McCurtain County Info & Photos

Important advisory:

As of October 1, 1998, recreational, hobbyist and educational mineral collecting in much of McCurtain County will operate under new guidelines. Click the link below for more information.

CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED COLLECTING INFORMATION

Unlike the Hot Springs and Mt. Ida areas of Arkansas, the Broken Bow area of southeast Oklahoma has no major commercial collecting operations. Most of the quartz deposits are located on timber company or private property; some are now located in protected Scenic River or National Forest Service areas.

Local specimens are available at West Slope Rock Shop, located approximately 10 miles north of Broken Bow on U.S. Highway 259. Cephas Hall and his son Allen offer guided collecting tours to groups and sometimes to individuals, primarily on weekends. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

Tools for collecting include a shovel, crowbar or "pocket robber," pick, sledge hammer, rock hammer, chisel, large flathead screwdriver or small prybar, gloves, sunscreen and insect repellent.

For collecting information, call Cephas, Joyce or Allen Hall at 580-494-6612.

For information on other area attractions and accommodations, call the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce at 580-584-3393, or nearby Beavers Bend State Park at 580-494-6300.

Quartz Collecting Trip Photos: Click Here

(All specimens below were obtained on collecting trips guided by the Halls.)

Quartz, McCurtain County.	Quartz, McCurtain County.
Smoky quartz, McCurtain County. Art Smith specimen, Terry Huizing photo.	Quartz, double terminated, White Lightning Prospect, McCurtain County.
Quartz with chlorite inclusions, Vista Ridge Prospect, McCurtain County.	Quartz with chlorite inclusions, Vista Ridge Prospect, McCurtain County.
"Tiger Stripe" quartz with chlorite banding, Graffham Prospect, McCurtain County.	Quartz with chlorite phantoms, Vista Ridge Prospect, McCurtain County.
Quartz, Graffham Prospect, McCurtain County. Specimen approximately 7 inches tall.	Quartz with manganese oxide (?) inclusions. Black Diamond Prospect. McCurtain County.
Quartz, White Lightning Prospect, McCurtain County.
Quartz cluster, ten inches across, Graffham Prospect, McCurtain County.	Quartz with multicolor chlorite inclusions, approximately three inches tall, McCurtain County.
Quartz cluster approximately three inches tall, Graffham Prospect, McCurtain County.	Quartz with chlorite inclusions, Stovall Prospect #2, McCurtain County.