Lake Spavinaw: Cerussite & Galena Rockhounding in Mayes County, Oklahoma

Updated June 2026

Lake Spavinaw is a mapped rockhounding spot in Mayes County, Oklahoma. Reported finds include cerussite, galena, magnetite, goethite, pyrite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Mayes County
State: Oklahoma
Nearest road: Mickey Mantle Memorial Highway
Postcode: 74366
Coordinates: 36.38765, -95.06199

Geology at Lake Spavinaw

This spot sits on Chattanooga + Fernvale + Fite + Tyner + Burgen + Cotter Formations, mapped as shale, limestone, and dolostone that formed roughly 485 to 325 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: Chattanooga + Fernvale + Fite + Tyner + Burgen + Cotter Formations
Age: 485–325 Ma (Early Ordovician to Mississippian)
Rock types: shale, limestone, and dolostone
Elevation: 730 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 Lake Spavinaw

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 48°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 26°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SPAVINAW station (0 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 Lake Spavinaw

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 Lake Spavinaw.

Across the state line from Lake Spavinaw

Lake Spavinaw 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.

Lake Spavinaw FAQ

Where is Lake Spavinaw?+

Lake Spavinaw is in Mayes County, Oklahoma, at 36.38765, -95.06199. Nearest road: Mickey Mantle Memorial Highway.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Lake Spavinaw?+

Lake Spavinaw is reported to produce Cerussite, Galena, Magnetite, Goethite, Pyrite, Quartz, Dolomite.

Is collecting allowed at Lake Spavinaw?+

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 Lake Spavinaw?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Lake Spavinaw?+

The most comfortable months at Lake Spavinaw are September to June.

How do I get to Lake Spavinaw?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.38765, -95.06199 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Mickey Mantle Memorial Highway.

More rockhounding in Oklahoma

See all 36 Oklahoma spots →

Open Lake Spavinaw on the map

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