Social Security Bar - Chetco River: Quartz & Jasper Rockhounding in Curry County, Oregon
Updated August 2026
Social Security Bar - Chetco River is a mapped rockhounding spot in Curry County, Oregon. Reported finds include quartz, jasper, agate. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing Social Security Bar - Chetco River in Curry County, Oregon
Quick details
- Access
- Check locally
- County
- Curry County
- State
- Oregon
- Nearest road
- South Bank Chetco River Road
- Postcode
- 97415
- Coordinates
- 42.06397, -124.22980
Geology at Social Security Bar - Chetco River
This spot sits on Yolla Bolly Terrane; Dothan Formation, mapped as graywacke, fossils: well-preserved buchia piochii fossils; veins: small calcite and quartz, mudstone, and sandstone that formed roughly 200 to 66 million years ago. Tough silica like agate, jasper, and chert typically weathers out of beds like these and collects as float in drainages and on deflation surfaces.
- Mapped unit
- Yolla Bolly Terrane; Dothan Formation
- Age
- 200–66 Ma (Jurassic to Cretaceous)
- Rock types
- graywacke, fossils: well-preserved buchia piochii fossils; veins: small calcite and quartz, mudstone, and sandstone
- Elevation
- 30 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 Social Security Bar - Chetco River
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 56°F in winter to 70°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BROOKINGS station (3 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.
State guidance last verified:
- BLM Oregon/Washington — Rockhounding & mineral material
- Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department — beach collecting rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Social Security Bar - Chetco River
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 Social Security Bar - Chetco River.
- Sport Haven Beach - South Jetty of Chetco RiverCurry County, Oregon · 2 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Fossils
- Beaches Around Chetco RiverCurry County, Oregon · 2 mi awayAgate, Californite, Jasper
- McVay Rock State Recreation SiteCurry County, Oregon · 3 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Jade
- Mill Beach at Chetco PointCurry County, Oregon · 3 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
- BrookingsCurry County, Oregon · 4 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Nephrite Jade
- Alfred Loeb State ParkCurry County, Oregon · 4 mi awayQuartz, Jasper, Agate
- Harris Beach State ParkCurry County, Oregon · 4 mi awayAgate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
- Crissey Field State Recreation SiteCurry County, Oregon · 4 mi awayAgate, Red Jasper, Jasper
Across the state line from Social Security Bar - Chetco River
Social Security Bar - Chetco River is close enough to the Oregon border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Smith River GravelsDel Norte County, California · 12 mi awayDiamond
- Keystone MineDel Norte County, California · 15 mi awayCopper Nuggets
- Diamond CreekDel Norte County, California · 17 mi awayNative Copper
- Crescent City BeachesDel Norte County, California · 21 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Shelly Creek & Monkey Creek MinesDel Norte County, California · 23 mi awayGold, Arsenopyrite
- Happy Camp Jade MinesTop pick in CaliforniaSiskiyou County, California · 42 mi awayJade, Gold, Serpentine
Social Security Bar - Chetco River FAQ
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More rockhounding in Oregon
See all 177 Oregon spots →Open Social Security Bar - Chetco River on the map
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