If you’ve ever thought about gem hunting in Mississippi, you’re not alone. Beneath the state’s quiet fields and muddy rivers, there’s a surprising range of natural gems waiting to be found.

You don’t need expensive tools to start, just curiosity and a little persistence. Once you know how to recognize the right shapes, colors, and textures, even a short walk along a creek can turn up something special.

We’ll point you to the most promising areas and help you recognize the clues that lead to gemstones. With a bit of guidance, you’ll know exactly how to turn an ordinary day outdoors into a rewarding hunt for natural treasures.

The Gemstones Found In Mississippi You Can Mine

Due to its interesting geology, our state has fewer gem mine sites compared to others, but searching for gemstones here is equally fun, rewarding, and exciting as in other states. In this article, we’ll share with you our favorite places to find these gems. But apart from Mississippi, we also created other guides to help you find gem mines near you if you’re eyeing to visit other states. Ready to find your next set of gemstones?

Amber

Amber is not really a stone, but actually ancient tree sap that has turned solid over millions of years.

Imagine a tree, a really long time ago, dripping sticky sap. Over time, this sap gets covered by dirt and sand, and with lots of pressure and changes, it hardens into what we call amber.

One of the coolest things about it is that sometimes it traps things inside, like leaves, insects, or even small animals. It’s like a natural time capsule, giving us a peek at life from a long time ago.

People value amber for a bunch of reasons. It’s beautiful and can be polished to make jewelry that glow with warm colors ranging from yellow to deep orange or even green and blue.

Another reason amber is valuable is because of the fascinating things trapped inside it. These tiny fossils can help us learn about the plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.

Where you can find amber in Mississippi

Amber is quite widespread in our state and among the places you can search for it in are:

• Charleston area
• Paden area
• Twentymile Creek

Petrified Wood

Petrified wood is wood that’s turned into stone! This happens when a tree falls and gets buried under mud or ash.

Over a really long time, water with minerals in it soaks into the wood. Bit by bit, those minerals replace the wood parts, until what’s left looks like wood but is actually stone. This can take millions of years!

The worth of petrified wood isn’t just because it’s pretty, but it’s like a natural history book. Each piece tells a story from a long time ago, showing us what kinds of trees were around.

Plus, the minerals can make it all sorts of beautiful colors, like reds, yellows, and greens, which makes each piece unique.

People love petrified wood for many reasons. It’s used in jewelry, decorations, and even as special pieces in museums. Collectors look for it because each piece is one-of-a-kind.

Where you can find petrified wood in Mississippi

Mississippi is blessed with a rich deposit of petrified wood and among the sites where you can find it are:

• Green Brothers Gravel Company
• Middle Fork
• Waynesboro area

Pearl

A pearl is not found in the ground but inside oysters and some other mollusks, living in the ocean or rivers.

Imagine a tiny grain of sand gets inside an oyster’s shell. To protect itself, the oyster covers that grain with layers of a smooth, shiny substance called nacre, the same stuff it uses to make its shell. Over time, these layers build up and form a pearl.

Pearl’s price comes from how beautiful, rare, and hard to get they are. Not every oyster will make a pearl, and finding them can be a big challenge.

It can be all sorts of colors, from white to black, and even pink or blue, depending on the type of oyster that makes them.

People have loved it for a long time because it’s so pretty and it doesn’t need to be cut or polished to look great. It’s used in all kinds of jewelry, making them a favorite for special gifts.

Where you can find pearl in Mississippi

Like petrified wood, pearls are pretty widespread in our state. You can find them if you explore the following areas, among others:

• Countywide in streams and lakes of Adams County
• Countywide in lakes and streams of Harrison County
• Countywide in lakes and streams of Lawrence County

Chalcedony

Chalcedony is a part of the quartz family. It’s not just one color; it can be blue, pink, white, or almost any color you can think of! It’s made from tiny crystals so small you can’t see them without a microscope.

It forms when silica-rich water flows through rock cracks or spaces underground. Over time, this water evaporates, and the silica left behind turns into chalcedony. This can happen inside volcanic rocks or around hot springs.

The value of chalcedony comes from its wide range of colors and patterns. People have loved it for a long time because it’s not just pretty to look at; it also feels smooth and cool to the touch.

Besides being beautiful, chalcedony is also believed to have calming properties. Some folks think it can help you feel more peaceful and positive.

Where you can find chalcedony in Mississippi

If you want to find chalcedony, you can search through the gravel pit in Wesson area and at the Mississippi Petrified Forest.

