Tahlequah: Pyrite Rockhounding in Cherokee County, Oklahoma

Updated June 2026

Tahlequah is a mapped rockhounding spot in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. Reported finds include pyrite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Cherokee County
State: Oklahoma
Nearest road: South 540 Road
Postcode: 74464
Coordinates: 35.92608, -94.92727

Geology at Tahlequah

This spot sits on Undifferentiated, Mississisippian, Devonian, Silurian, and Ordovician, mapped as limestone, shale, and sandstone that formed roughly 485 to 325 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this is the classic host for lead, zinc, and fluorite mineralization, which typically follows old cavities and replacement zones.

Mapped unit: Undifferentiated, Mississisippian, Devonian, Silurian, and Ordovician
Age: 485–325 Ma (Early Ordovician to Mississippian)
Rock types: limestone, shale, and sandstone
Elevation: 740 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 Tahlequah

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 52°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 28°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, TAHLEQUAH station (2 mi away).

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 Tahlequah

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

Pyrite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Tahlequah.

Across the state line from Tahlequah

Tahlequah is close enough to the Oklahoma border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Tahlequah FAQ

Where is Tahlequah?+

Tahlequah is in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, at 35.92608, -94.92727. Nearest road: South 540 Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Tahlequah?+

Tahlequah is reported to produce Pyrite.

Is collecting allowed at Tahlequah?+

Confirm rules before collecting. Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting — federal, state, and tribal rules differ. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Tahlequah?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses cover old mining-district ground. Stay out of shafts and adits; the best specimens typically come from dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Tahlequah?+

The most comfortable months at Tahlequah are September to June.

How do I get to Tahlequah?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 35.92608, -94.92727 in Google Maps. The nearest road is South 540 Road.

More rockhounding in Oklahoma

See all 36 Oklahoma spots →

Open Tahlequah on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.