Magnet Cove (Moses Hill)

Arkansas

Find: Brookite, smoky quartz, rutile

GPS: 34.45339,-92.84631

Nearest city: Hot Springs, AR

Recommended Vehicle: Any

Summary:

Magnet Cove, also known as Moses Hill, was being operated by Avant Mining as of early 2025 when I visited. Control of the site is set to change hands shortly after.

Moses Hill is a well-regarded site in Magnet Cove, Arkansas that has apparently been prospected since the 1880s.

Known specifically for its brookite, a rare titanium ore, Moses Hill is open on occasion for public digs. I visited through one with Bryan Major, AKA The Crystal Collector, when I went in 2025. Pricing was $80/gal for material, which I felt was fair given the rarity and quality.

I had most success on the far left (Western?) side of the pit when looking for brookite. People that were specifically looking for large smoky quartz points tended to keep towards the opposite side of the site.

Digging through tailings can be quite productive here, as the site has been dug extensively. The dense orange mud conceals many of the small brookites that cling to the smoky quartz crystals.

Video Guide

Check out the video to best see what can be found when exploring this spot. (coming after upload has completed)

Lined up and ready to dig with my fellow rock nerds

Lined up and ready to dig with my fellow rock nerds

Bryan showing us how it's done with the excavator

Bryan showing us how it's done with the excavator

This event drew a nice crowd and I even left with a few new friends

This event drew a nice crowd and I even left with a few new friends

Shortly after picking an embankment to start digging, I realized I was digging tailings (which is fine here)

Shortly after picking an embankment to start digging, I realized I was digging tailings (which is fine here)

Some nicely structured quartz popped out of the hole shortly after

Some nicely structured quartz popped out of the hole shortly after

A little two-point cluster

A little two-point cluster

I thought this one was way cooler than it was when it was caked in mud

I thought this one was way cooler than it was when it was caked in mud

An unmistakable quartz point that popped out of the hole I dug.

An unmistakable quartz point that popped out of the hole I dug.

All cleaned up

All cleaned up

The hole became large enough where I could nearly fit fully inside of it

The hole became large enough where I could nearly fit fully inside of it

Some pretty quartz points someone gave to me as I was pondering whether or not to keep digging the hole I started

Some pretty quartz points someone gave to me as I was pondering whether or not to keep digging the hole I started

Luckily... I did.

Luckily... I did.

This rock is actually a brookite and smoky quartz cluster, fully packed with Arkansas mud.

This rock is actually a brookite and smoky quartz cluster, fully packed with Arkansas mud.

Bamboo kebab skewers were the most effective tool for getting this thing clean, even moreso than a pressure washer.

Bamboo kebab skewers were the most effective tool for getting this thing clean, even moreso than a pressure washer.

Some glamour shots of the deep black titanium brookites sitting on the smoky quartz.

Some glamour shots of the deep black titanium brookites sitting on the smoky quartz.

I continue to remove small pockets of mud and loose brookites/crystals that were only fixed in place by mud.

I continue to remove small pockets of mud and loose brookites/crystals that were only fixed in place by mud.

The full piece weighs about 5.1kg, or ~ 13lbs

The full piece weighs about 5.1kg, or ~ 13lbs