Rock Springs Run: Moss Agate Rockhounding in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Quick details

Access

Permission required

County

Lancaster County

State

Pennsylvania

Nearest road

Cedar Hill Road

Postcode

17563

Coordinates

39.73506, -76.14140

Geology at Rock Springs Run

This spot sits on Peters Creek Schist, mapped as mica schist and quartzite that formed roughly 540 to 250 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this weathers into resistant float, and minerals that survive transport typically concentrate in nearby drainages.

Mapped unit

Peters Creek Schist

Age

540–250 Ma (Paleozoic)

Rock types

mica schist and quartzite

Elevation

300 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 Rock Springs Run

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 24°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CONOWINGO DAM station (6 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Rock Springs Run

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

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