Quartz

Quartz may be super common but that doesn’t make it any less special. It’s made from two of the most common things around: silicon and oxygen. It can form deep underground or even at the Earth’s surface if the conditions are just right.

This crystal comes in a bunch of different colors, from clear and colorless to pink, purple, yellow, and even black. The color depends on tiny bits of other stuff that get mixed in while the it is forming.

The worth of quartz comes from its versatility and beauty. It’s super hard and durable, which makes it perfect for making jewelry that can last a long time.

Quartz is also used in watches and clocks because it can help keep time really accurately.

People also value quartz for more than just its looks or its usefulness in making things. Some believe that it has special properties, like the ability to help you focus or feel better.

Where you can find quartz in Mississippi

Since it’s quite common, you can find quartz in several areas in our state, including:

• Catahoula Formation
• Homochitto River
• Mississippi Petrified Forest

Gypsum

Gypsum is soft enough to scratch with your fingernail. It’s made from calcium sulfate and water. It forms when water flows through rocks and picks up calcium and sulfate along the way. When this water evaporates, it leaves behind gypsum crystals.

This often happens in places like lakes, sea beds, or hot springs where water can collect and then dry up.

Gypsum can be clear and colorless, but it can also be white, pink, or even have a bit of yellow. It forms in some pretty cool shapes, too, like the “desert rose,” which looks like a flower made out of crystal.

One of the biggest uses of this crystal is in making drywall for buildings, which most people call “sheetrock.” It’s also used to make plaster for art and construction. Plus, farmers use ground-up gypsum to help improve soil for growing crops.

Collectors also enjoy finding different kinds of gypsum crystals because of their shapes and colors. And, because it’s so soft, it’s easy to carve into shapes.

Where you can find gypsum in Mississippi

Rockhounds have reported finding gypsum when they explored Lamar County.

Agate

Agate is all about colors and patterns. It forms when silica, a mineral that’s in sand, gets into cracks in rocks. Over time, this silica settles in layers, making stripes, spots, or other neat designs.

In Mississippi, you can find agates with all sorts of patterns. Some might be clear with stripes, while others could have a mix of red, brown, or even green colors. Each one is unique, which makes hunting for them extra fun.

This gem forms in different kinds of rocks, especially in areas where there used to be volcanic activity or where water has moved rocks around.

The value of agates comes from its beauty and how it can be used. People cut and polish them to make them shine, then use them in jewelry or as decorations for homes. Because every agate is different, having one can feel really special.

Agates can also help us learn about the past. The way they’re formed can tell stories about what the environment was like a long, long time ago.

Where you can find agate in Mississippi

Agates are pretty widespread in our state, and among the areas where you can find them are:

• Bell Creek
• Traxler Gravel Washing Company
• McCall Creek area

Jasper

Jasper is part of the quartz family. It’s known for being colorful and can have patterns like stripes, spots, or even pictures that look like landscapes!

It forms when tiny bits of mineral material get mixed up with silica and then harden into rock. This process fills in gaps and cracks, making jasper solid and smooth.

When you explore here, you might find jasper in a bunch of different colors, like red, yellow, brown, or green. Each piece has its own unique look, which makes collecting them more exciting.

The value of jasper comes from its beauty and how we can use it. Artisans and crafters love to polish it and turn it into jewelry or decorative items for homes. Its smooth surface and rich colors make it perfect for creating pieces that stand out.

Jasper is also valued for being a part of history. For a long, long time, people have used it for carving and making special objects. It’s a connection to the creativity and skill of those who lived long before us.

Where you can find jasper in Mississippi

To uncover pieces of jasper, you can search through the Biloxi Creek and the Mississippi Petrified Forest.

Moonstone

Moonstone seems to glow from the inside, like moonlight shining on water. It’s part of the feldspar family, which is a group of minerals that makes up a lot of the rocks around us. It comes in blue, peach, white, and even rainbow colors.

It’s made when minerals cool down slowly and mix in just the right way. This slow cooling lets layers form inside the stone, and these layers scatter light to create a glowy effect called adularescence.

The worth of moonstone comes from its unique beauty and the way it seems to change when you move it around. It can look like there’s a bit of moonlight trapped inside, which has made people love it for centuries.

People value moonstone for jewelry because it adds a touch of mystery and elegance. It’s also believed by some to bring good luck and peace.

Moonstone has a long history of being admired and used in different cultures. It’s been part of stories and legends, often connected to the moon and its magic.

