Have you ever considered going on a real-life treasure hunt with your kids? You’ve probably heard of places where you can pan for gold or hunt for geodes, but what about digging for crystals and diamonds? Today, we have Nichole, homeschool mom of two and outdoor adventurer, here sharing her family’s newest hobby, digging for crystals! Did you know that Central Arkansas is home to some of the most amazing clear crystal quartz in the entire world? Nichole walks you through everything you need to know to get started digging for crystals with your kids, from where to go, what to pack, and how to clean them. If anyone’s up for a road trip to dig for crystals, I’m in!
Exploring outdoors Arkansas
Six years ago, our family moved from the Midwest to southern Arkansas. At the time, we had no idea just how much adventure there was to be found in Arkansas. It may not sound like the most interesting state, but there are so many amazing things to do in Arkansas!
As an outdoors-loving family, we are always seeking out new ways to explore the world around us. From hiking to swimming in hot springs, climbing mountains to exploring mines, Arkansas has some of the most amazing natural wonders in the entire Midwest.
We’ve now lived in Arkansas for nearly six years, and we are still finding new ways to spend time together outside!
Arkansas’s unique geology
Last fall, as part of our homeschool studies, I started searching for information about geology in Arkansas. It wasn’t long before we realized that Arkansas is one of the best places in the world for digging for crystals! What I learned was incredible! Arkansas has several veins of high quality, often clear, quartz that formed in the Ouachita mountain range, in central Arkansas.
Quartz is a very common mineral, the second most common on earth and forms under a wide variety of conditions. However, according to geologists, there are only two places in the world with quartz of such high clarity and quality: Arkansas and Brazil.
A new favorite family hobby emerged and now we enjoy heading out to treasure hunt all winter long.
Arkansas diamond mining
Arkansas is also home to one of two places in the world where the general public can mine for diamonds. Crater of Diamonds State Park, also in central Arkansas, is open year-round for diamond hunting.
This was actually where we started our journey of geology studies. While the idea of digging for diamonds was very exciting, we walked away feeling like it wasn’t the best option for our family. It is a very unique experience. While there are chances to find a diamond, it is a lot of work for little reward.
People do find diamonds though! In fact, just the other day a woman found a 3-carat diamond by surface searching. However, the stones are usually very small and not as easy to find, especially for kids. It is still a fun thing to try your luck at, but bear in mind that it may not be as rewarding for children.
A guide for Arkansas crystal hunting
I continued my research and learned that we were very close to one of the best places to mine for quartz crystal! We chose to visit Ron Coleman Crystal Mine, near Hot Springs, Arkansas. This is a commercial quartz mine that often produces some of the most beautiful (and massive) clusters in the world.
In my searching, I also came across an Instagram page run by the nicest couple. Betsy and Dillon of Passion and Prospect were more than willing to help guide us in our geology journey. They answered our questions and even got us started on where to dig.
If you aren’t local to Arkansas and are interested in some crystals from the place that we dig, watch their page as they often have crystals for sale!
Crystal mining supplies
In the days leading up to our dig, we started a “crystal corner” in our garage to stage our supplies for the weekend. In our research, we learned what tools were allowed at the mine and which were not. While the commercial part of the mine is not open to the public (except for tours), the “tailings” pile is. The tailings area is where the mining trucks bring dump truckloads of dirt and rock up from the commercial mine.
The mine has tools available to rent if needed. However, we thought it would be best to bring our own.
What to bring when digging for crystals with kids
In our corner, we gathered the following:
- Two, 5-gallon buckets
- Hand tools for gardening, including small spades and shovels
- Gloves, for us and for our children
- Old shoes or rain boots
- Old clothes that we didn’t mind ruining
- Hats and sun protection
- A collapsible or folding wagon
The day of the dig
The crystal mine is about a two-hour drive for us, so we got up early and had breakfast in the car. The mine does not have food available, so I highly recommend you pack a lunch and lots of snacks and water. I figured my children may lose interest in digging for crystals if we weren’t finding anything and snacks make everything better.
Arriving at the mine, you stop at the main office and store to pay your entrance fee and sign the waivers. We were so excited to see a HUGE crystal point sitting just outside the main entrance. The store has some amazing examples of what you could find in the mine. It’s also a great place to stop if you are only passing through and don’t have time to dig. The selection of rocks and minerals is outstanding!
Head out to the mine
After going over the waivers and rules, we jumped back in our car to drive down the hill and into the public mining area. It is a dirt road and parking lot, so be prepared for red mud right away.
We visited Ron Coleman mine for the first time the weekend just after our trip to the diamond mine. Within minutes of stepping out of the car, both of my children were shouting their excitement because the ground was sparkling! A vastly different response compared to the diamond mine, and immediate gratification for young children.
We didn’t have a wagon with us on our first trip but we have since added it to our crystal digging supplies. It’s great for hauling your tools to where you want to dig, along with all of your snacks and water.
Digging for crystals with kids
We selected a spot to start digging for crystals and set to work. Both of my children were so excited to play and explore. There is no running allowed in the dig area, so be sure to instruct your children. It’s for their own safety, as there are large boulders and rocks everywhere.
For smaller children, there is an area to the left side (while facing the main entrance from the parking lot) that is flatter and less dangerous. For the really small ones, a carrier or portable play yard may be best to keep them safe.
Our day passed quickly as we were completely focused on the task of digging for crystals. It was easy to stay focused because we were finding quartz treasures within minutes!
