google_color_link="000000"; Black Rock itself is ultrapotassic and in the past (and even still now), shed peridot. Some people say that they have a lot of success near the reservoir, but this hasnt been too true for my family. I recommend accessing the area from highway 414 to the west, turning right just above Behunin Reservoir. Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres. Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) That said, lab is pretty much a plagioclase feldspar. These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. Meteorites have been found on a highway cut north of Laramie. Its located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list. Since rockhounds are highly prize geodes, we have made a special section on where to find these sedimentary rocks in Wyoming. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. 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. As you tour the State of Wyoming, feel free to contact any of the The Hartville district within Platte County is said to contain some copper minerals. The real gems that rockhounds are eager to get their hands on in Platte County are banded agates and drusy quartz specimens. Petrified wood is also found in the Early Basic Breccia of Eocene age, in the Specimen Ridge and the Amethyst Mountains area of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Should I be digging ? TIP:Feldspar minerals are very common in Wyoming. Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. Agatized fossil shells near Rock Springs, WY: 14. These include allanite, beryl, calcite-aragonite, columbite-tantalite, cordierite, feldspar minerals such as orthoclase, plagioclase, galena, graphite, kyanite, magnetite, manganese minerals, mica minerals, uranium minerals, and varieties of quartz. google_ad_height=600; If youre unsure where to start, try looking into some of Wyomings rockhound clubs and societies. I am wondering what it looks like on top of canyon. Maps showing the location of public lands in Wyoming can be obtained from You can also find agates a few miles west of Saratoga, Carbon County. as well as detailed information that will interest any rockhound. Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. It should be no surprise that there are several rockhound societies in Wyoming worth checking into. Is the watermelon rock you mentioned in article of the tourmaline family? If you are interested in checking out the best book about rockhounding in Wyoming you can find it by clickinghere(Amazon link). Albany is among the best rock-hounding places in Wyoming since you can find various rocks and minerals. Do NOT attempt unless dry. Agates also happen to be some of the most commonly collected rocks in the United States, including Wyoming. The Great Wyoming Rockhounding Page!! - Google Sites ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. amzn_assoc_linkid = "aac5e87b1ca95eb9841c18e11fbbd48f"; google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; For all of my maps, you can use my maps page. The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? That is partly because of about 50 percent of the states public land. Calcite for making lamps and also nice bots in roadside cut near Lander. If you sign up for GaiaGPS (free, takes about 2 clicks, and Ive never gotten mail from them, as its a husband+wife team that runs it), you can download the GPS data in the map to use on your phone or to import to Google Earth; just get the KML file. 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. Youll learn so much and get the experience you might miss out on if you were on your own. If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. Many other varieties of agates, jasper, petrified and opalized wood are also very commonly found in gravels and washes all over the state. 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 Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. I find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; South of Douglas in Converse County is where you will find jade as well. See my Wyoming Rockhounding Location Guide for more places to rockhound. The 12 Best Places to See Lava (With Helpful Tips) I lost service and I dont think I went to the exact location because I didnt see much there. These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. Sweetwater County is located in the southwestern part of Wyoming. "Rockhounding, Prospecting, and Fossil Hunting on the Shoshone National Forest" I cant tell you exactly where to go due to land-access issues. Wyoming is home to a large array of rocks and minerals that will be of interest to the collector, some of which are fairly unique to the area. TIP: Geodes can form anywhere in the world, but they do not form at random. Clear chalcedony and vein moss agate occur along this countys outcrops of the Bridger Formation. To get you started on prospecting, the Wyoming State Geological Survey has prepared a Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) Here are 10 of the best rockhounding sites for rocks and minerals in Montana: Crystal Park - Amethyst, Quartz crystals Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine - Sapphire Jefferson River - Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper American Bar - Sapphire, Garnet, Kyanite Yellowstone River, Custer County - Moss Agate Pryor Mountains - Agate, Geodes, Fossils The True Worth of Agates. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. Rockhounds have several excellent locations to choose from in Wyoming. A lot of theseWyomingrock collecting sights have mining claims that come and go. google_ad_type="text_image"; Im going to try and find a shark tooth location to surprise my husband. Use this resource as a guide to get you started. However, Jade can be located in the Sweetwater River district, just southeast of the Wind River Mountains. types. Ill be adding to this in the coming years. (Said Kimm-ur.). Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres. You can also usually get the landowners name and address by visiting the county records office. You are sure welcome. Gemstones are some of the most enjoyable specimens that rockhounds can find, but its not always easy to know where to look. Kemmerer, all washes and draws over a large area, Owl Creek, in placers SE of Washakie Needles, Lander, area surface over a very large region, Laramie Mountains, draws and washes of eastern slopes, Seminoe Reservoir, all area draws and washes, Saratoga, area draws and washes N to Walcott, Poison Spider Creek, area washes and draws, Check out my article about how to identify a geode, Rockhounding on Public Land: Laws and Regulations, Can You Collect Rocks in State Parks? While you cant collect rocks within those parks, the fantastically complicated and gorgeous geology found within their borders is a testament to the complex geological history of the area. