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Highway 446 Road Cut, Indiana, USA
You are here: MineralCollecting.org >> Localities >> Highway 446 Road Cut, Indiana, USA

| Locality Data | Description | Locality Pictures | Collecting | Minerals | Tools
| Directions | Area Maps | Weather Conditions | Area Businesses | Closest Campgrounds |
| Other Points of Interest | Other Collecting | Area Rock Shops | Literature | Related Websites |

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Locality Data

Name: Highway 446 Road Cut
Location: Monroe/Lawrence county, Indiana, United States
GPS:
Locality Type: Road Cut
Prodominent Host Rock: Harrodsburg Limestone (sedimentary), St. Louis Limestone (sedimentary)
Prodominent Mineralization Host: Harrodsburg Limestone, St. Louis Limestone
Mineral Species Count: ~8
Accessibility: Easy
Collectibility: Easy
Explanations

Description

South of the Lawrence/Monroe County line and just south of the convergence of Henderson and Little Salt Creeks, State Road 446 cuts through the top of the Harrodsburg formation and the base of the Saint Louis formation. The Harrodsburg formation at the northernmost extent of the cut is absolutely full of geodes. The higher elevation St. Louis formation exhibits a looser, shaly looking layer where large vugs and cavities full of calcite crystals have been found.

Locality Pictures

Collecting

There is plenty of room to park on either side of the 446 road cut. Mineralization is equally abundant on either side of the road. I strongly recommend a stiff crowbar or very riged pry bar to spall the fractured limestone "sheets". Some areas of the walls are undercut, so be aware of any regions that look hazardous. Beer flats or pizza boxes will come in handy at this locality. The lowest limestone horizons, exposed on the north end of the cut, are full of geodes that range in size from a quarter of an inch to about a foot and a half in diameter. Most of the geodes (about 85% if I had to estimate) are solid and have little to absolutely nothing of interest in them. Hollow geodes, however, routinely possess dolomite, imbedded sphalerite, barite, calcite and quartz. A crack hammer or sledge hammer will be useful for busting open the geodes (they are HARD! at this locale!). The south end of the cut where the highest elevations of limestone are exposed is much more interesting. Large pockets of calcite have been found in the shaly limestone layers towards the south end of the cut. Most of the looser appearing layers occur at or around shoulder height, which makes collecting very easy. Spalling off sheets of limestone reveals pockets of clear, white, yellow, pink, and yellow and pink calcite. If you're particularly perceptive, you might notice strange anomalies in the limestone, referred to as stylolites. Stylolites resemble tiny black seams in the limestone and are typically associated with the pockets of calcite at this locality. Following a stylolite will most likely lead you to a big pocket. Exceptional sphalerite is not uncommon at this locality. Pictured in image number four is the most magnificent sphalerite I've ever collected. Image number three labeled "Yellow and Pink Calcite" shows what a more attractive pocket from this locality looks like. Local minerals may include but are not restricted to the following: barite, dolomite, calcite, sphalerite, pyrite, marcasite, quartz crystals.

Minerals

Local minerals may include, but are not restricted to, the available specimens in the pictures listed below:

calcite (floating)
Barwood Collection. Photographer: Adam Barwood

calcite (pink to yellow)
Barwood Collection. Photographer: Adam Barwood

dolomite (bronze) on quartz
Barwood Collection. Photographer: Adam Barwood

sphalerite (black) on calcite (clear)
Barwood Collection. Photographer: Henry Barwood

Tools

Driving Directions

Take Highway (State Road) 50 east from Bedford, Indiana or west from I-65 to State Road 446. Go north on 446 about 4 miles. Cut is quite visible.

Area Maps

Weather Conditions

Enter a City or US Zip:

Area Businesses

Lowes
K-mart
Big Lots
Golden Corral
Outback Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse
O' Charlies
Wendy's
McDonald's
Arby's
Subway
3rd Street exit in Bloomington off of Hwy. 37
Wal-Mart
Steak-N-Shake
2nd Street exit in Bloomington off of Hwy. 37
K-Mart
Wendy's
Golden Corral
Kentucky Fried Chicken
S.R. 450 and Hwy. 37 at Bedford

Closest Campgrounds

Other Points of Interest

Other Collecting in the Area

Fluorite Cut, Bedford, IN
S. R. 446 Road Cut, Monroe County, IN
Harrodsburg Road Cut, Harrodsburg, IN

Area Rock Shops

Literature

state Literature Listings

Related Websites

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