Cazenovia & Chittenango: Celestite Rockhounding in Madison County, New York

Quick details

Access

Check locally

County

Madison County

State

New York

Nearest road

Brinkerhoff Hill Road

Postcode

13037

Coordinates

43.03748, -75.87131

Geology at Cazenovia & Chittenango

This spot sits on Syracuse Formation, mapped as dolostone and shale that formed roughly 425 to 420 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this dissolves and weathers readily, so fresh road cuts, quarries, and creek exposures are typically the most productive ground.

Mapped unit

Syracuse Formation

Age

425–420 Ma (Ludlow to Pridoli)

Rock types

dolostone and shale

Elevation

600 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 Cazenovia & Chittenango

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 31°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 16°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL AP station (13 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Confirm rules before collecting

Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting, federal, state, and tribal rules differ.

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 Cazenovia & Chittenango

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

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