Best spot

Irish Creek: Blue Moonstone & Cassiterite Rockhounding in Rockbridge County, Virginia

Updated July 2026

Irish Creek is Virginia's classic tin locality, a greisen and pegmatite system in the George Washington National Forest that produced the state's best cassiterite along with blue moonstone feldspar. Mindat and Virginia Division of Mineral Resources reports document the tin-bearing pegmatites, and the national-forest setting makes it one of the more accessible historic mineral districts in the state. Reported finds include blue moonstone, cassiterite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Irish Creek photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Representative specimen of cassiterite, the tin ore mineral collected at Irish Creek

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Rockbridge County
State: Virginia
Nearest road: Irish Creek Road
Postcode: 24483
Coordinates: 37.84989, -79.17037

Geology at Irish Creek

This spot sits on Megacrystic Charnockite, mapped as charnockite that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Fresh exposures, cuts, and drainages are typically the most productive places to look on ground like this.

Mapped unit: Megacrystic Charnockite
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: charnockite
Elevation: 2,330 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 Irish Creek

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MONTEBELLO FISH CULTURAL STN station (2 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 Irish Creek

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 Irish Creek.

Across the state line from Irish Creek

Irish Creek 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.

Irish Creek FAQ

Where is Irish Creek?+

Irish Creek is in Rockbridge County, Virginia, at 37.84989, -79.17037. Nearest road: Irish Creek Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Irish Creek?+

Irish Creek is reported to produce Blue Moonstone, Cassiterite.

Is collecting allowed at Irish Creek?+

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 Irish Creek?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Irish Creek?+

The most comfortable months at Irish Creek are February to December.

How do I get to Irish Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.84989, -79.17037 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Irish Creek Road.

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