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Tennessee
| TREASURE HUNTING IN TENNESSEE Add what you know about this area to create a handy guide for other treasure hunters. |
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| What this area is known for: 1. Tennessee Paint Rock Agate 2.Elmwood mineral specimens 3.Fossils 4.Freshwater Pearls 5. Geodes 6. | Biggest finds in this area: 1. Amazing nodules of muticolor agates: reds, oranges, yellows, and some green makes one think of a Monet painting only more colorful. 2.Elmwood mineral specimens worth from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Some of the finest flourite, sphalerite, galena, quartz, and other associated minerals in the world These pictures will blow your socks off. http://www.themineralgallery.com/elmwoodroom.htm 3. |
| Local appraisers: 1. http://www.tnagate.com/ 2. 3. 4. | Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs: 1. http://www.amfed.org/club.htm 2. 3. 4. |
| Best time of year to go: Spring through the fall offers the best weather, although many days in the winter are in the mid fifties. In my opinion cool weather is the best time to prospect. | Other helpful resources: 1. http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/tdg/ 2. 3. |
| Have a question about treasure hunting or geocaching in this region? | |
| THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT Regions can have multiple good spots to go — add details to build a complete guide. |
| Location #1: Cumberland Plateau General description: The Cumberland Plateau region of Tennessee is one of the nation's best keep secrets. Without a doubt it is one of the most scenic areas in America. There are incredible state parks along its length through Tennessee and has my favorite agates in the country. The state gemstone is Tennessee agate ( a multi colored agate with fortifications, plumes, moss, and eyes) I wrote an article with Dewey Moss in "Lapidary Journal" about these treasures. I have large collection and the very best pieces I plan on donating to a museum for others to enjoy. (see Alabama for the southern end of the plateau.) | How to get there: The agate is found on the steep sides of the Cumberland Plateau near the interface of the Mississippian Limestone and the Pennsylvanian sandstone cap rock. Tennessee agate is a sedimentary agate formed in lenses in the limestone. It can be found weathered from the matrix or locked in the country rock. The agates are transported to the streams in the area. Two locations are in quarries owned by the Roger's Group. The company has allowed collecting by groups if the trip is approved in advance. http://www.rogersgroupinc.com/cgi-bin/RGI-locations_vis.pl One quarry is east of Pelham on HWY 50 on the side of the Plateau. The other is on HWY 70 at the town of Sparta. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1.Pick & shovel 2.Gloves 3.Rock hammer 4. Safety glasses 5.Hard Hat if required by the quarry owners . | Helpful notes to newcomers: Will Smith (not the actor) is one of the most knowable rockhounds on Tennessee Agates. His website is filled with information on on these spectacular gems of the Cumberland. http://www.tnagate.com/gpage7.html He lists several classic sites; some are closed to collecting. These well known sites have been heavily worked but there are sites yet to be discovered. I have found great agate in places that are not widely know. As always if you hunt for these yet undiscovered sites get permission from the land owners. |
| Location #2: Horse Mountain General description: Horse Mountain agate is a completely different geology than the Tennessee Paint Rock. The agates are Ordovician age sedimentary agates that are tightly banded similar to Brazilian agate. Some of the very tight banded specimens will iris if cut thin. http://www.tnagate.com/gpage7.html | How to get there: Shelbyville is located on HWY 231 south of Nashville. Horse Mountain is just northeast of Shelbyville on Horse Mountain Road. To be honest I have not found much around Horse Mountain. However, I have found some nice agate wadding Sugar Creek just east of town on TN 64 -130. I have wadded, fished with a ultra light open faced spinning reel and picked up agate as I went. A small mouth bass, a goggle eye, a Tennessee red eyed bass, a piece of agate- it doesn't get any better. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): B for agate A for fun | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Wadding shoes 2.Shorts 3.Rock Bag 4. Fishing tackle | Helpful notes to newcomers: Horse mountain is not as colorful as Paint Rock but the iris effect makes an ordinary agate into a rainbow beauty. |
| Location #3: Gray Fossil Site General description: A geologist fondest dream came true, On May 31, 2000 a road crew found some unusual bones and brought them back to Tennessee Division of Geology. Martin Kohl and others visited the site which became one of the most important Miocene age fossils sites every discovered in Tennessee. In addition to vertebrate fossils, invertebrate fossils were recovered. | How to get there: The museum and fossil site is north of Johnson City ,Tennessee. Take HWY 23 and turn left on Sunset Drive. http://www.grayfossilmuseum.org/ Not only tours are available but there is a once in a lifetime summer camping program for budding paleontologist. In addition ,volunteers are trained to help recover a world class fossil site. Where else can you do that!. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1.Camera 2. 3. | Helpful notes to newcomers: Visit the web site and plan a vacation trip to include a wide variety of activities. |
| Location #4: (Local beach, park, etc) General description: | How to get there: |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. 2. 3. | Helpful notes to newcomers: |
| VIDEO FROM THIS AREA Upload a YouTube or Google video of geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
 About this video: Video submitted by: | About this video: Video submitted by: |
| About this video: Video submitted by: | About this video: Video submitted by: |
| PHOTOS FROM THIS AREA Upload pictures of your geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
| About this photo: Tennessee Paint Rock Agate Collecting site: Greenhaw - weight 5 lbs. Photo submitted by: Bill Reynolds  |  About this photo: Photo submitted by: |
| About this photo: Photo submitted by: | About this photo: Photo submitted by: |
Latest page update: made by aubreyreynolds9@gmai
, May 5 2008, 7:58 PM EDT
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| badaboom407 | home state | 0 | Mar 2 2008, 11:22 AM EST by badaboom407 | |
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Thread started: Mar 2 2008, 11:22 AM EST
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my wife and I plan on checking out some new places in TN, will post what we find
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