We found crystals ranging from milky white to clear, in all shapes and sizes! We were so grateful to have chosen a cool day to go dig because there is no shade available in the digging area. It’s quite a good workout to sort through the dirt and rocks. By lunchtime, we were all in need of a short break to refuel.
An afternoon well spent
While digging for crystals, the rest of our day passed rapidly. My children enjoyed playing among the boulders and rocks once they had found their fill of quartz. My husband and I worked ourselves to exhaustion digging. Each of us got more excited with the improving clarity of the quartz we found.
By the end of the day, we both knew we found a new favorite hobby. The mine closes at 4:30 pm, and by 4:15 pm we were cleaning up our dig area. The large buckets we brought were nearly full with crystals waiting to be cleaned.
We had spent the most beautiful day together outside, on our own little treasure hunt. Warmed by the autumn sun and completely exhausted from our day, we picked up our buckets and went back to our car, all of us smiling from ear to ear.
Things to note about crystal digging
Ron Coleman crystal mine also has tours available as well as a zip line. We haven’t done either yet but they sure look like fun! Here are a few things to remember:
- There are no bathrooms at the dig site, you must go to the campground or back up to the main office.
- You are allowed to take out all you can carry out.
- Bring lots of water, more than you think you’ll need.
- Pack a lunch and snacks.
- The clothes you wear to dig in will most likely be stained with the iron in the soil. Wear old clothes you don’t mind ruining.
- Remember to bring a change of clothes. We find it easiest to lay down towels and ride in our car over to the campground area to get cleaned up. There is a fee for the showers but no fee to change clothing.
- We have also changed at our car, bringing large t-shirts for the kids to be able to change under and I bring a dress to throw over an undershirt to change out of my dirt-covered clothes.
- The office workers LOVE to see what you find so feel free to stop back up there and show them your finds! You just might get featured on their social media channels.
Ron Coleman Crystal Mine nearby attractions
There is camping available at the mine as well, complete with a bathroom and showers and hookups for RVs. Nearby, in the town of Hot Springs there are several great restaurants, as well as more lodging and camping.
My favorite, Kollective coffee, offers vegan food options and has a huge tea selection along with great coffee. Hot Springs is also home to a National Park and has a wonderful visitor center that you can tour for free, along with two Junior Ranger programs.
Nearby, in the town of Mt. Ida, there are also several other crystal mines. We have also visited Wegner Crystal Mine and Twin Creek Crystal Mine. However, Ron Coleman is always our go-to favorite place to dig.
Cleaning your crystals
We spent some time talking with the office staff about the best way to clean the crystals. The very clear points often come clean with a simple water wash. However, to remove the iron staining it’s necessary to do more than that. Ron Coleman sells oxalic acid, in its crystal form. You can place your crystals in a very weak oxalic acid and water mixture to remove the red stains. This can be done with a ratio of 1/2 to one cup of oxalic acid added to one gallon of water.
Crystal cleaning tips
- Always clean your crystals outside! Clay and dirt can clog interior pipes on your sink or bathtub.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clear away dirt and debris from your crystals.
- If you’re using an acid bath to remove staining: ALWAYS add acid to water, not water to acid.
- Use a VERY weak acid solution, these ratios can be found in a simple internet search.
- The crystals can sit in the acid and water bath for up to a week if desired, keep the pot outside so any fumes will dissipate outdoors.
- There is an option to do this more quickly by heating the acid and water solution, but not boiling. However, this must be done outside as you are heating and acid and it can give off mildly noxious fumes. The best and safest way to remove iron staining is a cold water and acid bath for a few days to a week.
- Use gloves when working with the acid solution.
- Remove the crystals after the week is up, using gloves, and rinse with water.
Any work done with the acid and water solution should be done by adults, not children. In the photo below we are working on the first step, cleaning the crystals with water. Also, note the impeccable style my daughter has for crystal cleaning.
The thrill of the hunt
Half of the fun of hunting for crystals is when you are cleaning your treasures at home. Sometimes, your finds will surprise you with more points or more clarity than you had expected. Or sometimes you’ll be let down with what you thought was an epic cluster, only to find it’s milky white quartz with no points at all. But, that’s all part of the process and it’s a great lesson in patience, persistence and hard work.
From start to finish, it usually takes us about a week to sort through all of our finds. It’s a process that has taught us many things, but has also pulled us in and made us rock hounds. I am so grateful for this newfound hobby of ours and we are so excited that it is finally cool enough to return to our favorite weekend adventure!
More Arkansas outdoor adventures
It has been so much fun to discover all of the incredible outdoor adventures within our new home state. If you’re looking for resources for crystal digging, you can find almost all of what I had mentioned here, along with books to pair with your crystal hunting adventure.
If you’d like to read about one of our other favorite Arkansas adventures, you can read about them here. Our family has so enjoyed learning to love where we live and Arkansas has so much to offer for outdoor adventure.
If you’re in or around the Bentonville, Arkansas area, check out our Bentonville Get Out Guide! This huge ebook is curated by yours truly and contains all our favorite things to do, places to eat, and more in Bentonville. It’s filled with water adventures, hiking trails, biking excursions, outdoor dining, kid-friendly camping and lodgings, parks and playgrounds and other fun and unique outdoor adventures.
If you’re ever passing through, I’d love to share some of my favorites with you! Follow me on Instagram and let me know if you’re headed this way, maybe we could even go digging for crystals together!
Have you ever been digging for crystals?
About the author
Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. Together, they are on their third year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly twelve years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can find her in the woods somewhere, (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls) or online in the following locations:
Website: www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
Other RWMC posts: Nichole