Palmyra: Moss Agate Rockhounding in Otoe County, Nebraska

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Otoe County

State

Nebraska

Nearest road

C Street

Postcode

68418

Coordinates

40.70079, -96.38979

Geology at Palmyra

This spot sits on Wabaunsee Group, mapped as shale, sandstone, and limestone that formed roughly 325 to 300 million years ago. Chert and agate nodules typically form inside carbonate rock like this and weather out as tough, waxy lumps in soils and creek beds.

Mapped unit

Wabaunsee Group

Age

325–300 Ma (Pennsylvanian)

Rock types

shale, sandstone, and limestone

Elevation

1,140 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 Palmyra

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 34°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 12°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SYRACUSE 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 Palmyra

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

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