Where you can find moonstone in Mississippi

You can find breathtaking pieces of moonstone along the shorelines and in the Mississippi River itself.

Opal

Opal is made from silica with water inside. These tiny water droplets got trapped in silica over a long time, and that’s how this gem formed. This process happens in places like cracks in rocks.

It can show so many colors all at once. When light hits an opal, it bounces around inside and comes out as flashes of rainbow colors. This amazing property is called play-of-color, and it’s what makes opal stand out from other gems.

Opal’s value comes from its unique beauty and the way it shines with all those colors. No two pieces are exactly the same. When it’s used in jewelry, it adds a splash of color and magic.

Besides being beautiful, opals are also valued because they’re rare. They’re only found in a few places around the world, which makes them even more special.

And, for a long time, people have believed opals can bring good luck and happiness, adding to their appeal.

Where you can find opal in Mississippi

You’re lucky because opal is quite abundant in Mississippi. Among the different places you can find here are:

• Mill Creek
• Mississippi Petrified Forest
• Claiborne

Carnelian

Carnelian comes in orange, red, and sometimes even pink or brown. It’s a type of quartz, and what makes it special is the iron inside that gives it those warm colors.

It forms when silica-rich waters seep into the ground and harden over time, with the iron adding that splash of color.

This gem is found in lots of places around the world, usually in areas where volcanic rocks are present. When people find carnelian, it’s often in the form of small pebbles or larger rocks that can be cut and polished to show off their color and shine.

Carnelian’s price isn’t just about how it looks; it’s also valued for its history and meaning. For thousands of years, people have used it to make jewelry and decorations because they love the warm, sunny vibe it gives off.

Artists and crafters like working with carnelian because it’s not too hard to shape, but it’s still durable enough to last a long time in jewelry. Plus, its bright colors can make any piece stand out.

Where you can find carnelian in Mississippi

The Mississippi River is a treasure trove for those who’d like to uncover beautiful carnelian pieces.

Our Favorite Places For Gem Mining In Mississippi

Below is a list of our favorite places to gem mines for anybody who is looking to explore our state. Specifically, we selected three places for adults, who’d love to have some real gem mining experience, and two places that are great for kids, who may be new to gem mining but are very much interested and excited to try it out.

Mississippi River

Mississippi River, MS

The Mississippi River flows from its source in Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, making it a major river in the United States. Along its course, it passes through or borders 10 different states, including our state. The river has been a key part of its history, culture, and economy for centuries. And gem mining here has been an important part of our state’s economy since the 1800s. To this day, different kinds of gemstones are found in areas along the river and its tributaries.

The Types of Gems Found In The Mississippi River

This place is our favorite because, aside from its natural beauty, it also abounds in different gemstones. Most abundant among these are the following:

• Agate
• Jasper

The Best Time To Visit Mississippi River

If you’re planning your visit here, the best time would be in the spring months. The warmer weather makes it easier to search for gems and the river’s water levels are usually lower than other times of year, making it easier to access areas where these can be found.

DON'T MISS OUT ON ANY GREAT FINDS!

While you're out searching for Gems you're going to find A LOT of other interesting rocks and minerals along the way. The last thing you want to do is toss out something really interesting or valuable. It can be easy to misidentify things without a little guidance.

We've put together a fantastic field guide that makes identifying 140 of the most interesting and valuable rocks and minerals you will find REALLY EASY. It's simple to use, really durable, and will allow you to identify just about any rock and mineral you come across.

With this field guide you'll be able to:

1. Identify 140 different rocks and minerals in seconds
2. Turn every hike and walk into a treasure hunt
3. Finally understand which rare and interesting rocks are in your collection
4. Stop walking past beautiful and potentially valuable rocks and minerals

Bell Creek

Pearl River County, MS

Located in the DeSoto National Forest, just south of Hattiesburg, Bell Creek has been mined since the early 1900s. It features a variety of different types of rocks and minerals and is known for its abundance of gemstones, making it an ideal spot for gem hunting. When you visit here, you can use traditional panning methods or sluicing to search for gems in the creek’s gravel beds.

The Types of Gems Found In Bell Creek

This place is known for having rich deposits of Agate.

The Best Time To Visit Bell Creek

Visiting this place will be best done during the months of April and May. During these months, the weather is warm, but not too hot, and the creek is usually full enough to support gem mining activities. The summer months can be too hot and dry for successful gem mining.

