High-detail botryoidal green Wavellite from Dug Hill, Arkansas, showing distinctive radial acicular crystal structure on a weathered matrix.
A classic Dug Hill specimen showcasing the signature ‘apple green’ hue and remarkable spherical aggregates.

DUG HILL: THE GARLAND COUNTY HERITAGE

Dug Hill remains one of the most storied mineral localities in the United States. Located in Garland County, Arkansas, this site became world-famous for its “Apple Green” Wavellite—a direct result of trace Vanadium enrichment within the regional phosphates.

Specimens from this locality are instantly recognizable by their vibrant botryoidal habit set against a weathered, sandy chert matrix. This unique expression of the Bigfork Chert provides the classic “Arkansas Look” that has been a staple of major museum collections for over a century.

FORMATION & MATRIX

The specimens here are typically found as botryoidal coatings and spheres within the fractures of the Bigfork Chert. The contrast between the vibrant green Wavellite and the dark, weathered matrix provides the classic ‘Arkansas Look’ that has been a staple of museum collections for over a century.

A HIDDEN GLOW: UV RESPONSE

While most Arkansas Wavellite is non-reactive, select heritage specimens from Dug Hill exhibit a hidden complexity. Under Long-Wave UV (365nm), the colorless or white radial ‘rings’ within the starbursts can sometimes display a subtle bluish-white fluorescence. This rare response is a hallmark of the unique chemistry of the Garland County chert beds, often contrasting sharply with the inert, vanadium-rich green spheres.

Rare teal-blue botryoidal Wavellite specimen from Dug Hill (de Linde Pits), Arkansas. Showcasing vanadium-rich mineralization and radial acicular structure.
A rare ‘Blue Pocket’ heritage specimen from the historic de Linde Pits. This teal saturation represents a geochemical anomaly within the Bigfork Chert, highlighting the unique vanadium oxidation states of the Garland County heritage sites.

THE BLUE POCKET: A VANADIUM ANOMALY

While Dug Hill is the benchmark for green, it is also legendary for the rare “Blue Pocket” material recovered in the 1960s and 70s. These specimens display a deep teal-blue hue, a result of unique vanadium oxidation states during their slow growth within the Bigfork Chert.

LOCALITY DATA

Primary Name: Dug Hill (de Linde Pits)
Prominent AKAs: Avant Locality, DeLinde Claim, Avant Mine
Status: Heritage Site (Inactive)
County: Garland County, Arkansas
Geology: Bigfork Chert / Arkansas Novaculite
Mindat ID: 10540

Data Sourced via Mindat.org