Rockhounding in Louisiana
Louisiana's gravel pits and riverbeds yield colorful agates, petrified wood, and fossilized palm wood from ancient subtropical forests.
3 Rockhounding Locations
Louisiana Gravel Pit Agates
Pollock, Louisiana · Public Land
Central Louisiana gravel pits for colorful agate and petrified palm wood. The Kisatchie National Forest area is a good hunting ground.
Kisatchie National Forest Petrified Wood
Natchitoches, Louisiana · USFS Land
Kisatchie National Forest for petrified wood and petrified palm wood. Also creek beds for colorful agate pebbles from ancient stream deposits.
Tunica Hills Fossil Beds
St. Francisville, Louisiana · Public Land
Loess bluffs and creek beds for fossil shells and marine mammal remains. The Tunica Hills region exposes ancient Mississippi River deposits.
⛏️ Gear for Louisiana Rockhounding
Here's the essential gear recommended for rockhounding in Louisiana.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35