Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. This website also participates in Google Adsense. Public access with nice walk in. Wyoming is full of jades, mostly of the nephrite class, and the jadeite class, which sounds like something out of Star Wars. Some of the more unique specimens you may be interested in are Turritella agates and nephrite jade which can both be found in relative abundance if you look in the right places. I spent about an hour at this location, and . 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. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. Veins of banded agate and drusy quartz occur in Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Platte County. I f you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! 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. If you want to find gemstones, such as amethyst, a great place in Park County is Amethyst Mountain. Johnson County is located in north-central Wyoming. 17. Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. Manganese minerals or uranium minerals are found in the Wasatch Formation. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. 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. This club hosts multiple outings every month during the summer. As you tour the State of Wyoming, feel free to contact any of the Also lots of buzzworms. This paper has an alternate location along the logging road. You can buy ithere(Amazon link). Lets dig in! Similar to what you explained looking for topaz in the Thomas range. Wyoming is among the best rockhounding places in the U.S., and this is partly because around 50% of its lands are public! Wyoming is also noted for its abundance of discovered meteorites. 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. I lost service and I dont think I went to the exact location because I didnt see much there. 19. Wyoming is perhaps most well known for its world-class National Parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 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. Files WYNF-0004_rockhounding (051418).pdf (PDF / 264 KB) Publication Date Triceratops fossils are mostly found in the Hell Creek Formation in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, eastern Wyoming. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. However, lets talk about the 11 best places to rockhound in Wyoming. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. You can also find agatized and opalized wood specimens here. Wyoming is an incredible place for rockhounds. google_color_link="000000"; The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. Thanks! They were easy to dig out of formation, but even more easily were found eroded perfectly on the surface. If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. Sweetwater County is located in the southwestern part of Wyoming. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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? My little girl loves rocks now (gems and fossils both). One of the most common questions rockhounds have is whether or not they are allowed to collect at a certain location. google_ad_type="text_image"; Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle. Specimens may become depleted from other collectors, the location may have been built on or altered, locality information in literature may be inaccurate, and property ownership may have changed hands. Anyway, follow that Jeep trail down toward the bottom, where it first starts getting pretty flat, and youll find a ton of fossils. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. Jades are present in Carbon County as well. The best place to rockhound in Wyoming is Fremont County where you can find nephrite jade and Turritella agates in relative abundance. If you explore the highway cut north of Laramie, you might find meteorites. google_ad_width=120; While there may have been changes in hours of public viewing, business location and/or other Rockhounds can find opal within the deposits associated with the parks hot springs. A relatively large area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties also contains chalcedony. Should I be digging ? Here at Rockhounding Maps, we give you access and information to the best dig sites for crystals and minerals in Wyoming. The Sublette County Rock Hounds Club is relatively new to the scene of formal rockhound organizations. I recommend accessing the area from highway 414 to the west, turning right just above Behunin Reservoir. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes. Its located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; ), Check ant beds in this area for peridot and other little gems. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. The best rockhounding locations in the United States include the Oregon Beaches, Lake Superior, Crater of Diamonds State Park, Emerald Hollow Mine, Jade Cove Trail, Gold Prospecting Adventure, Fossil Butte National Monument, Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine, Spectrum Sunstone Mine, or Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine. Luckily, Wyoming is a prime spot for hunting your own crystals and gemstones. The clamber down through the woods and thicket is well worth the spectacular site of the mountainous, artesian well. The GPS map below shows how I drove, as well as the two main places I walked which had good anthills. Clear chalcedony and vein moss agate occur along this countys outcrops of the Bridger Formation. Concretion and geodes are common in many of the sedimentary rocks in the state, but a good way of finding geodes in Wyoming is to search for the conglomerate in limestone or sandstone. PDF Maps; Google Maps. Public access. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. Teepee Canyon Agates 13. You can find them in volcanic conglomerates in the Tertiary rocks of the southern part of the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming. Is the watermelon rock you mentioned in article of the tourmaline family? "Rockhounding Rules on BLM Public Lands" and HOME You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; If youre looking for gemstones and crystals, Wyoming is home to quite a few that will make good additions to your collection. 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. That was a joke. The GemHunter (Dan Hausel) found peridot and garnets in the area, the latter of which can also be found NNW of Cedar Mountain. google_ad_format="120x600_as"; The counties are alphabetized, and within each county the locations are . These rockhounding sights ofWyoming are mostly on public land but a good blm ownership map isrecommended allowing you to stay off private land. Devils Kitchen walk-in access near Red Gulch, Wyoming: 9.) 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. Follow the four-wheeler track down the mountain and into the badlands below. , 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". These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. google_ad_height=240; 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. Carbon County is the home to some excellent specimens, including: Suppose youre interested in finding nephrite-type jade specimens. Hi, do you have the gps coordinates for the peridot/ant hills? Albany County is home to some of the best rockhounding locations in Wyoming because there are various rock and mineral specimens, including: Sand Creek and the Red Buttes areas in Albany County are full of sedimentary rocks. Here, rockhounds can find some incredible specimens, including: The Casper Mountains contain chromite, feldspar, and beryl. For reference, Ive explored both directions in a small, Cheep Patriot [sic]. This place is located in the south part of Wyoming, and Albany County is located on its eastern side. You can find agate, allanite, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, uranium minerals, and bentonite. 11 Essential Rock Tumbling Tips - Get Better Results! Hi Frank. 