Best spot

Hillsboro: Blue Silicified Coral Rockhounding in Pocahontas County, West Virginia

Updated July 2026

The Hillsboro area produces West Virginia's official state gem: the Mississippian colonial coral Lithostrotionella, silicified and replaced by chalcedony in the Hillsdale Limestone. Pocahontas County coral occurs in gray, pink, red, and the prized deep blue, and the blue chalcedony coral from around Hillsboro is the material most often cut and polished as the state gemstone. Weathered from the limestone into local soils and creek gravels, it is one of the most distinctive lapidary stones in the Appalachians. Reported finds include blue silicified coral. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Hillsboro photos

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

1 photo

Locust Creek Covered Bridge and the Little Levels farmland near Hillsboro, Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Pocahontas County
State: West Virginia
Nearest road: Locust Creek Road
Postcode: 24946
Coordinates: 38.09252, -80.25087

Geology at Hillsboro

This spot sits on Maccrady Formation, mapped as sandstone and shale that formed roughly 360 to 325 million years ago. Sedimentary layers like these are where fossils are typically preserved, and fresh exposures after rain or in active cuts tend to produce best.

Mapped unit: Maccrady Formation
Age: 360–325 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types: sandstone and shale
Elevation: 2,100 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 Hillsboro

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BUCKEYE station (9 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 Hillsboro

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

Blue Silicified Coral

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Hillsboro.

Across the state line from Hillsboro

Hillsboro is close enough to the West Virginia border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Hillsboro FAQ

Where is Hillsboro?+

Hillsboro is in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, at 38.09252, -80.25087. Nearest road: Locust Creek Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Hillsboro?+

Hillsboro is reported to produce Blue Silicified Coral.

Is collecting allowed at Hillsboro?+

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 Hillsboro?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Hillsboro?+

The most comfortable months at Hillsboro are March to November.

How do I get to Hillsboro?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.09252, -80.25087 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Locust Creek Road.

More rockhounding in West Virginia

See all 34 West Virginia spots →

Open Hillsboro on the map

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