Alabama Rock Hunting - Paint Rock Agate, Jackson Co. AL - April 9, 2022

A trip into the Paint Rock Valley in Jackson County Alabama and up the mountains to around 1400 feet to find the beautiful Paint Rock Agate. Paint Rock Agate is sometimes called Dripping Springs Agate.
Agate is a variety of microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) that displays translucence and in some cases banding. Agate primarily forms when silica-rich fluids fill pockets within rock and/or fossils, resulting in deposition of the silica along the walls of the rock. This process can result in banding patterns as the composition and impurities of the fluids change over time. These banding patterns can either form as flat layers or rounded layers, depending on the surfaces available for deposition.

[@jamesferry6717]

Beautiful finds! I'll be there in June coming from Texas and hope to find some!

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Best of luck and happy hunting!

[@sharonservidio8044]

OMG!! It's absolutely Gorgeous!! I wish I could be living in the country where I could be walking/ rock hunting in the woods! Such beautiful scenery ( loved that you shared the ride) and very interesting to see the blueish/ green water! I live in Florida, so it's almost the same color as the Gulf of Mexico. These Agates are stunning!! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!! Newly subscribed!! Looking forward to your next adventure!

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Thanks for the kind comments and for watching. Yes the Paint Rock Valley is a beautiful place. The Paint Rock River has several fish species that only occur there and the agate in the mountains is beautiful. Happy Hunting!

[@beckyh1369]

Nice specimens! I’ve been hunting and collecting paint rock agate for 30 years. I love it!

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Yes! Isn't it beautiful. Thanks for watching

[@rockandfound]

I’m an avid agate hound in Arizona and heading to Huntsville we’re would be the best location for me to find good specimens?

[@beckyh1369]

@@rockandfound Sorry, I just noticed your comment. There is a place in the Paint Rock Valley that a “pay to hunt” business. I don’t know the business name, but everywhere else is either private land or sketchy access. My main hunting site must be hunted out. I haven’t found anything on my last several visits. The Huntsville Gem and Mineral Society may be able to offer you more useful information.

[@rockandfound]

@@beckyh1369 thank you for getting back to me. I’m heading back today but I didn’t find any colorful “paint rock agates” but I did find some nice black and brown agates in a location in the paint rock valley.

[@beckyh1369]

@@rockandfound I’m glad you found some souvenirs to take home with you. I wish you could have found a more colorful specimen.

[@coyotearrowheadhunting3083]

.Wow, beautiful those rocks AGATE MY FRIEND. Beautiful color. Blessings.

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Yes beautiful. much like your desert stones.. wonderful colors

[@Ontario_Rockhound]

That agate is amazing, such lovely colors!

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Thanks for watching! The colors are astounding. The deep red is almost like ruby. The orange, yellow, pink and white are beautiful as the light catches it. It also has patterns that resemble lace that runs thru it. Happy Hunting!

[@johnnyphillips9735]

Love that paint rock river that's where I was raised and found some awesome points and other goodies there merry Christmas and a happy new year to yall and keep on rocking 👌

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Happy holidays! and thanks for watching! The paint rock river is awesome. I fished it as a kid and caught a wide variety of fish.

[@karapoole4070]

Can you find the agates in the rivers and creeks there. New subscriber!

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Maybe but it is best to get up around 1300 feet in the mountains.

[@DagdaMadoc]

Great video! Is this on Bingham? I see in the comments you recommend 1300’ as a good spot for locating agate. What about the top of the mountain at around 1700’? Would that be too high?

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

We find most of the good, solid pieces of agate in that 1300' zone but I'm sure a bit higher has some as well. I do know that below this level the agate is space to none. Happy Hunting!

[@greatbasinman]

Absolutely breathtaking colors, did the Native Americans ever knap points from it?

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Yes sir. I have one nice tool made of paint rock agate that I found some 30+ miles away near the Flint River. This agate really needs to be heat treated to work well. Beautiful agate in the mountains of the Paint Rock Valley

[@thearrowheadreapers8668]

Gorgeous rock👍🏹

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Thanks for watching! Yes this agate is awesome. Translucent and full of color. Happy Hunting!

[@thearrowheadreapers8668]

I may have to go get me some of those.

[@edwinpink5040]

I am a semi retired geologist and I have been looking to find some paint rock agate. Can you give the exact location of your finds? Are you up near Estill Springs or farther down towards Trenton? Looks like you are in private land. Thanks. Much appreciated.

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Yes I was on private land with permission. I think at the right elevation in the areas you mention you would find agate. The trick is finding the good solid pieces. Many pieces are very porous and not as high quality. I think if you look for landowners and ask permission you could find some.

[@arrowheadfinders8942]

Sweet😎😁👍

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Thanks for watching! Happy Hunting!

[@jeremybrewster2370]

Amazing paint rock my friends! My son and i try to find some at a couple public access areas in that area and havent done too well. Its great to see what yall found and had a great time doing so!

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Thanks for watching. It is not hard to find and is in the 1300 to 1400 foot range in the mountains. Good luck and happy hunting!

[@Tinael01]

I’m going to be in the area on Monday with my little dog and I want to climb up to find this. I know about walls of Jericho but is there another place that’s got easier access ?

[@nathanscott4049]

Will They let anyone ride there atv to mtn ? And is that a public spot to park ?

[@Algoldprospecting]

I live in central alabama. I would love to find some of that stuff. Are you guys going back?

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Have not had time to go again this year. Thanks for watching! Happy Hunting!

[@FDXman65]

What do you do with them once you find them???

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

Slice it up for coasters, light catcher to hang in window, polish and make jewelry , rock garden and whatever else you can think of.

[@fatalecho8663]

Was this on private property in the area or somewhere anyone can go? Gonna be out that way next week and thought I'd try to hunt for some paint rock.

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

This was on private property. The agate is not hard to find but good solid pieces of it are a little harder to find. It is all throughout the mountains so getting permission to find a few pieces should not be hard. Happy Hunting!

[@KennyPennington-hx8hc]

Are they worth anything

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

I would imagine polished cabs and cut pieces would have value. The raw material not as much but it is really beautiful in the hands of those that can work it.

[@Tide12NC]

Who could I contact about doing an agate trip? I live in Warrior in central Alabama and have wanted to do this for awhile. Beautiful colors in these rocks.

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

I know there are state management areas in the area and the agate is really not hard to find. It is literally laying everywhere if you are at the right elevation you are in the right spot. Now finding really good solid pieces of it take a little looking but if you are at the right election it is there. Look in the washes down the sides of the mountains for great pieces of paint rock agate. Good luck and Happy hunting!

[@garymaylon2025]

Do you sell any of the paint rock agates

[@SoutheasternOutdoors]

I do not but some do. I like to wet cut the agate for beautiful coasters and sun catchers. Happy hunting!