Coopers Rock: Hematite & Opal Rockhounding in Monongalia County, West Virginia

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Monongalia County

State

West Virginia

Nearest road

Darnell Hollow Road

Coordinates

39.69300, -79.78932

Geology at Coopers Rock

This spot sits on Pottsville Group, mapped as sandstone that formed roughly 325 to 300 million years ago. Tough silica like agate, jasper, and chert typically weathers out of beds like these and collects as float in drainages and on deflation surfaces.

Mapped unit

Pottsville Group

Age

325–300 Ma (Pennsylvanian)

Rock types

sandstone

Elevation

2,050 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 Coopers Rock

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 34°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LAKE LYNN station (4 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 Coopers Rock

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

• HematiteEncyclopedia →
• OpalEncyclopedia →