Quote Originally Posted by trent colvin View Post
... I can't use any rock from a creek or river unless it is covered by water all year...
In most state and federal parks it is illegal to remove anything, including rock. If you are around a lake that has outcrops, you can probably collect the rock that has not been worked. Artifacts, whether underwater all year or not are protected. Some of the best places I've found is by looking at Geological Quadrangle maps and finding areas where streams cut through formations that have chert in them (the maps have a description of each formation and will list chert if present). Easy access can be found where bridges cross the stream. Check for gravel bars. You'll find a lot of chert in those. Formations in your area that have chert: Ste Genevieve (your Sonora chert is in that formation), St. Louis, and Fort Payne. All Mississippian aged formations.

Andrew