RockHoundR
Back to map

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

Public accessBest spot2 mineralsRockbridge County, VirginiaUpdated July 2026
Minerals reported
2
Elevation
2,330 ft
Best months
February to December

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.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Nearest road
Irish Creek Road
Postcode
24483
Get directionsView on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

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.

Access note: In the George Washington National Forest, Rockbridge County. Casual, non-commercial hand collecting of loose float and stream material is generally allowed on national-forest land; no digging of old workings or commercial collecting. Confirm current forest rules before you go.

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.

Best time to visit Irish Creek

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

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.

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.

Today's weather

Is today a good day to go?

The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Irish Creek.

Get the app

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.

Found at Irish Creek

Each name 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.

More rockhounding in Virginia

See all 93 Virginia spots →

Open Irish Creek on the map

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

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
QR code that opens RockHoundR in your phone's app store
Get directionsDirections