For the dedicated explorers of the Wild West, the “Geology for Beginners” stranger mission is a journey worth taking. This guide will show you all rock carving locations in rdr2 has hidden across its massive world. The quest involves finding 10 of these ancient carvings for a very peculiar man named Francis Sinclair. Once you’ve located them, you’ll mail the coordinates from a Post Office and eventually receive an invitation that leads to a fantastic final reward: a special talisman that significantly slows down how fast your guns get dirty. It’s a treasure hunt with a seriously practical prize.
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Here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know before you start chipping away at this challenge.
| The Mission Briefing |
|---|
| The Mission: “Geology for Beginners” |
| The Quest Giver: Francis Sinclair (the guy with the weird accent) |
| The Goal: Find all 10 Rock Carvings |
| The Real Reward: The Old Brass Compass, used to craft the Raven Claw Talisman |
| Talisman Perk: All your weapons degrade 20% slower. Yes, please! |
What is in our ” All rock carving locations in rdr2 “
Meeting the Man from the Future (?)
To kick things off, you need to find the quest giver, Francis Sinclair. He lives in a small, secluded cabin in West Elizabeth, located northwest of Strawberry and a bit east of Owanjila Lake. You can start this mission anytime after Chapter 2 begins.

You’ll spot his cabin pretty easily. Go have a chat with him. His strange way of talking and his even stranger clothes are your first clues that this isn’t your average collectible quest.
The Real Reward: Less Gun Cleaning
Let’s be honest, cleaning your guns constantly can be a drag. The main reason to complete this mission is for the incredible final reward. After finding all 10 carvings, you’ll get the Old Brass Compass. Take this to a Fence, and you can craft the Raven Claw Talisman.
This talisman permanently slows weapon degradation by 20%. That means less time scrubbing rifles and more time causing trouble. It’s one of the most useful passive perks in the game, making this hunt a very smart investment of your time.

All 10 Rock Carving Locations
To save you a ton of travel time, the locations are grouped into three logical trips. It’s most efficient to find all 10 first, then mail all the coordinates at once.
Trip 1: The West Elizabeth Run
- Owanjila Lake Carving: Starting right near Francis’s cabin, head to the southwestern shore of Owanjila Lake. The carving is on a rock face overlooking the water.
- Mount Shann Carving: From the lake, ride northeast up the path toward the peak of Mount Shann. You’ll find this carving easily along the trail near the summit.
- Flatneck Station Carving: Head east towards Flatneck Station. The carving is on the cliff face just north of the station. You’ll need to carefully walk along a narrow ledge below the top of the cliff to reach it.
Trip 2: The Northern Mountain Tour
Remember to bring a warm coat for this part of the journey!
- Mount Hagen Carving: Ride northwest into the snowy Grizzlies. Follow the main path up Mount Hagen. The carving is on a rock wall to your left just before the trail ends.
- Window Rock Carving: Go east to Window Rock, just across the Dakota River from Cumberland Forest. The carving is on a ledge right below the peak.
- Whinyard Strait Carving: Head directly north from Window Rock. This carving is on a cliff face overlooking the Whinyard Strait bridge. It’s best to get off your horse and walk to this one.
- Bacchus Station Carving: The final carving in the mountains is on a high, dangerous cliff south of Bacchus Station, on the eastern side of the river. Be careful here; it’s a long way down.
Trip 3: The Roanoke Ridge Sweep
- Moonstone Pond Carving: Travel east into Roanoke Ridge. This one is easy to find on a rock plateau just south of Moonstone Pond.
- Elysian Pool Carving: Head south to the Elysian Pool. The carving is on the eastern bank of the pool, right next to the waterfall.
- Deer Cottage Carving: The final carving is north of the Elysian Pool. Find the abandoned Deer Cottage, and the carving will be on the rocks just behind it.
The Big Reveal & Your Final Prize
After you’ve found all 10 carvings, head to any Post Office and mail the coordinates to Francis Sinclair.
About two in game days later, you’ll receive an invitation from him in the mail. Read it, and his cabin’s location will reappear on your map.
SPOILER ALERT FOR THE ENDING!
When you return to the cabin, you’ll be treated to a bizarre cutscene that pretty much confirms Francis Sinclair is a time traveler. After the scene, you’ll be outside.
IMPORTANT: You must go back inside the cabin immediately to get your reward. The Old Brass Compass will be on the table. If the door is locked (which is a known bug), simply make a new manual save while standing on the porch and then immediately load that save. The door should now be open.
With the compass in hand, head to a Fence to craft your Raven Claw Talisman.
You’re a True Explorer
And there you have it. You’ve solved one of the Wild West’s strangest mysteries and earned a fantastic reward for your efforts. Your guns will thank you for it!
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