Chillicothe: Pyrite Rockhounding in Ross County, Ohio

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Ross County

State

Ohio

Nearest road

State Route 28

Postcode

45628

Coordinates

39.35109, -83.09672

Geology at Chillicothe

This spot sits on Ohio Shale, mapped as shale and black shale that formed roughly 420 to 360 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit

Ohio Shale

Age

420–360 Ma (Devonian)

Rock types

shale and black shale

Elevation

760 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 Chillicothe

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CHILLICOTHE MOUND CITY station (5 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 Chillicothe

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

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