Arlington: Blue Quartz Rockhounding in Arlington County, Virginia

Updated June 2026

Arlington is a mapped rockhounding spot in Arlington County, Virginia. Reported finds include blue quartz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Arlington County
State: Virginia
Nearest road: Four Mile Run Trail
Postcode: 22206
Coordinates: 38.84943, -77.10325

Geology at Arlington

This spot sits on quaternary alluvium, mapped as gravel that formed within roughly the last 12,000 years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: quaternary alluvium
Age: < 1 Ma (Holocene)
Rock types: gravel
Elevation: 80 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 Arlington

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 45°F in winter to 89°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WASHINGTON REAGAN NATL AP station (4 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 Arlington

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Blue Quartz Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Arlington.

Across the state line from Arlington

Arlington 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.

Arlington FAQ

Where is Arlington?+

Arlington is in Arlington County, Virginia, at 38.84943, -77.10325. Nearest road: Four Mile Run Trail.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Arlington?+

Arlington is reported to produce Blue Quartz.

Is collecting allowed at Arlington?+

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 Arlington?+

A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.

When is the best time to visit Arlington?+

Arlington is workable year-round.

How do I get to Arlington?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.84943, -77.10325 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Four Mile Run Trail.

More rockhounding in Virginia

See all 93 Virginia spots →

Open Arlington on the map

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