It should be no surprise that there are several rockhound societies in Wyoming worth checking into. 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. 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. Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future. Still, there may be privately owned mining claims inside those boundaries and youll need to get permission to collect on that location. Wyoming State Mineral & Gem Society Check out how valuable different types of opal can be in the article below:8 Factors Why Opal is Valuable (Prices for Different Types). Devils Kitchen walk-in access near Red Gulch, Wyoming: 9.) Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) 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 majority of national parks located in the U.S. prohibit gem hunting/rockhounding. You can find pegmatites in the Haystack Range of Goshen County. (Rough Draft, 05/02/2021 Revision), Hiking and Adventure Map (Work in Progress). This book is a 6" x 9" paperback with 246 pages, descriptions, maps and photos. google_ad_width=120; google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; I had an odd experience last year. I recommend accessing the area from highway 414 to the west, turning right just above Behunin Reservoir. Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler. Obsidian is abundant in the park, with the most famous location to find these beauties being the Obsidian Cliff. google_ad_height=240; Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; Find out more in the article below:Difference Between Real & Fake Geodes: Focus on These Signs. In Wyoming, nearly all 18 million acres of public land are legal for gem enthusiasts to pursue their recreational activities. 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! 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. 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. (Said Kimm-ur.). hobby, or education. If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; 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. Sapphires and other treasures lie north of Yellowstone. Their annual Mineral and Gem Show is a massive hit with members and anyone interested in the field of topics. 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, Its water has provided food and habitat for humans and wildlife . google_color_link="000000"; 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. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! The best place to rockhound in Wyoming is Fremont County where you can find nephrite jade and Turritella agates in relative abundance. You can follow the formations exposure along a great length of the escarpment. Located east of Boysen reservoir on the south flank of the owl creeks. The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. I would probably start by contacting the assessor in whatever county youre interested in and getting whatever contact information you can for the landowner. You can find plenty of minerals in Wyoming, especially in the mountains, such as Casper Mountain, Absaroka Mountain, Laramie Range, or Medicine Bow Range. As you can see, opals are found in many places in Wyoming, so let us dive into where to find chalcedony in Wyoming. Post navigation. Natrona County is in central Wyoming. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "rockhoundreso-20"; The Riverton Mineral and Gem Society is an organization for people of all ages and experience levels. lol Thanks again! 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. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Proceed up canyon dirt road (12) until you reach the top plateau and it is flat. (I do not live in the US right now.). Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes; the cinders can be found at Black Rock, too. For all of my maps, you can use my maps page. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. It is going to take me a while to get all the locations in here. 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. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. The Sublette County Rock Hounds Club is relatively new to the scene of formal rockhound organizations. The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. google_ad_height=600; A quick jaunt down a nice dirt road brings you to the overlook, which is marked with a sign. Sweetwater County is located in the southwestern part of Wyoming. Wyoming is perhaps most well known for its world-class National Parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton. As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. Here at Rockhounding Maps, we give you access and information to the best dig sites for crystals and minerals in Wyoming. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Peridot in ant hills and arroyos near Black Rock Butte. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. google_ad_width=120; She said she was looking for Sand People.. I find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; travel through Wyoming's basins and across its mountain ranges, you can pass over all of the geologic eras of time which produced a variety of rocks, minerals, and fossil Here, rockhounds can find agates. Wyoming is also noted for its abundance of discovered meteorites. The Absaroka Mountains are an excellent place to explore. Phosphate rock is also located here. Quartz crystals, chalcedony, and vein moss agate occur along outcrops of the Bridger formation in the regions north of Sweetwater County. If you want more locations before i get these done and a different view of theWyomingmineral collecting area check out my, ___________________________________________________, ____________________________________________________, 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. A lock ( Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) Posted on Published: September 29, 2020- Last updated: July 26, 2022. Since rockhounds are highly prize geodes, we have made a special section on where to find these sedimentary rocks in Wyoming. That is partly because of about 50 percent of the state's public land. HOME In fact, everywhere in the blackened areas has petrified wood on both sides of the draw. I recommend walk-in access via the Radio Creek Road starting at a pullout located here. If you want to find agates in Albany, they are usually found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. 44 is recommended for this ingress, but if you access it from the table to the east, 44 is required. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for jade findings. It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. Any tips would be great! Membership is only $15 for adults 18 and up. Rock Hound Etiquette 7. The best we have for GPS is cell phones. Rockhounds can explore most of Wyoming's geologic products up close because over 50% of the state is public land! Bula, yall! If youre unsure where to start, try looking into some of Wyomings rockhound clubs and societies. 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. In general, the best places to find agates in Wyoming are in gravels and washes, particularly in Sweetwater County, Fremont County, and along the Sweetwater and Wind Rivers. 15 Best Rocks & Minerals, Are Agates Valuable rocks? Tip: Not sure if the rock youve found is a geode? Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. As for what you should be looking for, the following link provides better examples than I have (since Im on my phone). //-->,