are there any rock hounding areas in florida near Orlando?

Answer 1

Not really any good ones unless you're into fairly young (Miocene through Eocene age) fossiliferous limestones and even that's a bit north and also west of Orlando mostly. The oldest outcrops in Florida are maybe 40 million yrs old (Eocene limestone). The Oligocene Hawthorne Group outcrops west of Orlando (a fairly wide belt shown in dark green on the geologic map the link points to) about half way between Orlando and the Gulf coast). It's a nice fossiliferous limestone as is the Eocene Ocala ls (blue on the map) which outcrops north of Orlando. There are some quarries just north of Ocala that you might be able to get access to. One was on 301/441 if I remember right between Ocala and Gainesville. I remember seeing some nice outcrops of the Hawthorne around Williston somewhere too. I grew up in Florida but it's been a few years now. Here's the map link:

http://geology.about.com/library/bl/maps/blfloridamap.htm

Unfortunately, right around Orlando you mostly have Pleistocene and younger sediments at the surface. There are a few outcrops of the Ocala limestone but I don't remember them being particularly interesting in that area. There are some phosphate mining operations between Orlando and Leesburg too...actually closer to Leesburg I think if you're interested in that.

Hope that helps a little. Feel free to email or IM me if you're still curious.

Answer 2

Rockhounding Florida

Answer 3

Orlando, being smack dab interior the middle means it is not on the factor of the seashores...yet what it does supply you is many thoughts via fact that each and all the seashores are form of an analogous distance from one yet another. regrettably, its problematic to discover a sea coast that may not crowded...yet for the main area they are sparkling. To the east of Orlando you have the well-liked Daytona sea coast, Cocoa, Jetty Park, and somewhat some extra.commute time east varies from a million hr to 2 relying on distance and site visitors. To the west, your maximum suitable guess may be Clearwater and the multiple thoughts you have of seashores there. grab a map, and in simple terms randomly % a sea coast on the checklist. My own well-liked is Sand Key Park in Clearwater...intense-high quality white sand, generally no longer too crowded, and in basic terms a outstanding place to be. commute time to clearwater is a minimum of 1hr and 40 5 minutes. At any cost, have a outstanding time in Florida!