Places to dig for quartz
1. Ron Coleman Mine, 155 Crystal Ridge Lane, Jessieville, Arkansas
2. Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines, 82 Wegner Quartz Crystal Ranch Road, Mount Ida, Arkansas
3. Coleman Miller Mountain Mine, 350 Bighole Road, Jessieville, Arkansas
4. Avant Mining’s Fisher Mountain, 11 Logan Gap Road, Mount Ida, Arkansas
5. Minerals of Arkansas, 129 Watkins Lane, Mount Ida, Arkansas
6. Jay’s Bonanza, 1024 U.S. 270, Mount Ida, Arkansas
Ron Coleman Mine
155 Crystal Ridge Lane, Jessieville, Arkansas; 1-800-291-4484; colemanquartz.com.
The mine also includes Crystal Ridge RV Park with 24 shaded sites, $25 per night for full hookups (water, electric and sewer), $20 per night for a tent site; reserve in person or at campnative.com.
For campground information call 501-209-9933.
Wegner Quartz
Crystal Mines
82 Wegner Quartz Crystal Ranch Road, Mount Ida, Arkansas;
1-870-867-2309; wegnercrystalmines.com.
Coleman Miller
Mountain Mine
(belonging to Ron’s brother Jimmy Coleman), 350 Bighole Road, Jessieville, Arkansas;
501-984-5752; jimcolemancrystals.com.
Avant Mining’s
Fisher Mountain,
11 Logan Gap Road, Mount Ida;
870-985-9988;
avantminingmtn.com.
Minerals of Arkansas,
129 Watkins Lane, Mount Ida;
501-620-9178.
Jay’s Bonanza,
1024 U.S. 270, Mount Ida;
870-681-0145;
offers panning for gems and gold.
Click on the map numbers to learn more
For information about lodging and dining, and other mines in the area, contact the Mount Ida Chamber of Commerce; 870-867-2723; mtidachamber.com.
For information about lodging, dining and other attractions in the Hot Springs area (including Jessieville), contact the Visitors Center; 501-321-2277; hotsprings.org.
More information about the area
About quartz
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Quartz, which is the Arkansas state mineral, is the most common type of silicate. The mineral is hard, brittle and durable and will take on different shapes and colors depending on the rocks it forms near.
What is Quartz?
Most of Arkansas' quartz is found in the Ouachita Mountain area, a belt about 30-40 miles wide that extends about 170 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas, to eastern Oklahoma.
Where to find quartz
General Electric developed a way to grow quartz artificially in the 1950s and demand for Arkansas quartz was mostly left to tourists and museums.
Mining for quartz changed over time
Here is a sampling of items quartz is used to make.
Uses for quartz
Jewelry
Building materials
Concrete
Paint
Adhesives
Glass
Watches clocks
Countertops
Electronics
Sources: Arkansas Geological Survey; naturalhistory.si.edu/
Photos: Guy Selbert, Ron Coleman mine; Wegner quartz Mines; unsplash
Map: maps4news.com/©HERE, Lee Enterprises graphic
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