Cookeville: Agate & Jasper Rockhounding in Putnam County, Tennessee

Updated June 2026

Cookeville is a mapped rockhounding spot in Putnam County, Tennessee. Reported finds include agate, jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Putnam County
State: Tennessee
Nearest road: Poplar Grove Road
Postcode: 38506
Coordinates: 36.13577, -85.42882

Geology at Cookeville

This spot sits on St. Louis Limestone and Warsaw Limestone, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 360 to 325 million years ago. Chert and agate nodules typically form inside carbonate rock like this and weather out as tough, waxy lumps in soils and creek beds.

Mapped unit: St. Louis Limestone and Warsaw Limestone
Age: 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types: limestone
Elevation: 970 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 Cookeville

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 48°F in winter to 88°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, COOKEVILLE 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 Cookeville

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 Cookeville.

Across the state line from Cookeville

Cookeville 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.

Cookeville FAQ

Where is Cookeville?+

Cookeville is in Putnam County, Tennessee, at 36.13577, -85.42882. Nearest road: Poplar Grove Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Cookeville?+

Cookeville is reported to produce Agate, Jasper.

Is collecting allowed at Cookeville?+

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 Cookeville?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Cookeville?+

Cookeville is workable year-round.

How do I get to Cookeville?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 36.13577, -85.42882 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Poplar Grove Road.

More rockhounding in Tennessee

See all 59 Tennessee spots →

Open Cookeville on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.