Chester Creek: Amethyst & Smoky Quartz Rockhounding in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Delaware County

State

Pennsylvania

Nearest road

East Peters Lane

Postcode

19017

Coordinates

39.87367, -75.46055

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: Stick to public access points along the creek and to loose gravel; avoid posted private land. Water can rise quickly after storms, so check conditions before wading.

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.

Best time to visit Chester Creek

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 26°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MARCUS HOOK station (4 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Chester Creek

This spot sits on "Glenarm Wissahickon" formation, mapped as mica schist that formed roughly 540 to 250 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this typically carries quartz veins and sweats, and weathered crystals tend to end up in the soils and streams below.

Mapped unit

"Glenarm Wissahickon" formation

Age

540–250 Ma (Paleozoic)

Rock types

mica schist

Elevation

210 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.

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.

• Pennsylvania Geological Survey
• DCNR state park and state forest rules
• Allegheny National Forest
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules