Library for the books I use when I go out rock hunting. Youll see a lot of shining material along the tops of the exposure, but unless you really want some trona, you can ignore it. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; This place is located in the south part of Wyoming, and Albany County is located on its eastern side. 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. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. 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 kid loved exploring it with me. TIP:Agates are one of the most popular minerals among rockhounds in the United States. google_ad_type="text_image"; google_color_border="1B1B1B"; 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. So where to rockbound in Wyoming, and what can you find? TIP: Geodes can form anywhere in the world, but they do not form at random. In the Absaroka Mountains, you may discover opal, galena, or molybdenite. 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. In the Casper Mountains, you can find chromite, feldspar minerals, or beryl. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. Albany County is located in the bottom easter part of Wyoming, having its border with the northern Colorado state line. What a great reason to go rockhounding. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Please direct technical questions (including broken links) about this Web site to webmaster@wsmgs.org. Forgot username? Near the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the Hot Park Area, barite is commonly found, a couple of miles southwest of Encampment. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. 44 is recommended for this ingress, but if you access it from the table to the east, 44 is required. From beginners to advanced collectors, everyone will find something in Wyoming! google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; 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 . Still, there may be privately owned mining claims inside those boundaries and youll need to get permission to collect on that location. The entire region boasts many outcrops of bentonites, which are ash clay layers left over from ancient volcanic activity. It will help show how non-descript the host is. It is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You can find these in the Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Wyoming. This interest of mine has lasted until today, so I decided to create this website. You can find them in volcanic conglomerates in the Tertiary rocks of the southern part of the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming. Post navigation. 19. The Riverton Mineral and Gem Society is an organization for people of all ages and experience levels. If you want to find nephrite-type jades in Carbon County, which is the state mineral of Wyoming, you may want to look in the Kortes Dam area or the Sierra Madre Mountains. Here, rockhounds can find agates. Thanks! If you explore the highway cut north of Laramie, you might find meteorites. Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. The clamber down through the woods and thicket is well worth the spectacular site of the mountainous, artesian well. These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. I spent about an hour at this location, and . amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "rockhoundreso-20"; or Forgot password? However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. 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. We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because were always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. 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. However, it is legal to hound the areas surrounding this famous park. 130 to Walcott Junction. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Wyoming! Places such as Fremont, Washakie, Sweetwater, Carbon, or Natrona County are where you can find jade, which is Wyomings official state gemstone. The sapphire specimens found in the Canyon vary from blue and light grey to deeper colors, including violet. Members have access to the Jade State Newsletter, containing news and updates on subjects concerning geology and mineralogy. 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. There is plenty of BLM and National Forest land to collect on in Wyoming which is, in general, open for public use. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! I keep a good GPS on me so that they cant fuss me out too much, because they can and do fence in public land and claim its private. In the table down below, you can see what other minerals can be found in Wyoming, and their exact locations. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; 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. 17. Similar to what you explained looking for topaz in the Thomas range. No, this wont make you rich. Triceratops fossils are mostly found in the Hell Creek Formation in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, eastern Wyoming. Keep me signed in. Wyoming is among the best rockhounding places in the U.S., and this is partly because around 50% of its lands are public! amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. Various outcrops along the road contain specimens. Quartz crystals are typically found everywhere north of Saratoga along Highway 130 to Walcott Junction. There is a limit to the number of specimens you can carry, which differs from site to site. Public access with nice walk in. Rockhounding Locations in WY, MT; UT. Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. In general, the best places to find crystals and gemstones in Wyoming are washes and draws across the western half of the state, particularly near Kemmerer, Atlantic City, and Rock Springs. You never know what type of crystals or patterns youre going to find inside and it makes them incredibly exciting. Goshen County is located in the southeastern end of Wyoming. Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) 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. Red Gulch Dino Track Site near Shell, WY: 8a.) If youre looking to start collecting rocks in Wyoming, agates are a great place to start. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. Ill be adding to this in the coming years. Petrified wood can be found in the Amethyst Mountains area of Yellowstone as well. Check out how to cut and polish petrified wood in the article below:How To Cut & Polish Petrified Wood: Follow These 3 Steps. Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) Natrona County is in central Wyoming. The Bridger Formation in areas north of Wamsutter, Sweetwater County, and in an area north and east of Farson, Sweetwater, and Sublette counties, the western half of the Bighorn Basin of Bighorn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties, or the Steamboat Mountain in the Leucite Hills. 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. Sadly, it is illegal to rockhound in Yellowstone National Park, but you can do it outside the area. Anyway, follow that Jeep trail down toward the bottom, where it first starts getting pretty flat, and youll find a ton of fossils. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. We have listed each type of crystal in separate sections since we know how much you love them. 