Homochitto River

Eddiceton, MS

The Homochitto River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, has been mined since the early 1900s. It was first discovered by Spanish explorers in 1541, who found it to be a valuable source of gold and silver for trading with Native Americans. Later, during the 19th century, settlers began to mine along the river for iron ore and other minerals. Since then, gem mining became popular along the river as prospectors discovered an abundance of Quartz and Agates in its waters. Today, the activity remains popular among rockhounds and tourists alike who come to search for gems along its banks.

The Types of Gems Found In The Homochitto River

This location has plenty of different kinds of gemstones, but most abundant of these are the following:

• Agate
• Quartz

The Best Time To Visit Homochitto River

Planning to visit here? The best time to do so would be during the months of May through August. During this time, the river is at its highest and the water is warm enough for swimming. The weather is also warm and sunny, making it an ideal time to search for gems along the banks of the river.

Mississippi Petrified Forest – Great for kids

124 Forest Park Road P.O. Box 37, Flora, MS 39071

The Mississippi Petrified Forest, home to a wide variety of minerals and gems, was formed over millions of years when volcanic ash and lava covered the area, preserving the organic matter inside. The first gem mining activity here dates back to the early 1800s when local Native Americans collected colorful stones from nearby streams. In the late 1800s, professional gem miners began to explore the forest and found an abundance of gemstones. Today, you can take part in gem mining here by purchasing buckets of mine roughs from local vendors or ready-made bags filled with stones for panning. You can also choose to search for your own gems by exploring shallow streams and creeks around the park.

The Types of Gems Found In The Mississippi Petrified Forest

Kids will enjoy this place because there are different kinds of gemstones that can be found here. Some of these are:

• Agate
• Chalcedony
• Jasper
• Opal
• Quartz

The Best Time To Visit Mississippi Petrified Forest

If you want to visit here, do so in the spring months. The weather is milder during this time and the ground is softer, making it easier to search for gems. However, if you’re not available during these months, just know that the park is open year-round and you can still find gems during the cooler months.

Mini Gem Mine – Great for kids

Gluckstadt, MS

Mini Gem Mine has been offering its services since the late 1990s when it first opened its doors. Aside from offering the chance to gem mines, this place also features an on-site gift shop where visitors can purchase jewelry featuring some of their favorite gems found at the mine. When you visit here, you can purchase a bag of mining rough and use provided tools to search for precious gemstones. After your search is complete, you can trade in your finds for an array of beautiful stones or take them home as souvenirs.

The Types of Gems Found In The Mine Gem Mine

This place offers visitors a chance to discover different kinds of gemstones, particularly those that are naturally found in our region.

The Best Time To Visit Mini Gem Mine

If you want to visit here, do so during the spring months, when the weather is not too warm and not too cold. The days are relatively longer during this time, too, allowing you to spend more time outdoors exploring and mining for gems.

Other Great Options For Real Gem Mining in Mississippi

Aside from our favorite places, our state also has other great locations where you can discover more gemstones of different kinds. These locations have been visited by beginners and more experienced gem hunters alike.

• Wesson – Agate, Chalcedony
• Paden – Amber
• Adams County – Agate, Chalcedony, Quartz
• Clairborne – Opal
• Twenty Mile Springs – Amber

The Top Public Gem Mining Locations in Mississippi

If you’re searching for more family-friendly places here, below are some more great locations. These are perfect for families who’d love to expose their kids to the thrill and excitement of finding gems.

• Big Play Entertainment Center – 1842 Beach Blvd. Biloxi, MS 39531
• Landrum’s Homestead & Village – 1356 Highway 15 S Laurel, MS 39443

Mississippi Gem Mining Laws And Regulations

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has authority over activities that could potentially cause environmental damage, including gem mining and the discharge of pollutants into surface water or groundwater, or the disturbance of wetlands or other critical habitat areas. Depending on the scope of the gem hunt, you may be required to acquire a permit from the MDEQ.

Also note that collecting gems on private property requires permission from the landowner and would likely be subject to local ordinances and regulations as well as any contractual agreements between the landowner and recreational miner.

For more information on the state’s gem mining laws and regulations, visit the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s link above.

Additional Places To Mine For Gems In Nearby States

If you’ve already tried all of our recommendations above or are planning a trip out of the state you should check out our guides for neighboring states:

• Gem Mining in Louisiana
• Gem Mining in Arkansas
• Gem Mining in Tennessee
• Gem Mining in Alabama

If you have any recommendations we haven’t covered please leave them in the comments below!