Stony Creek: Pyrite & Pyrolusite Rockhounding in Carter County, Tennessee

Updated June 2026

Stony Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Carter County, Tennessee. Reported finds include pyrite, pyrolusite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Carter County
State: Tennessee
Nearest road: Willow Springs Road
Postcode: 37643
Coordinates: 36.37318, -82.15492

Geology at Stony Creek

This spot sits on Rome Formation, mapped as shale that formed roughly 540 to 485 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit: Rome Formation
Age: 540–485 Ma (Cambrian)
Rock types: shale
Elevation: 1,600 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 Stony Creek

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 46°F in winter to 85°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ELIZABETHTON station (5 mi away).

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.

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 Stony Creek

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 Stony Creek.

Across the state line from Stony Creek

Stony Creek is close enough to the Tennessee border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Stony Creek FAQ

Where is Stony Creek?+

Stony Creek is in Carter County, Tennessee, at 36.37318, -82.15492. Nearest road: Willow Springs Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Stony Creek?+

Stony Creek is reported to produce Pyrite, Pyrolusite.

Is collecting allowed at Stony Creek?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Stony Creek?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses cover old mining-district ground. Stay out of shafts and adits; the best specimens typically come from dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Stony Creek?+

Stony Creek is workable year-round.

How do I get to Stony Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.37318, -82.15492 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Willow Springs Road.

More rockhounding in Tennessee

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Open Stony Creek on the map

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