wyoming rockhounding locations google mapsrok aoe commanders
Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. 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. If you want to find geodes in Wyoming, you should look for places with many sedimentary rocks, such as in the beds of the conglomerate, which crop out throughout the state. The majority of national parks located in the U.S. prohibit gem hunting/rockhounding. You can also find agates a few miles west of Saratoga, Carbon County. Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. Keep me signed in. Natrona County is in central Wyoming. That said, lab is pretty much a plagioclase feldspar. google_ad_type="text_image"; We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. 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 can see, opals are found in many places in Wyoming, so let us dive into where to find chalcedony in Wyoming. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. The Sierra Madre Mountains are noted for their jade findings too. Follow the road toward its terminus (going down toward a river) and easy, walk-in access is available. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. Any tips would be great! Lets dig in! The entire region boasts many outcrops of bentonites, which are ash clay layers left over from ancient volcanic activity. If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. Geology of WyomingCompile digital bedrock and surficial geologic maps at 1:100,000 scale for the state in order to revise the 1:500,000 scale geologic map of Wyoming and surficial geologic map of Wyoming. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. 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. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; 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. Do NOT attempt unless dry. The ants use them for construction material. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. 1.) Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) In the charred areas with coal youll find petrified wood. Rockhound Trip report spring 2008. 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. Quartz crystals, chalcedony, and vein moss agate occur along outcrops of the Bridger formation in the regions north of Sweetwater County. It will turn slightly left for a short, steep incline. It should be no surprise that there are several rockhound societies in Wyoming worth checking into. Located east of Boysen reservoir on the south flank of the owl creeks. If you want to find agates in Albany, they are usually found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. Knightia Fish fossils are primarily uncovered in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. Some people say that they have a lot of success near the reservoir, but this hasnt been too true for my family. Late Tertiary welded tuffs are known to crop out in Yellowstone, while volcanic breccia is typical here. Near the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the Hot Park Area, barite is commonly found, a couple of miles southwest of Encampment. TIP: A great deal of petrified wood is not suitable for rock tumbling or lapidary work because it has too many faults and fractures. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. There is nothing quite like uncovering a quartz crystal with a perfect termination or finding a beautiful agate that has been waiting in a river bank for you to come along and take it home. Find out the differences between these two minerals in the article below:Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. google_ad_width=120; . You can find pegmatites in the Haystack Range of Goshen County. I'm starting with the most popular and working my way to the more obscure. 17. Everyone enjoys the prospect of finding their very own geodes out in the wild, and its easy to see why. 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. 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. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. Map of Locations 1.) Maps showing the location of public lands in Wyoming can be obtained from GreenDay hikes; can be done as overnights. 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. Agates also happen to be some of the most commonly collected rocks in the United States, including Wyoming. I will as usual get a BLM map and make necessary calls for sure after reading reply. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. For all of my maps, you can use my maps page. We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list. Buy on Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 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. A majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous rocks, minerals, fossils, and gemstones. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Rocks there have a different variety of lab than down below. You can find opal here, in the deposits associated with the hot springs. This paper has an alternate location along the logging road. 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. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! Fossils in Sanders County, MT: 4.) Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. 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, First of all, check the Tertiary igneous rocks in the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas of Park County and the Black Hills area of northeastern Wyoming. Clear chalcedony and vein moss agate occur along this countys outcrops of the Bridger Formation. This collecting area contains several lithum enriched pegmatites. Similar to what you explained looking for topaz in the Thomas range. However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. Black Rock itself is ultrapotassic and in the past (and even still now), shed peridot. Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. The best place to rockhound in Wyoming is Fremont County where you can find nephrite jade and Turritella agates in relative abundance. Obsidian is abundant in the park, with the most famous location to find these beauties being the Obsidian Cliff. When you look for it, it often just looks like ugly, whiteish or greyish rocks. We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because were always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. It is located in the northwestern part of Wyoming, and you can find amethyst, opals, and many other types of valuable gems and minerals. See my details at this link. One of the most common questions rockhounds have is whether or not they are allowed to collect at a certain location. Rockhounds can explore most of Wyoming's geologic products up close because over 50% of the state is public land! Thats why I wrote an article about all helpful safety tips and more:PRO Tips for Beginner & Experienced Rockhounds + Safety Tips. A lock ( However, there was some trouble with this in the recent past. If youre into gemstones like amethyst, I suggest checking out Amethyst Mountain; it got its name for a reason. I f you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! circumstances since the article was originally published in 1989, it remains a valuable guide for anyone seeking additional resources in the pursuit of their interests, 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 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 quite a few more interesting minerals like amazonite, tourmaline, and beryl in the tailings of old mines scattered across the hills and mountain ranges. Still, if you know where to look you may be able to find one for your collection. 2. I am in Farson WY and went to check out the fish fossil/shark tooth location listed. 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. Petrified wood can be found in the Amethyst Mountains area of Yellowstone as well. You can find them in volcanic conglomerates in the Tertiary rocks of the southern part of the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming. I would probably start by contacting the assessor in whatever county youre interested in and getting whatever contact information you can for the landowner. Gold can also be found in Park County, specifically the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas. google_color_link="000000"; Let us begin with gems. Only very minor surface mining has been done here. Guide to Prospecting and Rock Hunting in Wyoming I found this book very useful and clearly written. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. Fossils in the escarpment. Rainbow agates are plentiful in the Wind River near Riverton, Fremont County. Follow the road a short distance until it splits; stop at the fork and walk up the washed-out left road for a few hundred feet. But where else can rockhounds explore, and what can they find? Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Im doing a fossil camping trip near the buttes to a quarry where you can pay to dig for fish fossils. Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? Wyoming Rockhound Locations Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. Rock Hound Etiquette 7. If you have limited time and want to have the best chance of success, you might prefer to use either of these private areas which have fees associated: Both are located near Kemmerer! Sapphires and other treasures lie north of Yellowstone. In Johnson County, located in the north-central part of Wyoming, you can find agate. Its located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest region of Yellowstone. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. Thats one of the reasons why you can quite a lot of fake ones for sale. Files WYNF-0004_rockhounding (051418).pdf (PDF / 264 KB) Publication Date We are using my Subaru forester. Rockhounding Site And Information Near Me (Clickable Map) - Rock Seeker Rockhounding Site And Information Near Me (Clickable Map) Must Have! Most of the mining has been less than 20 feet . Blue forest petrified wood near Granger, WY: 11.) The Absaroka Mountains are an excellent place to explore. amzn_assoc_linkid = "aac5e87b1ca95eb9841c18e11fbbd48f"; Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. 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. I love finding agates because you never know what sort of beautiful patterns and colors they might contain. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. The GPS coordinate I put up is right by a place called Black Rock, which is an ultrapotassic, lamproite volcaniclastic exposure. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. A number of the best locations are on private land, and while Ive gotten access from the owners, I cant list them here. The Rockhounding Wyoming guide book lists a spot just south of Cody. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. lol Thanks again! This publication can be downloaded directly from the WSGS i am wondering if we can even make it to the top. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; National forest and national grassland maps are also available from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) USGS Store, which offers secure, online ordering ($5 service charge applies), along with ordering by phone . My little girl loves rocks now (gems and fossils both). , Places to See Geologic Displays in Wyoming, Guide to Prospecting and Rock Hunting in Wyoming, "Rockhounding, Prospecting, and Fossil Hunting on the Shoshone National Forest". google_color_text="FFFFFF"; google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; You can also find it in the Wiggins formation of the Oligocene age near the head of Frontier Creek in the Absaroka Mountains. So pack up your stuff, since once you read this, you might want to move to Wyoming and start rockhounding! So where to rockbound in Wyoming, and what can you find? Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres. 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. ), let me know. Rainbow agates have been found along the Wind River near Riverton. Sadly, it is illegal to rockhound in Yellowstone National Park, but you can do it outside the area. However, there are no charges for attending club-led outings, and you dont have to be a resident of Wyoming to join. Wyoming happens to be among the best states in the entire country for rockhounding thanks to the sheer volume of prospective collecting sites and the impressive array of rocks and minerals to be found. 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. You can also usually get the landowners name and address by visiting the county records office. See my hikes in to this area in the early spring, middle-summer, and late summer. Turritella agates are most commonly found in southwest Wyoming, especially near the town of Granger. Black Rock itself is ultrapotassic and in the past (and even still now) shed peridot. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Hello and thank you for posting this information. 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. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; The club started in 2016 and has been growing in numbers ever since. The number of potential collecting sites here makes it an excellent location for those interested not only in rocks, but also minerals that can be found within them! Forgot username? Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) Where are the best places for rockhounding in Wyoming? These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. Here at Rockhounding Maps, we give you access and information to the best dig sites for crystals and minerals in Wyoming. They are most commonly found in gravels and the clays lining nearby streams. 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. In case you wondering, the official state dinosaur of Wyoming is the Triceratops dinosaur, which is primarily uncovered in the Hell Creek Formation in the Black Hills region of South Dakota or eastern Wyoming. These rockhounding sights of Wyoming are mostly on public land but a good. Cody 59ers Rock Club was established in 1959 to help promote and share knowledge surrounding rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils through field trips. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; as well as detailed information that will interest any rockhound. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. The best place to start is in Yellowstone National Park. Anyway, follow that Jeep trail down toward the bottom, where it first starts getting pretty flat, and youll find a ton of fossils. Albany is among the best rock-hounding places in Wyoming since you can find various rocks and minerals. I spent about an hour at this location, and . Post navigation. There are many rockhounding clubs in Wyoming so you can most likely find one you like nearby. Atlantic City, area stream gravels, draws, etc. 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. It will help show how non-descript the host is. The sapphire specimens found in the Canyon vary from blue and light grey to deeper colors, including violet. You can find many types of feldspar minerals in Goshen County, including mica minerals, and in the Muskrat Canyon area of the county, you can find the marble. 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. 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. The Wasatch Formation is a great place to find manganese and uranium minerals. Here are 10 of the best rockhounding sites for rocks and minerals in Wyoming: If youre doing some rockhounding in Wyoming, you wont be lacking for rocks and minerals to find. The GPS coordinate I put up in the map at the top of the page is right by a place called Black Rock, which is an ultrapotassic, lamproite volcaniclastic exposure. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. But sometimes you can mistake feldspar with quartz. google_ad_width=120; I hope this will make it a bit easier to find information on my Wyoming rockhounding pages. I cant thank you enough! "Rockhounding Rules on BLM Public Lands" and Some icons at default view contain 5+ hikes when zoomed in. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; Here, rockhounds can find some incredible specimens, including: The Casper Mountains contain chromite, feldspar, and beryl. The GPS map below shows how I drove, as well as the two main places I walked which had good anthills. The pyroxene group of minerals is confined to Precambrian rocks and the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Absaroka Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. Select locations particularly the tailings of old mines are prime spots for specimens of minerals like azurite, malachite, beryl, tourmaline, and garnet. Quartz crystals are abundant in the feldspar pits south of Laramie. The Riverton Mineral and Gem Society is an organization for people of all ages and experience levels. We have listed each type of crystal in separate sections since we know how much you love them. It states that the road is very rough, and to not attempt it during a rain storm. You can find plenty of minerals in Wyoming, especially in the mountains, such as Casper Mountain, Absaroka Mountain, Laramie Range, or Medicine Bow Range. BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? 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. And you can typically find them laying around, but often youll have to pry open the rocks. Note: magnetite is also present. I have created guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day. Posted on Published: September 29, 2020- Last updated: July 26, 2022. Rockhounding in eastern Wyoming offers a lot of opportunities to find a wide variety of rocks and minerals. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Precambrian metamorphic rocks are abundant in Wyoming. The Sand Creek and Red Buttes areas of Albany County are full of sedimentary rocks. In order to really find the good stuff in the main area, go on sunny day with a spray bottle, a rock hammer, chisel, and a 4-lb/10-lb sledge hammer. Places such as Fremont, Washakie, Sweetwater, Carbon, or Natrona County are where you can find jade, which is Wyomings official state gemstone. Quartz crystals can also be found northeast of Buffalo and in Box Elder Canyon. may be of interest to rockhounds. Other sources include: North Carolina Rockhounding Location Guide & Map, Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. There are several excellent rockhound locations all throughout the state. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. (I do not live in the US right now.). Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) TOP The famous Triceratops fossils are plentiful in Wyoming; however, the Knightia Fish is the official state fossil of Wyoming. google_ad_height=600; The clamber down through the woods and thicket is well worth the spectacular site of the mountainous, artesian well. NPS Public Domain Photo. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. An official website of the United States government. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; | If you want to find sapphires, you may go to the Palmer Canyon in Albany, or go to Fremont, to the Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin. 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. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. google_color_link="000000"; During my brief exploration, I didnt have time to find the gems, but did get diverted by the thousands of exposed fossils. Follow the dirt roads toward and past the water tower on the ridge. Opal is found near Smith Creek in Carbon County, and if you want to find quartz minerals, they are located from north of Saratoga along Wyoming Highway no. This book is a 6" x 9" paperback with 246 pages, descriptions, maps and photos.
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