Mascot: Smithsonite Rockhounding in Knox County, Tennessee

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Knox County

State

Tennessee

Nearest road

Mascot Road

Postcode

37806

Coordinates

36.06531, -83.73476

Geology at Mascot

This spot sits on Newala Formation, including Mascot Dolomite and Kingsport Formation, mapped as dolostone that formed roughly 485 to 445 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this is the classic host for lead, zinc, and fluorite mineralization, which typically follows old cavities and replacement zones.

Mapped unit

Newala Formation, including Mascot Dolomite and Kingsport Formation

Age

485–445 Ma (Ordovician)

Rock types

dolostone

Elevation

900 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 Mascot

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 49°F in winter to 90°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SEVIERVILLE station (12 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 Mascot

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

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