Memphis: Fossil Hunting in Tipton County, Tennessee

Updated June 2026

Memphis is a mapped rockhounding spot in Tipton County, Tennessee. Reported finds include lake superior agate, agatized fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Tipton County
State: Tennessee
Nearest road: TN 59
Postcode: 38023
Coordinates: 35.51137, -89.93343

Geology at Memphis

This spot sits on Loess, mapped as silt that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Reworked sediments like these can carry fossils eroded from older beds upstream, typically as rolled bone fragments, teeth, and shell material.

Mapped unit: Loess
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Rock types: silt
Elevation: 410 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 Memphis

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 46°F in winter to 89°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, COVINGTON 3 SW station (13 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 Memphis

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 Memphis.

Across the state line from Memphis

Memphis 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.

Memphis FAQ

Where is Memphis?+

Memphis is in Tipton County, Tennessee, at 35.51137, -89.93343. Nearest road: TN 59.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Memphis?+

Memphis is reported to produce Lake Superior Agate, Agatized Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Memphis?+

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 Memphis?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Memphis?+

Memphis is workable year-round.

How do I get to Memphis?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 35.51137, -89.93343 in Google Maps. The nearest road is TN 59.

More rockhounding in Tennessee

See all 59 Tennessee spots →

Open Memphis on the map

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