Big Creek: Green Quartz Rockhounding in Cocke County, Tennessee
- Mineral reported
- 1
- Elevation
- 1,870 ft
- Best months
- Year-round
Big Creek, in the Smoky Mountain foothills near Bluffton, is one of the few Tennessee streams known for green quartz, with some water-worn crystals reaching gem quality. The color comes from mineral inclusions in quartz shed from the surrounding Precambrian metamorphic rock. The creek gravels also carry clear quartz and other resistant pebbles. Reported finds include green quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Cocke County
- State
- Tennessee
- Nearest road
- Joy Way
- Postcode
- 37753
- Coordinates
- 35.83903, -83.09577
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: Big Creek drains Cherokee National Forest ground, where the Forest Service allows hand collecting of small amounts of loose rock from stream gravels for personal use. Check land status first, as some lower reaches border private property, and avoid any posted parcels. Work gravel bars at low water rather than digging banks.
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 Big Creek
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 47°F in winter to 85°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WATERVILLE 2 station (4 mi away), adjusted for elevation.
Geology at Big Creek
This spot sits on ground mapped as Roaring Fork Sandstone that formed roughly 1000 to 540 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
- Roaring Fork Sandstone
- Age
- 1000–540 Ma (Neoproterozoic)
- Elevation
- 1,870 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.
Today's weather
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The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Big Creek.
Get the appSources & 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.
- Tennessee Division of Geology
- Cherokee National Forest
- Tennessee State Parks rules
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Big Creek
Each name 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 Big Creek.
- Mine RidgeCocke County, Tennessee · 2 mi awayCopper, Iron, Lead
- Rag MountainCocke County, Tennessee · 3 mi awayUnakite
- Del RioCocke County, Tennessee · 6 mi awayUnakite
- Del RioCocke County, Tennessee · 8 mi awayBarite, Calcite, Celestite
- Nun's CoveSevier County, Tennessee · 18 mi awayCalcite, Chert, Barite
- Douglas LakeJefferson County, Tennessee · 21 mi awayDiamond, Quartz
- GatlinburgSevier County, Tennessee · 25 mi awayQuartz, Gemstone
- GreenevilleGreene County, Tennessee · 27 mi awaySphalerite
Across the state line from Big Creek
Big 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.
- Lemon GapMadison County, North Carolina · 9 mi awayAllanite
- Roaring Fork CreekMadison County, North Carolina · 9 mi awayUnakite
- Little Pine Garnet MineMadison County, North Carolina · 21 mi awayGarnet, Quartz, Chlorite
- Pressley MineHaywood County, North Carolina · 24 mi awayAlbite, Amphibolite, Corundum
- Pressley MineHaywood County, North Carolina · 24 mi awayCorundum, Sapphire
- Newfound GapHaywood County, North Carolina · 26 mi awayRuby
Big Creek FAQ
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More rockhounding in Tennessee
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