By Mercedes Valladares
Updated Mar 24, 2022
Arkansas boasts the United States’ largest quartz deposits, and geologists routinely rank its quartz alongside Brazil’s as the world’s finest. Tourists from across the globe flock to the Hot Springs and Mount Ida area to prospect in the Ouachita Mountains. Before you and your family head out, check each site’s policies: some prohibit children, others lack an outhouse, and many require a group minimum or charge a fee per pound of quartz collected.
Located north of Mount Ida on Highway 27 N, the family‑run Gee & Dee is celebrated as one of Arkansas’s most welcoming dig sites. Unlike many mines that focus on tailings, Gee & Dee lets visitors search the mine walls for crystal pockets—an approach that keeps the experience engaging for all ages. The couple, Dee and her partner, personally guide guests, ensuring a safe and memorable adventure. A dedicated outhouse with running water is available in the digging area.
Address: 4764 Highway 27 N, Story, Arkansas 71970
Phone: 970‑867‑4561
Just ten minutes from Mount Ida in the Crystal Mountains, Arrowhead Quartz Crystal Mine prioritizes customer service and safety. Visitors receive a thorough safety briefing before beginning their dig, and the site has a strong track record in competitive quartz hunting—winning 9 of 10 place finishes in the 2008 World Championship of Quartz Crystal Dig, held annually the second weekend in October.
Address: Owley Road, Mount Ida, Arkansas
Phone: 870‑326‑4443
Website: arrowheadcrystals.com
Also north of Mount Ida, Sweet Surrender operates as a commercial mine that offers both safety instruction and guided dig zones. According to RockhoundingAR.com, the best and most impressive quartz pieces are typically found here. The mine’s owner, Becky, is available to answer questions about digging and the metaphysical properties of quartz. Travelers often leave with buckets of crystals and lasting memories.
Address: 2806 Highway 27 N, Story, Arkansas 71970
Phones: 870‑867‑7014, 870‑867‑0104, 870‑867‑7075
Website: sweetsurrendercrystals.com
