Best spot

Ducktown — Rockhounding in Polk County, Tennessee

Updated July 2026

Ducktown sits on the Copper Basin, a Precambrian massive-sulfide deposit that made it one of the most important copper districts in the Southeast. The Burra Burra Mine worked ore below 2,400 feet from 1899 to 1959 and left dumps historically rich in chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, garnet, and staurolite. The reclaimed red-hills landscape and the Ducktown Basin Museum document a mining story with few equals in the state. Reported finds include azurite, chalcopyrite, garnet, gold, pyrite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Ducktown photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

The town of Ducktown seen from the historic Burra Burra Mine, Copper Basin, Polk County, Tennessee

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Polk County
State: Tennessee
Nearest road: Stansbury Mountain Road
Postcode: 37317
Coordinates: 35.03255, -84.36551

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 Ducktown

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 Ducktown.

Across the state line from Ducktown

Ducktown 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.

Ducktown FAQ

Why is Ducktown one of the best rockhounding spots in Tennessee?+

Where is Ducktown?+

Ducktown is in Polk County, Tennessee, at 35.03255, -84.36551. Nearest road: Stansbury Mountain Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ducktown?+

Ducktown is reported to produce Azurite, Chalcopyrite, Garnet, Gold, Pyrite, Malachite, Quartz, Staurolite, Chalcocite, Cuprite, Galena, Graphite.

Is collecting allowed at Ducktown?+

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.

How do I get to Ducktown?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 35.03255, -84.36551 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Stansbury Mountain Road.

More rockhounding in Tennessee

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Open Ducktown on the map

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