carry gem-quality agate, chalcedony, jasper, petrified wood, and the occasional Keokuk geode, all concentrated by the river and reworked glacial drift. Older accounts of Missouri minerals single out the large gravel deposits near La Grange as a source of beautiful agate specimens. The mix of Lake Superior agate carried south by glaciers and local silica makes the river bars unusually varied. Reported finds include agate, chalcedony, jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
La Grange photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing La Grange in Lewis County, Missouri
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Lewis County
- State
- Missouri
- Nearest road
- Wharf Street
- Postcode
- 63448
- Coordinates
- 40.04691, -91.49584
Geology at La Grange
This spot sits on ground mapped as clay, silt, and sand that formed within roughly the last 12,000 years. Gravels like these concentrate whatever survives the river: agate, jasper, and other tough silica typically show up as rounded, waxy stones.
- Age
- < 1 Ma (Holocene)
- Rock types
- clay, silt, and sand
- Elevation
- 490 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 La Grange
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, CANTON L&D 20 station (7 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 La Grange
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 La Grange.
- Fabius RiverTop pick in MissouriLewis County, Missouri · 8 mi awayGeode, Calcite, Malachite
- Alexandria & WaylandTop pick in MissouriClark County, Missouri · 22 mi awayGeode
- NewarkKnox County, Missouri · 26 mi awayCalcite, Chalcopyrite, Goethite
- Fox CityClark County, Missouri · 27 mi awayGeode, Calcite
- HannibalRalls County, Missouri · 28 mi awayMarcasite, Pyrite
- St. FrancisvilleClark County, Missouri · 28 mi awayGeode, Barite, Calcite
- KahokaClark County, Missouri · 30 mi awayGeode
- SavertonRalls County, Missouri · 30 mi awayPyrite
Across the state line from La Grange
La Grange 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.
- Crystal Glen CreekHancock County, Illinois · 23 mi awayGeode, Barite, Calcite
- KeokukLee County, Iowa · 24 mi awayKeokuk Geode, Calcite, Chalcedony
- Mississippi River (near Hamilton)Hancock County, Illinois · 24 mi awayGeode, Amethyst, Quartz
- Hamilton (west)Lee County, Iowa · 24 mi awayGeode
- Hamilton QuarryHancock County, Illinois · 24 mi awayGeode, Pyrite, Calcite
- HamiltonTop pick in IllinoisHancock County, Illinois · 25 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Geode
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