Ben Lomond Mountain: Calcite & Celestite Rockhounding in Warren County, Tennessee

Permission requiredBest spot6 mineralsWarren County, TennesseeUpdated July 2026

Minerals reported: 6
Elevation: 1,270 ft
Best months: Year-round

Ben Lomond Mountain lies in the Middle Tennessee geode belt along the Highland Rim, where quartz geodes are lined with calcite, celestite, dolomite, marcasite, and pyrite. It is cited as one of the state's notable celestite-bearing geode localities. The geodes weather out of the Mississippian carbonate and collect in the surrounding creek gravels. Reported finds include calcite, celestite, dolomite, geode, marcasite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Permission required before collecting

County: Warren County
State: Tennessee
Coordinates: 35.62837, -85.77320

Get directions View on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

Access note: The productive west-side ground is private farmland, so this is a permission-required spot rather than open land. Geodes turn up in creek gravels and road cuts across the belt, but collecting on the mountain requires asking the landowner first. Fill any holes and leave gates as found.

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 Ben Lomond Mountain

49°J

54°F

62°M

72°A

78°M

85°J

87°J

87°A

82°S

72°O

61°N

52°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 49°F in winter to 87°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MC MINNVILLE station (3 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Ben Lomond Mountain

This spot sits on Monteagle Limestone, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 360 to 325 million years ago. Limestone country like this is classic geode ground: cavities in the carbonate rock can line themselves with quartz or calcite crystals.

Mapped unit: Monteagle Limestone
Age: 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types: limestone
Elevation: 1,270 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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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.

Tennessee Division of Geology
Cherokee National Forest
Tennessee State Parks rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Ben Lomond Mountain

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 Ben Lomond Mountain.

WoodburyCannon County, Tennessee · 17 mi awayGeode
Cannon CountyCannon County, Tennessee · 21 mi awayCalcite, Fluorite, Geode
BeechgroveCoffee County, Tennessee · 26 mi awayChalcedony Nodule
MonteagleMarion County, Tennessee · 29 mi awayCalcite Onyx
Marion CountyMarion County, Tennessee · 35 mi awayBarite, Fluorite, Galena
Pannell RidgeBedford County, Tennessee · 35 mi awayAgatized Coral
Philippi ChurchBedford County, Tennessee · 35 mi awayAgatized Coral
MurfreesboroRutherford County, Tennessee · 37 mi awayChert, Agate

Across the state line from Ben Lomond Mountain

Ben Lomond Mountain 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.

GraysvilleCatoosa County, Georgia · 60 mi awayBarite, Calcite, Purple Fluorite
Rising FawnDade County, Georgia · 62 mi awayHalloysite
TomkinsvilleMonroe County, Kentucky · 75 mi awayGeode
Tarr Creek near DaltonWhitfield County, Georgia · 75 mi awayJasper, Siliceous Oolite

Ben Lomond Mountain FAQ

Where is Ben Lomond Mountain?+

Ben Lomond Mountain is in Warren County, Tennessee, at 35.62837, -85.77320.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ben Lomond Mountain?+

Ben Lomond Mountain is reported to produce Calcite, Celestite, Dolomite, Geode, Marcasite, Pyrite.

Is collecting allowed at Ben Lomond Mountain?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Ben Lomond Mountain?+

Bring a crack hammer, a chisel, safety glasses, and a bucket. Candidates are rounder and lighter than solid rock; a soil pipe cutter opens them cleaner than a flat smash.

When is the best time to visit Ben Lomond Mountain?+

Ben Lomond Mountain is workable year-round.

How do I get to Ben Lomond Mountain?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 35.62837, -85.77320 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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