Rockhounding in North Dakota
North Dakota offers petrified wood, agates, and incredible dinosaur fossils from the Hell Creek Formation.
4 Rockhounding Locations
Hell Creek Formation (ND)
Marmarth, North Dakota · BLM Land
World-famous dinosaur fossil beds. T. rex, triceratops, and other Cretaceous fossils found here. Surface collection of small fossils permitted on BLM ...
Little Missouri River Agates
Medora, North Dakota · Public Land
River gravels and badlands exposures for agate, petrified wood, and chalcedony in the Little Missouri River valley.
North Dakota Petrified Wood Beds
Amidon, North Dakota · Public Land
Slope County badlands for petrified wood and agate. The Little Missouri River gravels produce beautiful specimens.
North Dakota Carnotite Beds
Bismarck, North Dakota · Public Land
Carnotite-bearing sandstones and gravel pits in western North Dakota for agate, jasper, and unusual uranium-mineral specimens.
⛏️ Gear for North Dakota Rockhounding
Here's the essential gear recommended for rockhounding in North Dakota.
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