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. Check out the table below to find where to find the more important metamorphic rocks in the state of Wyoming. google_ad_width=120; Simple Explanation, 8 Factors Why Opal is Valuable (Prices for Different Types), How To Cut & Polish Petrified Wood: Follow These 3 Steps, Recommended tools and equipment for rockhounding, Commonly found in the Paleozoic rocks, the Permian Phosporia formation, and the Mississippian Madison limestone, The northwest city of Cody and the Lovell town in Big Horn County, The Spirit Mountain Cavern, located west of Cody, along the Yellowstone Highway, The Eocene Green River Formation of southwestern Wyoming, or the town of Green River, Very common in all of the Precambrian mountain cores of Wyoming, On the west of Jay Em in Muskrat Canyon area of Goshen County, about 15 miles west of Wheatland, in the Marble Canyon area of Platte County, in the Medicine Bow Mountains of Albany and Carbon Counties, the Bighorn Mountains, near Douglas, in Converse County, and from the west flank of the Black Hills in Crook County, The Copper Mountain, Freemont County, in the Laramie Range of Albany and Converse counties, the Lewiston area of Fremont County, and the Bighorn Mountains area of Washakie County, Almost in all of the Precambrian pegmatites of Wyoming, Albany County, Carbon County, or 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. You can find pegmatites in the Haystack Range of Goshen County. i am wondering if we can even make it to the top. This is a great resource for anyone who loves rockhounding, from beginners to experts alike! 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Use caution, be respectful, and play by whatever the rules are now. It is located in the northwestern part of Wyoming, and you can find amethyst, opals, and many other types of valuable gems and minerals. You can find agate, allanite, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, uranium minerals, and bentonite. Make a right on it. If you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! 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. But where else can rockhounds explore, and what can they find? Sapphires and other treasures lie north of Yellowstone. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Rainbow agates have been found along the Wind River near Riverton. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Here you can find minerals, rocks, and varieties of quartz such as allanite, beryl, calcite-aragonite, columbite-tantalite, copper minerals, euxenite, galena, hematite, jade, mica minerals, monazite, opal, pyrite, agates, uranium minerals, vermiculite, gabbro, pegmatite, sedimentary rocks, taconite, and slate, among other things. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! 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. Second edition. You may want to look in the Kortes Dam area or the Sierra Madre Mountains for jades. 15. Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. However, there are no charges for attending club-led outings, and you dont have to be a resident of Wyoming to join. Rockhounding Wyoming - geology.com YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. Near the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the Hot Park Area, barite is commonly found, a couple of miles southwest of Encampment. The Medicine Bow Mountains are excellent places to find slate, galena, beryl, barite, and platinum-sperrylite. State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps It is going to take me a while to get all the locations in here. The state of Wyoming is noted for its copper minerals, lithium minerals, uranium minerals, feldspar minerals, manganese minerals, mica minerals, and quartz minerals. Veins of banded agate and drusy quartz occur in Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Platte County. If you want to find sapphires in Fremont, you should go to Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin. Check out how valuable different types of opal can be in the article below:8 Factors Why Opal is Valuable (Prices for Different Types). Wyoming State Geological Survey Albany County is located in the bottom easter part of Wyoming, having its border with the northern Colorado state line. Thanks! google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; Members have access to the Jade State Newsletter, containing news and updates on subjects concerning geology and mineralogy. If youre looking for individual hiking tracks (rather than single-point GPS data), please see my GaiaGPS page, which is hosted off-site, and is free. 17. The entire region boasts many outcrops of bentonites, which are ash clay layers left over from ancient volcanic activity. NOTE! BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Wyoming! google_color_url="FFFFFF"; So, this saves us precious time. Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. 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 At the same time, some reports of meteorite findings are also standard in this region. Follow the dirt roads toward and past the water tower on the ridge. Bighorn National Forest - Maps & Publications - US Forest Service I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. Carbon County is also a famous location for rockhounding in Wyoming. Wall of crystals found hiking Big Balls of Cowtown Trail. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. 1.) Rockhounding Locations in WY, MT; UT. Bookmarked. Find out more in the article below:Difference Between Real & Fake Geodes: Focus on These Signs. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; google_color_link="000000"; Fossil Butte National Monument NPS Public Domain Photo Places to Explore. ArcGIS login. WSMGS Affiliated Clubs when planning your visit. . Below you will find maps published by the Wyoming State Geological Survey. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. Joining up with a local rockhounding club for a group trip can often get you access to otherwise off-limits locations like privately owned mines and quarries. These are mostly comprised of old mining prospects, washes, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. lol Thanks again! Simple Explanation. I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. Use caution. In the charred areas with coal youll find petrified wood. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Wyoming Rockhounding Location Guide & Map - Rockhound Resource Not a member of this organization? This website also participates in Google Adsense. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. It will turn slightly left for a short, steep incline. Exploring the Laramie Mountain Range can lead to finding specimens like amphibole, epidote, plagioclase minerals, garnet, magnetite, and mica. In Johnson County, located in the north-central part of Wyoming, you can find agate. Whether you're one of the thousands who come to Wyoming each year to admire its unique geologic features or you've come to rockhound and prospect for gemstones and gold, To find petrified wood in Wyoming, you should go northeast of Eden, Sweetwater County, or the Wind River Formation where the Eocene age petrified wood is, 35 miles north of Medicine Bow, near the old Casper road. The clamber down through the woods and thicket is well worth the spectacular site of the mountainous, artesian well. There are several excellent rockhound locations all throughout the state. google_ad_format="120x600_as"; HOME Bula, yall! Rockhounding Locations - Google My Maps Rockhounding Locations Rockhounding Locations Search Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More Calendar Translate Mobile Books. google_ad_width=120; Suitable for the advanced backpacker. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; TIP:Dont forget to follow all the safety recommendations when rockhounding because your health is always the most important. The Hartville district in Platte County may contain some copper minerals, while the kyanite is found 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. //-->,
