Georgia is famous for its rich deposits of quartz. In fact, it’s our official state gemstone. With lots of this mineral hanging around, you will not easily run out of places to find quartz.

Imagine walking outside and finding a shiny, sparkly quartz right at your feet— that’s what it can be like in our state! But with so many spots to choose from, it might feel overwhelming to decide where to start. That’s where we come in!

We’re going to share with you the certified spots to find quartz in Georgia, including the famous Lake Chatuge, Hillsboro, Chattahoochee River, Hogg Mine, and Savannah River. Prepare your gear as we prepare you for your quartz hunting.

The Best Places To Find Quartz

Our state is endowed with plenty of great gem mine sites, but if you want to focus your search on quartz, below are the best places where we had the most success finding them:

Lake Chatuge

Lake Chatuge is actually man-made and was created way back in 1942. It’s located right on the border between Georgia and North Carolina, so you’re kind of in two places at once!

There are lots of hills and mountains around the lake, which are part of the famous Appalachian Mountains. Because of this, the terrain here is a mix of forest and open areas.

Lake Chatuge sits in an area with a rich history. Over time, the mountains have been pushed up and worn down, which means there are lots of different types of rocks around, including quartz.

If you’re coming from Atlanta and you want to go here, it’s about a two-hour drive north. Just hop on I-75 North, then switch to US-76 East, and follow it straight to the lake. But before heading out, review first the local collecting guidelines of our state.

Where we found quartz in Lake Chatuge

To find beautiful quartz specimens in Lake Chatuge, take time to explore its beach gravels where other rockhounds have reported finding them as well.

The tools every crystal hunter will need

When you're out looking for crystals having the right tools for the job is very important. You don't need a lot for most trips but there are a handful that are critical and will make your life a lot easier.

We get asked a lot about the equipment we use. Over the years we've found a handful of tools that we recommend to both new and experienced crystal miners which we outline in great detail in our complete rockhounding equipment guide. These are quality options that also happen to be relatively inexpensive.

Below are the basic tools that make your life so much easier and save you a ton of time. Check out the full guide to see everything we recommend bringing. One quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but we try very hard to only recommend gear we would use ourselves and often recommend brands you can't find on Amazon.

At a minimum you should have:

1 - Sturdy rock hammer: The Estwing Rock Pick is our standard

2 - Rugged chisels: Try Kendo' 3-piece Chisel Set

3 - Compact shovel: The Koleiya 28-inch shovel works well

4 - Rock screen pan: The Wazakura Soil Sieve Set fits the bill

5 - Eye protection: DeWalt Safety Glasses are cheap and comfortable

6 - Head protection: Malta's Safety Helmet has been our go-to

7 - Jewelers lens with at least 20x magnification: Jarlink's Jewelers Loop is perfect

The crystal-finding books that we use most

There are also a few books that have been extremely helpful in the search for gems. These books have great recommendations and tips:

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America 

Southeast Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide 

Earth Treasures: The Southeastern Quadrant 

We provide links to find these tools on Amazon but some can also be found at your local hardware stores. For more recommendations check out the link to our full tool guide above.

Hillsboro

Hillsboro is a small, charming area nestled in Jasper County. It’s rich with rolling hills and lush forests. These hills are part of the Piedmont region, which stretches across our state.

This region is known for its red clay soil and rocky terrain. The varied landscape as well as its streams and creeks are good places to look for quartz.

The land in Hillsboro has been shaped over millions of years, and as a result, there’s a variety of rocks and minerals that you can find here.

Visiting here is pretty straightforward. If you’re coming from Atlanta, it’s about an hour and a half drive southeast. Take I-20 East from Atlanta and then switch to smaller state roads, like Highway 11 South, which will lead you straight into Jasper County and Hillsboro.

Where we found quartz in Hillsboro

Hillsboro is quite well-known among quartz enthusiasts. You can find a rich variety of quartz here, such as blue, asteriated, rose, smoky, and clear ones. To uncover them, you can explore the road cuts of this place, as well as the fields along the road to Hillsboro.

