Richardson's Rock Ranch: Thundereggs Rockhounding in Jefferson County, Oregon
Updated August 2026
Richardson's Rock Ranch is a mapped rockhounding spot in Jefferson County, Oregon. Reported finds include thundereggs. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Richardson's Rock Ranch photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Richardson's Rock Ranch in Jefferson County, Oregon
Quick details
- Access
- Paid / fee dig
- County
- Jefferson County
- State
- Oregon
- Nearest road
- Northeast Hay Creek Road
- Postcode
- 97741
- Coordinates
- 44.73197, -120.97574
Geology at Richardson's Rock Ranch
This spot sits on surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits, mapped as mixed fluvial gravel, mixed fluvial silt, and mixed fluvial sand that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.
- Mapped unit
- surficial deposits; Alluvial deposits
- Age
- 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
- Rock types
- mixed fluvial gravel, mixed fluvial silt, and mixed fluvial sand
- Elevation
- 1,860 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 Richardson's Rock Ranch
Best months: January to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 45°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 26°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MADRAS 2 N station (10 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Land & collecting status
Pay-to-dig site
This is a fee-dig location. Hours, prices, and what you can keep vary by operator. Call ahead before driving out.
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 Richardson's Rock Ranch
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 Richardson's Rock Ranch.
- Priday Agate BedsJefferson County, Oregon · 3 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- WillowdaleJefferson County, Oregon · 5 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Geode
- Polka Dot Agate MineJefferson County, Oregon · 7 mi awayPolka Dot Agate, Thundereggs
- AshwoodJefferson County, Oregon · 11 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Geode
- AntelopeWasco County, Oregon · 17 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Geode
- Harvey CreekCrook County, Oregon · 27 mi awayThundereggs
- John Day River & StreamsWasco County, Oregon · 27 mi awayFossilized Ferns
- Lucky Strike MineCrook County, Oregon · 28 mi awayThundereggs
Across the state line from Richardson's Rock Ranch
Richardson's Rock Ranch 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.
Richardson's Rock Ranch FAQ
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More rockhounding in Oregon
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