As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. popular museums of interest to rockhounders, places to visit, and rockhounding sites for children and families. Wyoming Rockhounding locations - The Great Wyoming - Google Sites Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) The specimens found here vary from blue, and light gray, to deep colors such as violet. Ill be adding to this in the coming years. It is going to take me a while to get all the locations in here. google_ad_format="120x600_as"; Knightia Fish fossils are primarily uncovered in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. Please direct technical questions (including broken links) about this Web site to webmaster@wsmgs.org. Wyoming's Cultural Geology Guide, published by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (2015), provides an up-to-date, comprehensive list of Museums and sites that Other great places to find opals are the Absaroka Mountains, which are in the area of northwest Wyoming, near Smith Creek in Carbon County, or near Lusk in Niobrara County. If youre looking for gemstones and crystals, Wyoming is home to quite a few that will make good additions to your collection. 1.) //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. google_ad_width=120; These rockhounding sights of Wyoming are mostly on public land but a good. 5 Crucial Signs. Most of the collectible material in the area is in the quartz family. RedLong-duration hikes, typically 5+days. Now that weve talked about the best places for rockhounding in the state of Wyoming let us take a look at where you might find individual specimens, such as gemstones, minerals, and rocks. Find out how these beautiful minerals are formed and more in this article:What Is Agate And How Do Agates Form? The link in the heading goes to what I consider the best egress point, whereas the pin in the main map shows a better location for finding material. My best to you and your family. My little girl loves rocks now (gems and fossils both). This publication can be downloaded directly from the WSGS Near the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the Hot Park Area, barite is commonly found, a couple of miles southwest of Encampment. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. lol Thanks again! You can find them in volcanic conglomerates in the Tertiary rocks of the southern part of the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming. You can also usually get the landowners name and address by visiting the county records office. Now lets look at what sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. Library for the books I use when I go out rock hunting. i am wondering if we can even make it to the top. Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest region of Yellowstone. Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. Carbon County is the home to some excellent specimens, including: Suppose youre interested in finding nephrite-type jade specimens. Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map - Rockhound Resource 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for its jade findings, while the mineral molybdenite is found in the Wind River Mountains. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; google_ad_height=240; Quartz crystals are abundant in the feldspar pits south of Laramie. See my hikes in to this area in the early spring, middle-summer, and late summer. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future. Wyomings state gemstone, nephrite, can primarily be found in Fremont County, particularly in the large area centered around the towns of Lander and Atlantic City. "Rockhounding Rules on BLM Public Lands" and Thank you for your reply! TIP:Feldspar minerals are very common in Wyoming. Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. Here are 10 of the best rockhounding sites for rocks and minerals in Wyoming: Fremont County - Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Jade Split Rock - Ruby, 'Sweetwater' Agate Sweetwater County - Agate, Quartz crystals, Chert Rock Springs - Silicified wood, Agate, Jasper Box Elder Canyon - Geodes, quartz crystals Wamsutter Agate Beds - Turritella agates amzn_assoc_region = "US"; 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. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. It should be no surprise that there are several rockhound societies in Wyoming worth checking into. You may want to look in the Kortes Dam area or the Sierra Madre Mountains for jades. The many mountain ranges and associated volcanic activity throughout the state have created a perfect geologic environment for the creation of many interesting gemstones that you can now find in countless locations across the region. Post navigation. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A relatively large area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties also contains chalcedony. Wyoming is among the best rockhounding places in the U.S., and this is partly because around 50% of its lands are public! So pack up your stuff, since once you read this, you might want to move to Wyoming and start rockhounding! If youre unsure where to start, try looking into some of Wyomings rockhound clubs and societies. High-clearance only. A lot of theseWyomingrock collecting sights have mining claims that come and go. The minerals listed above are among the most famous in Wyoming; however, Wyoming is full of other minerals. Albany is among the best rock-hounding places in Wyoming since you can find various rocks and minerals. