Saunders Farm: Amethyst Rockhounding in Nelson County, Virginia

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Nelson County

State

Virginia

Nearest road

Tye Brook Highway

Postcode

22922

Coordinates

37.72152, -78.97066

Geology at Saunders Farm

This spot sits on Porphyoblastic Biotite-Plagioclase Augen Gneiss, mapped as biotite gneiss that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this typically carries quartz veins and sweats, and weathered crystals tend to end up in the soils and streams below.

Mapped unit

Porphyoblastic Biotite-Plagioclase Augen Gneiss

Age

1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)

Rock types

biotite gneiss

Elevation

630 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 Saunders Farm

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 48°F in winter to 88°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, TYE RVR 1 SE 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 Saunders Farm

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

• AmethystEncyclopedia →