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. Rockhounding in eastern Wyoming offers a lot of opportunities to find a wide variety of rocks and minerals. In fact, Wyoming is home to a unique variety of agate called Turritella agate that is extremely popular with local collectors. Their annual Mineral and Gem Show is a massive hit with members and anyone interested in the field of topics. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle. Go to Albany County, since agates are commonly found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. 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. ), Check ant beds in this area for peridot and other little gems. google_ad_width=120; 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. 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. These rockhounding sights of Wyoming are mostly on public land but a good. The Hot Park Area is near the Sierra Madre Mountains, and barite is commonly found a few miles southwest of Encampment. Find out where to find minerals in Wyoming down below. Note: stramatolites can be found in some washes at the base of the Pryors nearby. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) Quartz crystals are relatively abundant in the feldspar pits just south of Laramie. Member Clubs can be found in Casper, Big Piney, Cody, Cheyenne, Gillette, Riverton, Powell, and Torrington. 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. 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 pyroxene group of minerals is confined to Precambrian rocks and the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Absaroka Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. Its an excellent society that provides education and experience to its members. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. We are using my Subaru forester. Atlantic City, area stream gravels, draws, etc. Beryl, columbite-tantalite, copper minerals, feldspar minerals, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, and mica minerals may be found in Copper Mountain in Fremont County. 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. NPS Public Domain Photo. 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. My neighbor and i hopefully will be heading out to Wyoming if our health is good, sometime this summer. 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. Agates, copper minerals, uranium minerals, and calcite-aragonite can be found throughout Park County in northwestern Wyoming. Sapphires and other treasures lie north of Yellowstone. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. The Medicine Bow Mountains contain slate, platinum-sperrylite, galena, beryl, and barite. 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. here. amzn_assoc_linkid = "aac5e87b1ca95eb9841c18e11fbbd48f"; Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler. The GPS map below shows how I drove, as well as the two main places I walked which had good anthills. Check out recommended tools for rockhounding here:Recommended tools and equipment for rockhounding, What Rocks Are Good For Tumbling? Check out the table below to find where to find the more important metamorphic rocks in the state of Wyoming. TIP: A great deal of petrified wood is not suitable for rock tumbling or lapidary work because it has too many faults and fractures. google_color_link="000000"; Not a member of this organization? Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. At the same time, some reports of meteorite findings are also standard in this region. 5 Crucial Signs. TIP: Opal is a one-of-a-kind, highly valuable gemstone. The best we have for GPS is cell phones. 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. Albany County is in the bottom eastern portion of Wyoming and borders the northern Colorado state line. All 50 States Answered, contacting the assessor in whatever county youre inte, Gastroliths, Petrified dinosaur bones, Fossils, Gypsum, Dinosaur bones, Gastroliths, Fossils, Fossils, Ammonites, Dinosaur bones, Gastroliths, Agate, Chalcedony, Gold, Nephrite jade, Jade, Jasper, Muscovite, Quartz crystals, Agatized wood, Opalized wood, Tourmaline, Agate (banded, moss), Aventurine, Garnet, Sapphire, Agate (Sweetwater agate), Nephrite jade, Jade, Aquamarine, Beryl, Feldspar crystals, Muscovite, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Jade, Nephrite jade, Quartz crystals, Silicified wood. Most of the gold produced in Wyoming comes from the Atlantic City-South Pass-Sweetwater district. In Sweetwater County, west of Wamsutter along the old road to Baggs, the Green River Basin is plentiful in agates. You can find agate, allanite, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, uranium minerals, and bentonite. Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. RedLong-duration hikes, typically 5+days. Wyoming is full of jades, mostly of the nephrite class, and the jadeite class, which sounds like something out of Star Wars. Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. The Sand Creek and Red Buttes areas of Albany County are full of sedimentary rocks. During my brief exploration, I didnt have time to find the gems, but did get diverted by the thousands of exposed fossils. (I do not live in the US right now.). Stream gravels, washes, and draws all over this region will have the potential to contain nephrite jade as well as agates and petrified wood. Sign In. Note: magnetite is also present. Bula, yall! google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; google_color_link="000000"; A number of the best locations are on private land, and while Ive gotten access from the owners, I cant list them here. Official websites use .gov Rock Hound Etiquette 7. While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. And of course, nephrite jade can be found in such abundance that it is Wyomings state gemstone. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! The Absaroka Mountains are an excellent place to explore. I recommend accessing the area from highway 414 to the west, turning right just above Behunin Reservoir. 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. Use caution, be respectful, and play by whatever the rules are now. 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. The state of Wyoming is noted for its copper minerals, lithium minerals, uranium minerals, feldspar minerals, manganese minerals, mica minerals, and quartz minerals. Only very minor surface mining has been done here. We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. The Hartville district within Platte County is said to contain some copper minerals. Rainbow agates are plentiful in the Wind River near Riverton, Fremont County. Fossil Butte National Monument I recommend walk-in access via the Radio Creek Road starting at a pullout located here. Rockhounds might find pegmatite within the Bighorn Range in Natrona County, while igneous rocks like pumice-pumice in the Split Rock area. I had an odd experience last year. Meteorites have been found on a highway cut north of Laramie. 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. This land is filled with hundreds of prospective rockhounding sites where you can find a nice variety of rocks and minerals including nephrite jade, azurite, quartz crystals, and unique varieties of agates. And you can typically find them laying around, but often youll have to pry open the rocks. I would probably start by contacting the assessor in whatever county youre interested in and getting whatever contact information you can for the landowner. Still, if you know where to look you may be able to find one for your collection. //-->,