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. Public access with nice walk in. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Wyoming State Geological Survey As you can see, opals are found in many places in Wyoming, so let us dive into where to find chalcedony in Wyoming. However, there are no charges for attending club-led outings, and you dont have to be a resident of Wyoming to join. These gemstones are found throughout Wyoming in Albany, Carbon, Natrona, Park, Platte, and Fremont Counties. At the top of this small incline, make a right. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; google_color_url="FFFFFF"; Some areas of individual parks are legal to rockhound, but it all depends on the state. I cant tell you exactly where to go due to land-access issues. In Wyoming, there is a wide variety of gemstones like jade, the states official gemstone, diamonds, sapphire, ruby, opal, peridot, iolite, agate, petrified wood, and quartz crystals. Turritella agates are most commonly found in southwest Wyoming, especially near the town of Granger. The Great Wyoming Rockhounding Page!! - Google Still, there may be privately owned mining claims inside those boundaries and youll need to get permission to collect on that location. Gold can also be panned in Douglas Creek in the Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming, or the Sweetwater River and tributaries in the southern part of the Wind River Mountains. Forgot username? ArcGIS Web Application Rockhound Trip report spring 2008. Rockhounds can explore most of Wyoming's geologic products up close because over 50% of the state is public land! Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) Cody 59ers Rock Club was established in 1959 to help promote and share knowledge surrounding rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils through field trips. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. PDF BLM Wyoming Rockhounding on Public Lands - Bureau of Land Management We are using my Subaru forester. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. Now that you know where to find agates in Wyoming, lets see where you can find the official state gemstone of Wyoming, the famous nephrite variant of jade. 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. I am in Farson WY and went to check out the fish fossil/shark tooth location listed. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. Quartz crystals, chalcedony, and vein moss agate occur along outcrops of the Bridger formation in the regions north of Sweetwater County. We also hope to find Jade on same trip. Google Maps what are the host rocks associated with watermelon rock and the labradorite? Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. However, it is legal to hound the areas surrounding this famous park. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; | https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17-pa3pYy0AqN0D2Zh4cXklR9A7g&ll=39.483150381536596%2C-111.60763899999999&z=8, Rated R and 5 Stars: Septoplasty and More, Review: Green River Lakes Campground and Kayaking Green River, Wyoming, Review: Fun Overnight Hike to Powell Lakes, Wyoming, Review: Brewster, Lunch, & Shoal Lakes via Big Balls of Cowtown Trail. The state of Wyoming is noted for its copper minerals, lithium minerals, uranium minerals, feldspar minerals, manganese minerals, mica minerals, and quartz minerals. This is missing a ton of great places, but I do update it every few months with a new location or two from my past explorations. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. The Owl Creek Mountains, Fremont, and Hot Spring counties also have jade. The Sand Creek and Red Buttes areas of Albany County are full of sedimentary rocks. Youll see a lot of shining material along the tops of the exposure, but unless you really want some trona, you can ignore it. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes; the cinders can be found at Black Rock, too. You can also find it in the Wiggins formation of the Oligocene age near the head of Frontier Creek in the Absaroka Mountains. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. Though there are many locations listed here, this list is far from exhaustive. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. "Rockhounding, Prospecting, and Fossil Hunting on the Shoshone National Forest" If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. Geodes can also reportedly be found in gravels in the southern reaches of the Absaroka mountain range. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for jade findings. This website also participates in Google Adsense. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Obsidian is abundant in the park, with the most famous location to find these beauties being the Obsidian Cliff. Im doing a fossil camping trip near the buttes to a quarry where you can pay to dig for fish fossils. I am uploading a couple of pictures that my friend Henri took of me hunting it with his kids. Wyoming is perhaps most well known for its world-class National Parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Find out the differences between these two minerals in the article below:Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook $19.73 A must have for every serious rockhound! Any tips would be great! In fact, everywhere in the blackened areas has petrified wood on both sides of the draw. TIP: Geodes can form anywhere in the world, but they do not form at random. