Centreville: Amethyst Rockhounding in Fairfax County, Virginia

Updated June 2026

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

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Fairfax County
State: Virginia
Nearest road: Compton Road
Postcode: 20121
Coordinates: 38.82078, -77.46642

Geology at Centreville

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: 180 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 Centreville

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 43°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 24°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MANASSAS station (6 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 Centreville

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

Amethyst Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Centreville.

Across the state line from Centreville

Centreville 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.

Centreville FAQ

Where is Centreville?+

Centreville is in Fairfax County, Virginia, at 38.82078, -77.46642. Nearest road: Compton Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Centreville?+

Centreville is reported to produce Amethyst.

Is collecting allowed at Centreville?+

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 Centreville?+

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 Centreville?+

The most comfortable months at Centreville are February to December.

How do I get to Centreville?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.82078, -77.46642 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Compton Road.

More rockhounding in Virginia

See all 93 Virginia spots →

Open Centreville on the map

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