Iowa · Johnson · Protected / viewing
Devonian Fossil Gorge — Fossil Removal Strictly Prohibited, Iowa
Material referenceCan you collect at Devonian Fossil Gorge?
No. Collecting is not allowed at Devonian Fossil Gorge. It is a place to look, photograph and learn about Middle Devonian fossils and Cedar Valley limestone, not to remove material.
- Materials: Middle Devonian fossils and Cedar Valley limestone
- Managed by / source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- County: Johnson, Iowa
- Last checked:
LOCATION FIELD MAP
Local map for Devonian Fossil Gorge — Fossil Removal Strictly Prohibited
No exact primary coordinate is published for this record, so the map uses regional context without inventing a specimen pin.
Devonian Fossil Gorge — Fossil Removal Strictly Prohibited is included as a protected or viewing-focused record in Johnson, Iowa. The mapped interest is Middle Devonian fossils and Cedar Valley limestone. The recorded management context is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This entry is not a collecting recommendation. Do not remove rocks, minerals, fossils or other natural material where current protections or prohibitions apply.
Can I collect at Devonian Fossil Gorge — Fossil Removal Strictly Prohibited?
Protected / viewing. Current USACE page explicitly states removal of or damage to fossils at the Devonian Fossil Gorge is strictly prohibited and subject to a fine.
This entry is not a collecting recommendation. Do not remove rocks, minerals, fossils or other natural material where current protections or prohibitions apply.
Recorded destination: Devonian Fossil Gorge, Coralville Lake, Iowa City, IA
What rocks, minerals, fossils or collecting interests are associated with it?
The record lists Middle Devonian fossils and Cedar Valley limestone. This description is tied to this atlas entry and should be read together with the access status below.
Who manages the place or provides the evidence context?
The recorded manager or context is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
What evidence supports this status?
The record was last reviewed on 2026-08-30. Evidence and management context: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This record documents a location of interest but does not establish permission to collect. Confirm landownership and the relevant manager’s current written rules before visiting.
How precise is the map marker?
Navigation uses the recorded public destination or address for Devonian Fossil Gorge — Fossil Removal Strictly Prohibited. The destination is a travel reference, not a specimen-level promise or a substitute for current access rules.
Checks specific to this location
- Check fossil class, protection status and removal restrictions; viewing a fossil is different from collecting it.
- Check this protected area’s current removal and access restrictions; a recreation destination may be viewing-only.
- Treat this record as research or viewing context unless the current authority explicitly confirms the proposed collecting activity.
- Verify the exact destination, the land manager’s latest rules and safe travel conditions before leaving.
When was this information last checked?
The recorded review date is August 30, 2026. Treat that date as the evidence snapshot used for this classification. Conditions can change after review, so field decisions should use the newest posted rules and manager information.
Is a map pin the same as collecting permission?
No. A map pin answers a navigation or geographic-context question. The status and evidence answer the permission question. Exact coordinates, public destination addresses and approximate county or regional context are deliberately kept separate so geographic precision is not confused with legal authority.
LOCATION-SPECIFIC FIELD ANSWER
Devonian Fossil Gorge — Fossil Removal Strictly Prohibited: geology viewing and research, not a collecting recommendation
This record is classified Protected/viewing. Use the guide to understand the place and its geology; do not interpret the map marker as permission to remove specimens.
What rocks or minerals are associated with Devonian Fossil Gorge — Fossil Removal Strictly Prohibited?
The record associates this place with Middle Devonian fossils and Cedar Valley limestone. That association is a field-research lead, not a guarantee that material can be found or legally collected at every point around the marker.
What should be checked before visiting?
The current manager or evidence context is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Verify that authority and the exact parcel or boundary before relying on access information. This entry is not a collecting recommendation. Do not remove rocks, minerals, fossils or other natural material where current protections or prohibitions apply. The evidence snapshot was last checked 2026-08-30.
How should this record be used for “rockhounding near me”?
This record is not treated as a Ready Near Me collecting lead; use it as broader research or access context.
COMMUNITY FIELD INTELLIGENCE
Public Testimony & Field Stories
Approved visitor reports add real-world context to the official and geological evidence above. Community testimony never overrides land-manager rules, ownership, claims, closures or protected-resource law.
Minerals recorded in Johnson County, Iowa
USGS topographic maps show 29 historical mine, quarry and pit features in Johnson County, mostly quarries, sand pits, gravel pits. 12 of them link to a USGS Mineral Resources Data System site that names a commodity. The most common are building and crushed stone, sand and gravel.
Named USGS records in the county:
- Vogel Quarry: building and crushed stone
- Unknown: sand and gravel
- W.J. Turecek Quarry: building and crushed stone
These are historical mining and occurrence records for the county as a whole, not for this exact site. Source: USGS MRDS and USGS topographic-map mine features, compiled November 2026.