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; that describes some of the most common rocks and minerals to be found in Wyoming, along with general localities in the state where they might be found. Rockhounds can find all sorts of rocks and minerals, including: A look around the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas can potentially lead to finding gold. . Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. Wyoming is full of jades, mostly of the nephrite class, and the jadeite class, which sounds like something out of Star Wars. The Wiggins and Late Basic Breccia formations in the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming are also great for finding obsidian, but you should check the regulations before you attempt this. 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. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Use this resource as a guide to get you started. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. If its sapphires you fancy, you may want to check out Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin. Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) HowtoFindRocks.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I'm transcribing these hikes in my own order, but if you'd like to see one moved to the top of the review list, just let me know. Black Rock itself is ultrapotassic and in the past (and even still now), shed peridot. The counties are alphabetized, and within each county the locations are . google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Thanks again for this site. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. TIP: A great deal of petrified wood is not suitable for rock tumbling or lapidary work because it has too many faults and fractures. Youll learn so much and get the experience you might miss out on if you were on your own. Where are the best places for rockhounding in Wyoming? Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) There is plenty of BLM and National Forest land to collect on in Wyoming which is, in general, open for public use. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes. Below is a list of rockhounding locations in wyoming with a description of the minerals found there and pictures. Let me know if this is useful or if I can improve it in any way! Sadly, it is illegal to rockhound in Yellowstone National Park, but you can do it outside the area. Monthly educational meetings are held during the autumn and winter on the second Monday of every month. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Peridot in ant hills and arroyos near Black Rock Butte. Maps showing the location of public lands in Wyoming can be obtained from Calcite for making lamps and also nice bots in roadside cut near Lander. I found this book very useful and clearly written. The GemHunter (Dan Hausel) found peridot and garnets in the area, the latter of which can also be found NNW of Cedar Mountain. This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. The sapphire specimens found in the Canyon vary from blue and light grey to deeper colors, including violet. But sometimes you can mistake feldspar with quartz. Here, rockhounds can find agates. After a little bit it will split; right goes to Superior, and left goes to Winton. Membership is only $15 for adults 18 and up. The pyroxene group of minerals is confined to Precambrian rocks and the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Absaroka Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. 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. In fact, Wyoming is home to a unique variety of agate called Turritella agate that is extremely popular with local collectors. 5 Crucial Signs, Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home), Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids), Difference Between Real & Fake Geodes: Focus on These Signs, What Is Agate And How Do Agates Form? Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. LOCATIONS FOR ROCKHOUNDING IN WYOMING Includes descriptions and maps. Wyoming Rockhound Locations Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. That is partly because of about 50 percent of the states public land. The Medicine Bow Mountains are excellent places to find slate, galena, beryl, barite, and platinum-sperrylite. Not a member of this organization? As you tour the State of Wyoming, feel free to contact any of the Rockhounding Site And Information Near Me (Clickable Map) 11 Essential Rock Tumbling Tips - Get Better Results! Most of the mining has been less than 20 feet . So, this saves us precious time. types. Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. This book is a 6" x 9" paperback with 246 pages, descriptions, maps and photos. Cryptocrystalline quartz varieties like agate, jasper, chalcedony, and petrified wood are prevalent over much of the region. These are mostly comprised of old mining prospects, washes, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. As for what you should be looking for, the following link provides better examples than I have (since Im on my phone). It will turn slightly left for a short, steep incline. Goshen County is located in the southeastern end of Wyoming. 