15 Best Rocks & Minerals, Are Agates Valuable rocks? The Hartville district in Platte County may contain some copper minerals, while the kyanite is found 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. Thats one of the reasons why you can quite a lot of fake ones for sale. google_ad_height=240; . High-clearance only. The GPS coordinate I put up is right by a place called Black Rock, which is an ultrapotassic, lamproite volcaniclastic exposure. Here you can also find agatized and opalized wood, while agates are common a few miles west of Saratoga. 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. 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, Black jade can be found in Fremont County as well. Below you will find maps published by the Wyoming State Geological Survey. 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. Near the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the Hot Park Area, barite is commonly found, a couple of miles southwest of Encampment. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I hope this will make it a bit easier to find information on my Wyoming rockhounding pages. They are some of the most popular rocks to tumble, and its easy to see why with their intricate banding and unique designs. 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. These rockhounding sights of Wyoming are mostly on public land but a good. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! My best to you and your family. 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, you can access Utah rockhounding locations https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17-pa3pYy0AqN0D2Zh4cXklR9A7g&ll=39.483150381536596%2C-111.60763899999999&z=8. Im doing a fossil camping trip near the buttes to a quarry where you can pay to dig for fish fossils. In fact, Wyoming is home to a unique variety of agate called Turritella agate that is extremely popular with local collectors. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. 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. 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. Drive up the garbage road toward White Mountain and park near the area with the in-ground tank, then follow the trails west into the lower hills. No rockhound excursion would be complete in Wyoming without exploring Yellowstone National Park. 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. Cancel. If you head to Copper Mountain, you might find some specimens like beryl, feldspar, lithium, magnetite, and manganese. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. I have written entire articles which cover the rockhounding laws and regulations for nearly every type of public land you can think of. Sadly, it is illegal to rockhound in Yellowstone National Park, but you can do it outside the area. Most of the geodes in Wyoming tend to be lined with chalcedony, and more rarely with microcrystalline quartz. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. If you want to find sapphires, you may go to the Palmer Canyon in Albany. 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. 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. This is one of the best family-friendly rockhounding locations in the entire country, where you can spend all day searching for you own diamonds. "Rockhounding, Prospecting, and Fossil Hunting on the Shoshone National Forest" A quick jaunt down a nice dirt road brings you to the overlook, which is marked with a sign. Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Wyoming! 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. So where to rockbound in Wyoming, and what can you find? Check out how valuable different types of opal can be in the article below:8 Factors Why Opal is Valuable (Prices for Different Types). Use this resource as a guide to get you started. as well as detailed information that will interest any rockhound. Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) See my details at this link. Exposed and subsumed vertebrate fossils of what amounts to a type of ancient alligator-type creature, as well as some others, can be found here. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments section below. You may also find gold along with parts of the Snake River in the southern part of Jackson Hole, northwest Wyoming. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. Cody 59ers Rock Club was established in 1959 to help promote and share knowledge surrounding rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils through field trips. These are mostly comprised of old mining prospects, washes, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. PurpleCamping, international trips; excursions. The Riverton Mineral and Gem Society is an organization for people of all ages and experience levels. The best place to start is in Yellowstone National Park. 130 to Walcott Junction. 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. Fossils in Sanders County, MT: 4.) 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. 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. I find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. This site contains affiliate links to products. google_ad_type="text_image"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Find out where to find minerals in Wyoming down below. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. In Johnson County, located in the north-central part of Wyoming, you can find agate. Im out of the US as I update this revision, so I dont have photos of the really good specimensgo figure. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. It should be no surprise that there are several rockhound societies in Wyoming worth checking into. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. 2. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Azurite, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Galena, Gold, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz crystals, Sphalerite, etc. Down below is where you will find out where to find gold, fossils, and petrified wood in Wyoming. The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links): How can we talk about rockhounding in Wyoming and not mention the famous Yellowstone National Park? Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. The Absaroka Mountains are an excellent place to explore. 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. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) Below is a list of rockhounding locations in wyoming with a description of the minerals found there and pictures. (I do not live in the US right now.). Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. Calcite for making lamps and also nice bots in roadside cut near Lander. here. Hello, I am John.As a little boy, I was fascinated by stones and liked to take them home. Agates also happen to be some of the most commonly collected rocks in the United States, including Wyoming. Late Tertiary welded tuffs are known to crop out in Yellowstone, while volcanic breccia is typical here. Volcanic type agates or chalcedony usually occur in stream gravels in the western half of the Bighorn Basin, of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties as well. Copyright 2022 Rockhound Resource | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Greybull, area washes and draws btwn Big Horn River and Mountains, Lovell, E to Big Horn Mountains in draws and washes, Fremont County, all regional washes and draws. The locations and information contained in this article are primarily derived from academic papers, online resources, and other outside sources. 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. You can also find agates a few miles west of Saratoga, Carbon County. what are the host rocks associated with watermelon rock and the labradorite? 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. 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. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; You can find plenty of minerals in Wyoming, especially in the mountains, such as Casper Mountain, Absaroka Mountain, Laramie Range, or Medicine Bow Range. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936";

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