Ida: Azurite & Chrysolite Rockhounding in Page County, Virginia

Updated June 2026

Ida is a mapped rockhounding spot in Page County, Virginia. Reported finds include azurite, chrysolite, cuprite, epidote, jasper, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Page County
State: Virginia
Nearest road: Ida Road
Coordinates: 38.60892, -78.42011

Geology at Ida

This spot sits on Catoctin Formation - Metabasalt, mapped as metabasalt that formed roughly 1000 to 485 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit: Catoctin Formation - Metabasalt
Age: 1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)
Rock types: metabasalt
Elevation: 1,090 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 Ida

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 44°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 24°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LURAY 5 E station (5 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Ida

Each chip 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 Ida.

Across the state line from Ida

Ida 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.

Ida FAQ

Where is Ida?+

Ida is in Page County, Virginia, at 38.60892, -78.42011. Nearest road: Ida Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ida?+

Ida is reported to produce Azurite, Chrysolite, Cuprite, Epidote, Jasper, Malachite, Hematite.

Is collecting allowed at Ida?+

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 Ida?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Ida?+

The most comfortable months at Ida are February to December.

How do I get to Ida?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.60892, -78.42011 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Ida Road.

More rockhounding in Virginia

See all 93 Virginia spots →

Open Ida on the map

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