15 Best Rocks & Minerals, Are Agates Valuable rocks? Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. . The 12 Best Places to See Lava (With Helpful Tips) The Rocky Mountain area, the Encampment district in Carbon County, Hartville district, Platte County, the Copper Mountain district, Precambrian pegmatites in Fremont and Natrona Counties, the Black Mountain, and the Copper Mountain, The Eocene Wind River formation of the Gas Hills area, Fremont and Natrona Counties, the Shirley Basin area of Carbon County, the Fall River, and Lakota sandstones in the Black Hills area of Crook County, The Casper Mountain, Natrona County, Haystack Range, Goshen County, Laramie Range, Albany, and Laramie Counties, In Albany, Fremont, Johnson, Natrona, Washakie, and Weston Counties, north of Sundance in the Warren Peaks area of Crook County, In the Laramie Range, Albany and Platte Counties, the southern part of the Medicine Bow Range, Albany and Carbon Counties, the Copper Mountain area, The western half of the Bighorn Basin, of Bighorn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties, the area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties. This area was explored by a South African diamond company briefly but nothing came of it. Its located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "rockhoundreso-20"; Check out my article about how to identify a geode. NOTE! South of Douglas in Converse County is where you will find jade as well. Should I be digging ? If you explore the highway cut north of Laramie, you might find meteorites. While much of the region is difficult to access, a large portion of the land is managed by the National Forest Service and is largely open to the public for collecting. This area is very close to Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite. Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. (DO NOT TAKE ANY FOSSILS! Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) Natrona County is located in central Wyoming, and it is another excellent county when it comes to rocks or minerals. The ant hills are basically everywhere if you get out and walk around, and your biggest issue will most likely be needing 44 to get there, and especially across the creek to the north. Phosphate rock is also located here. ROCK SHOWS Gem, mineral. However, lets talk about the 11 best places to rockhound in Wyoming. The club started in 2016 and has been growing in numbers ever since. google_ad_format="120x240_as"; Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle. The Triceratops was designated as the official state dinosaur of Wyoming in 1994, while the Knightia Fish gained the status of state fossil in 1987. GreenDay hikes; can be done as overnights. Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres. A number of the best locations are on private land, and while Ive gotten access from the owners, I cant list them here. Here you can also find agatized and opalized wood, while agates are common a few miles west of Saratoga. As a group, members learn so much about the local geology and spend time sharing knowledge of lapidary techniques necessary to enhance the appearance of their finds. The gravels of streams and rivers like the Sweetwater and Wind Rivers are great places to search for rocks and minerals like quartz, agate, and petrified wood. google_ad_type="text_image"; There are several excellent rockhound locations all throughout the state. Theyre excellent for novices and experts alike, not to mention the members can likely share some of the lesser-known locations. The ants use them for construction material. Cancel. 08-13-11 A very hot day to rockhound with cool marcasite, 09-03-11 Crystal park quartz crystals and bread, 10-15-11 Another world class pseudomorph deposit, 2012 Denver gem and mineral show report fall, 2013 Denver gem and mineral show report fall, 2013 Rockhounding and mineral collecting reports, 04-06-13 Shirley basin agates and calcite, 04-13-13 red feather quartz crystals and a surprise mineral, 2014 Denver gem and mineral show report fall, Denver Coliseum Mineral Fossil and Gem Show, International Gem Jewelry Show denver 2014, Denver gem and mineral show 2010 report fall, Denver mineral show report 2010 fall part 2, Denver mineral show report 2010 fall part 3, Denver mineral show report 2010 fall part 4, Denver mineral show report 2010 fall part 5, Photo report Denver gem mineral rockhounding show 2011, Denver gem and mineral show report 2010 spring, Denver gem and mineral show report 2011 spring, Links to other Rock show reports Tucson , Denver, Blue Forest Wyoming petrified wood location, Copper Mountain Pegmatite District Wyoming. Beryl, columbite-tantalite, copper minerals, feldspar minerals, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, and mica minerals may be found in Copper Mountain in Fremont County. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 4.) ArcGIS login. That said, lab is pretty much a plagioclase feldspar. Places such as Fremont, Washakie, Sweetwater, Carbon, or Natrona County are where you can find jade, which is Wyomings official state gemstone. The relatively recent volcanic and metamorphic activity in Wyoming has given rise to many desirable and sought-after rocks and minerals, but it helps to have an idea of where to look and what to search for. As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property.