Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge: Gold Prospecting in Linn County, Oregon

Updated August 2026

Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge is a mapped rockhounding spot in Linn County, Oregon. Reported finds include gold, quartz, calcite, chalcedony, agate, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Linn County
State: Oregon
Nearest road: Quartzville Drive
Coordinates: 44.56542, -122.40964

Geology at Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge

This spot sits on Little Butte Volcanics, mapped as autoclastic breccia, bluish gray, purplish red; andesite, basalt clasts, andesite flows, bluish gray; fe-ti oxides blebs; zones: andesine compositional zoning; calcic andesine, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene phenocrysts; alteration: andesine altered to calcite, pyroxene altered to calcite, chlorite, montmorillonite; matrix: plagioclase feldspar microlites, basaltic andesite flows, medium to dark gray; calcic andesine, orthopyroxene phenocrysts; alteration: andesine partially altered to clay minerals, orthopyroxene replaced by chlorite and calcite, iddingsite, quartz, ilmenite; zones: zoned calcic andesine; fe-ti oxides phenocrysts; fe-ti oxides blebs; matrix: andesine microlites, brown glass, fe-ti oxides, and orthopyroxene that formed roughly 34 to 5 million years ago. Gold in volcanic terrain like this is usually tied to old vein systems and the gravels that drain them, so nearby washes tend to carry the color.

Mapped unit: Little Butte Volcanics
Age: 34–5 Ma (Oligocene to Miocene)
Rock types: autoclastic breccia, bluish gray, purplish red; andesite, basalt clasts, andesite flows, bluish gray; fe-ti oxides blebs; zones: andesine compositional zoning; calcic andesine, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene phenocrysts; alteration: andesine altered to calcite, pyroxene altered to calcite, chlorite, montmorillonite; matrix: plagioclase feldspar microlites, basaltic andesite flows, medium to dark gray; calcic andesine, orthopyroxene phenocrysts; alteration: andesine partially altered to clay minerals, orthopyroxene replaced by chlorite and calcite, iddingsite, quartz, ilmenite; zones: zoned calcic andesine; fe-ti oxides phenocrysts; fe-ti oxides blebs; matrix: andesine microlites, brown glass, fe-ti oxides, and orthopyroxene
Elevation: 1,240 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 Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge

Best months: February to November. Typical highs run 78°F in midsummer and 44°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 32°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CASCADIA station (13 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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: April 1, 2026

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 Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge

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 Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge.

Across the state line from Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge

Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge 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.

Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge FAQ

Where is Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge?+

Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge is in Linn County, Oregon, at 44.56542, -122.40964. Nearest road: Quartzville Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge?+

Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge is reported to produce Gold, Quartz, Calcite, Chalcedony, Agate, Jasper, Andesite, Basalt, Rhyolite, Breccia.

Is collecting allowed at Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge?+

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 Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge?+

The most comfortable months at Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge are February to November.

How do I get to Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 44.56542, -122.40964 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Quartzville Drive.

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Open Quartzville Creek at Boulder Creek Bridge on the map

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