Red Hill Quarry: Epidote & Microcline Rockhounding in Albemarle County, Virginia
- Minerals reported
- 3
- Elevation
- 760 ft
- Best months
- Year-round
Red Hill Quarry is a mapped rockhounding spot in Albemarle County, Virginia. Reported finds include epidote, microcline, unakite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Albemarle County
- State
- Virginia
- Nearest road
- Red Hill Road
- Postcode
- 22959
- Coordinates
- 37.96172, -78.59890
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
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.
Best time to visit Red Hill Quarry
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 45°F in winter to 88°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CHARLOTTESVILLE 2W station (6 mi away).
Geology at Red Hill Quarry
This spot sits on Porphyoblastic Biotite-Plagioclase Augen Gneiss, mapped as biotite gneiss that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this weathers into resistant float, and minerals that survive transport typically concentrate in nearby drainages.
- Mapped unit
- Porphyoblastic Biotite-Plagioclase Augen Gneiss
- Age
- 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
- Rock types
- biotite gneiss
- Elevation
- 760 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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The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Red Hill Quarry.
Get the appSources & 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.
- Virginia Energy, Geology and Mineral Resources
- Virginia State Parks
- George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Red Hill Quarry
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 Red Hill Quarry.
- CharlottesvilleAlbemarle County, Virginia · 7 mi awayAmethyst
- Stockton CreekAlbemarle County, Virginia · 8 mi awayAmethyst
- Cove CreekAlbemarle County, Virginia · 9 mi awayAmethyst
- FaberAlbemarle County, Virginia · 10 mi awayAzurite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite
- ShadwellAlbemarle County, Virginia · 11 mi awayGreen Quartzite, Unakite, Epidote
- Moormans RiverAlbemarle County, Virginia · 13 mi awayEpidote, Jasper
- Buck Mountain CreekAlbemarle County, Virginia · 13 mi awayAgate
- Southwest MountainsAlbemarle County, Virginia · 16 mi awayChalcopyrite
Across the state line from Red Hill Quarry
Red Hill Quarry is close enough to the Virginia border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Sugar Grove road cutPendleton County, West Virginia · 54 mi awayChabazite
- FranklinPendleton County, West Virginia · 64 mi awayChert, Smoky Quartz, Quartz
- South Fork MountainGrant County, West Virginia · 68 mi awayHematite
- Judy GapPendleton County, West Virginia · 70 mi awayCalcite, Dolomite, Smoky Quartz
- Smoke HolePendleton County, West Virginia · 72 mi awayGeode, Gypsum, Pyrite
- Knapp CreekPocahontas County, West Virginia · 74 mi awayGeode
Red Hill Quarry FAQ
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More rockhounding in Virginia
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Open Red Hill Quarry on the map
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