Rockhounding Locations in WY, MT; UT. (Rough Draft, 05/02/2021 Revision) Welcome to Wyoming Rockhounding Adventures, 2010 Rockhounding and mineral collecting reports, 03-27-10 Wyoming rock hounding agate and jasper, 04-23-10 Schrckingerite or schroeckingerite found at lost creek, 05-22-10 Riverton rockhound club field trip, 05-30-10 Orthoclase the other white crystal, 09-04-10 Wiggins fork moss agate petrified wood, 10-09-10 Malachite and azurite in the rain copper mountain part 3, 10-23-10 Azurite and malachite copper mountain pt4, 2011 Rockhounding and mineral collecting reports, 04-10-11 Schrckingerite or schroeckingerite found at lost creek part2. Various outcrops along the road contain specimens. The club started in 2016 and has been growing in numbers ever since. The Sierra Madre Mountains are noted for their jade findings too. To get you started on prospecting, the Wyoming State Geological Survey has prepared a Sweetwater County is located in the southwestern part of Wyoming. Bula, yall! 11 Essential Rock Tumbling Tips - Get Better Results! as well as detailed information that will interest any rockhound. The majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous minerals, rocks, gemstones, and fossils. A relatively large area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties also contains chalcedony. Gold can also be found in Park County, specifically the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. Note: stramatolites can be found in some washes at the base of the Pryors nearby. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: Red Gulch Dino Track Site near Shell, WY: Devils Kitchen walk-in access near Red Gulch, Wyoming: Moonshine Arch near Vernal, UT along with a dinosaur track site at Red Fleet: Blue forest petrified wood near Granger, WY: Fish fossils and some shark teeth near Farson, WY: Agatized fossil shells near Rock Springs, WY: Calcite for making lamps and also nice bots in roadside cut near Lander. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! In the charred areas with coal youll find petrified wood. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Wyoming isnt just rich in rocks and minerals; it also has gold, fossils, and petrified wood. Still, there may be privately owned mining claims inside those boundaries and youll need to get permission to collect on that location. Located east of Boysen reservoir on the south flank of the owl creeks. The minerals listed above are among the most famous in Wyoming; however, Wyoming is full of other minerals. Black jade can be found in Fremont County as well. If you want to find fossils, you should know that the Triceratops is the states official dinosaur, while the Knightia Fish is the official state fossil of Wyoming. . (I do not live in the US right now.). Public access with nice walk in. State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps In Wyoming, nearly all 18 million acres of public land are legal for gem enthusiasts to pursue their recreational activities. As you can see, opals are found in many places in Wyoming, so let us dive into where to find chalcedony in Wyoming. Its an excellent society that provides education and experience to its members. If youre hoping to find agates in Albany County, check around Marshall in the northwestern region of the county. I have tried to take care not to list locations within National Park boundaries since collecting is illegal there, but please remember that it is up to you to make sure you have permission to collect wherever you are. The real gems that rockhounds are eager to get their hands on in Platte County are banded agates and drusy quartz specimens. Additionally, you cannot progress away from Black Rock to the southGoogle Earth and maps for the area are old, but mining concerns have cordoned off the area and dug huge swaths of land away, so youll just drive for 30 minutes and get stuck. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; . It states that the road is very rough, and to not attempt it during a rain storm. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. If you are interested in checking out the best book about rockhounding in Wyoming you can find it by clickinghere(Amazon link). Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. In the case of petrified wood, you are only allowed to take around 25 pounds, plus one piece, each day, and you cant exceed 250 pounds of petrified wood in any calendar year without a permit. Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map - Rockhound Resource These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. may be of interest to rockhounds. If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. If youre into gemstones like amethyst, I suggest checking out Amethyst Mountain; it got its name for a reason. Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; i am wondering if we can even make it to the top. We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because were always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. The most commonly found gems and crystals in Wyoming are quartz and feldspar, but you can also find many others including garnet, tourmaline, and opal. It looks as though theres something interesting around every bend within every county. Some icons at default view contain 5+ hikes when zoomed in. Albany County is located in the bottom easter part of Wyoming, having its border with the northern Colorado state line. Some people say that they have a lot of success near the reservoir, but this hasnt been too true for my family. You can buy ithere(Amazon link). The counties are alphabetized, and within each county the locations are . However, I have compiled a list of resources here so that you may investigate and obtain permission for any locations (found here or elsewhere) for yourself. I cant thank you enough! Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. Official websites use .gov From beginners to advanced collectors, everyone will find something in Wyoming! If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. Files WYNF-0004_rockhounding (051418).pdf (PDF / 264 KB) Publication Date This site contains affiliate links to products. This website also participates in Google Adsense. Rainbow agates are located along the Wind River near Riverton, in Fremont County. travel through Wyoming's basins and across its mountain ranges, you can pass over all of the geologic eras of time which produced a variety of rocks, minerals, and fossil Their annual Mineral and Gem Show is a massive hit with members and anyone interested in the field of topics. Guide to Prospecting and Rock Hunting in Wyoming 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! Wyoming State Geological Survey TIP: Geodes can form anywhere in the world, but they do not form at random. Find out the differences between these two minerals in the article below:Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? (Rough Draft, 05/02/2021 Revision), Hiking and Adventure Map (Work in Progress). Through quite a bit of research and cross-referencing of available literature, I have compiled this list of some prospective locations in Wyoming which I would recommend to people looking to do some rockhounding. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. Google Maps A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; Follow the dirt roads toward and past the water tower on the ridge. In Johnson County, located in the north-central part of Wyoming, you can find agate. They were easy to dig out of formation, but even more easily were found eroded perfectly on the surface. Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) The Owl Creek Mountains, Fremont, and Hot Spring counties also have jade. Wyoming State Mineral & Gem Society Atlantic City, area stream gravels, draws, etc. Keep me signed in. TIP: Opal is a one-of-a-kind, highly valuable gemstone. or Forgot password? To determine what type of public land a particular location is on, I would recommend starting with the Wyoming Game & Fish Departments Public Access Summary. Can You Collect Rocks in State Parks? All 50 States Answered The Absaroka Mountains are an excellent place to explore. Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. you can access Utah rockhounding locations https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17-pa3pYy0AqN0D2Zh4cXklR9A7g&ll=39.483150381536596%2C-111.60763899999999&z=8. Hi Frank. Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. If you want to hunt for Jade in Wyoming, you can start from the northern part of the Granite Mountains, or to the south of Crooks Countys Gap-Green Mountain. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. Cancel. This region is full of mica minerals, phonolite, pumice, and Wyomingite in the Leucite Hills area. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; You can find opal here, in the deposits associated with the hot springs. I cant tell you exactly where to go due to land-access issues. Gemstones are some of the most enjoyable specimens that rockhounds can find, but its not always easy to know where to look. google_ad_width=120; Rockhounding in Wyoming: Free Guide, Maps, Locations Youll see a lot of shining material along the tops of the exposure, but unless you really want some trona, you can ignore it. I will update this to add many locations as I am able, but its one of my lower priorities. This place is located in the south part of Wyoming, and Albany County is located on its eastern side. Cody 59ers Rock Club was established in 1959 to help promote and share knowledge surrounding rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils through field trips. Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Petrified wood, Silicified wood, Quartz crystals, Agate (Turritella agate), Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Quartz crystals, Silicified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Silicified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Petrified wood, Agate, Jasper, Opalized wood, Silicified wood, Silicified algae, Agate (Turritella agate), Chalcedony, Jasper, Quartz crystals, Petrified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper (red, yellow), Quartzite, Agate (Turritella agate), Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Quartz crystals, Petrified wood, Silicified wood, Coffinite, Ilsemannite, Autunite, Pyrite, Uranophane, Uraninite, Cobaltite, Erythrite, Linnaeit, Pyrrhotite, Agate, Chalcedony, Gastroliths, Jasper, Petrified wood, Quartz crystals, Azurite, Bornite, Chalcocite, Chrysocolla, Malachite. In Wyoming, you can find sedimentary rocks such as bentonite, chert, coal, concretion-geode, conglomerate, gypsum, limestone-dolomite, oil shale, shale, taconite, or trona, among many others. This interest of mine has lasted until today, so I decided to create this website. 5 Crucial Signs. amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. //-->,