Chattahoochee River

The Chattahoochee River stretches about 430 miles. It starts way up in the North Georgia mountains and flows all the way down to the Florida border. So, it covers a lot of different types of land, which is great for finding different kinds of rocks.

Its geography changes a lot from start to end. Up in the mountains, it’s fast and cold, running through rocky areas. As it goes south, the river gets wider and calmer, and it flows through forests and farmlands.

Geologically, the Chattahoochee River area is super interesting. The North Georgia mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains, which have a lot of different rocks, including quartz.

The best news is that no matter where you are within our state, getting to the Chattahoochee River is easy! If you’re in Atlanta, you can find parts of the river right in the city, like the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

To explore the upper parts of the river in the mountains, you can drive north on highways like GA-400 or I-985.

Where we found quartz in the Chattahoochee River

You can find amazing pastel-colored quartz pebbles if you search through the stream gravels in the Chattahoochee River.

Hogg Mine

Hogg Mine is located in LaGrange and it’s famous for its amazing gems and minerals. It’s not just any old mine— it’s a place where you can actually dig and find your own treasures.

LaGrange is in the Piedmont region of our state, which means it has rolling hills and lots of green trees. The terrain at the mine itself is a bit rocky and can be a little muddy, so make sure to wear good boots. It’s an open pit mine, so it’s like a big, shallow hole in the ground where you can see and dig for rocks.

Hogg Mine is known for its quartz crystals, which can be clear, white, or even have a hint of color.

If you want to visit and you’re coming from Atlanta, Hogg Mine is about an hour and a half drive southwest. You’ll take I-85 South towards LaGrange, and then there are signs and directions to help you find it. The mine is open on certain days for public digging, so check the schedule before you go.

Where we found quartz at Hogg Mine

When you’re at the Hogg Mine, you can dig in the piles of dirt and rock to find your own gems, including stunning pieces of quartz.

Savannah River

The Savannah River is pretty big— it’s about 301 miles long! It starts in the mountains of South Carolina and flows all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, forming part of the border between South Carolina and Georgia.

In the upper parts, near its source, the river is surrounded by hills and forests. It’s in the Piedmont region, which means it has lots of different types of rocks and minerals. As it moves towards the ocean, it flows through flatter, coastal plains. Along the whole river, there are lots of sandy banks, marshes, and forests.

The geology around the Savannah River is super interesting for rock hunters. The area, especially near the upper parts of the river, is known for its quartz deposits.

To go here if you’re in Atlanta, you can drive east on I-20 towards Augusta, which sits right on the river. There are many parks and public areas along the river where you can start your rock hunting.

Where we found quartz in the Savannah River

You can find captivating pieces of quartz in and around the Savannah River, especially after heavy rains, when the water washes new rocks onto its shores and riverbanks.

Other Great Places To Find Quartz

As we said above, quartz is abundant in our state, so aside from our top recommended spots, you can also find this mineral in the following certified places:

Our recommendations by county

Laws about collecting quartz

Collecting quartz and other rocks in our state is generally legal, but there are some important rules to follow.

On public lands, like national forests, you are allowed to collect small amounts of rocks and minerals for personal use, but not for commercial purposes. This means you can take some quartz home as a souvenir or as a hobby.

However, on private property, you must get permission from the landowner before collecting any rocks. It’s also important to respect protected areas and historical sites where rock collecting might be restricted to preserve the natural and cultural heritage.

Some specific sites, like state parks or nature reserves, may have their own rules about rock collecting. Always check with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before you start collecting.

The Best Places To Buy Quartz

Another great way to get your hands on the beautiful quartz specimens of our state is to visit our local rock and mineral shops. Some of our favorites are:

• Crystal Blue – 1168 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
• Crystal Hound Minerals – 10101 Davis St #100, Braselton, GA 30517
• Rock Steady – 6670 James B Rivers Memorial Dr #400, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
• Stoneage Natural Rocks & Crystals – 400 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW Space 262, Kennesaw, GA 30144
• The Mineral Gallery – 155 Mill Rd #13, McDonough, GA 30253