Garnets near Custer If youre really nice and want a piece, maybe Ill send you some. Wyoming is an incredible place for rockhounds. Post navigation. Rockhounding Site And Information Near Me (Clickable Map) - Rock Seeker Rockhounding Site And Information Near Me (Clickable Map) Must Have! Membership is only $15 for adults 18 and up. 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. at Cedar Mountain. When you look for it, it often just looks like ugly, whiteish or greyish rocks. If you head to Copper Mountain, you might find some specimens like beryl, feldspar, lithium, magnetite, and manganese. Turritella agates are most commonly found in southwest Wyoming, especially near the town of Granger. High-clearance only. 2. However, there was some trouble with this in the recent past. The ACEC encompasses approximately 41,500 acres, of which about 23,600 acres are public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Barstow Field Office. Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. google_ad_type="text_image"; Continue on the main path to Winton, Follow it. Youll see a lot of shining material along the tops of the exposure, but unless you really want some trona, you can ignore it. Maps showing the location of public lands in Wyoming can be obtained from 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 . Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; I found this book very useful and clearly written. Members have access to the Jade State Newsletter, containing news and updates on subjects concerning geology and mineralogy. Public access with nice walk in. Make a right on it. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) Carbon County is the home to some excellent specimens, including: Suppose youre interested in finding nephrite-type jade specimens. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; Fossils in the escarpment. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. 17. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. Search for maps by using the main search field (this will search all columns and some un-displayed information such as keywords, counties and product SKU numbers). I'm starting with the most popular and working my way to the more obscure. Its an excellent society that provides education and experience to its members. We have listed each type of crystal in separate sections since we know how much you love them. Down below is where you will find out where to find gold, fossils, and petrified wood in Wyoming. In the table down below, you can see what other minerals can be found in Wyoming, and their exact locations. To gain permits for rockhounding in Wyoming, please check the BLM website here. They are widespread and fairly easy to find if you have a general idea of where to look. Fossil Butte National Monument NPS Public Domain Photo Places to Explore. Hello, I am John.As a little boy, I was fascinated by stones and liked to take them home. Goshen County is located in the southeastern end of Wyoming. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. Find out the differences between these two minerals in the article below:Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. Calcite for making lamps and also nice bots in roadside cut near Lander. (I do not live in the US right now.). Late Tertiary welded tuffs are known to crop out in Yellowstone, while volcanic breccia is typical here. 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. Check out my article about how to identify a geode. The Absaroka Mountains are an excellent place to explore. Petrified wood can be found in the Amethyst Mountains area of Yellowstone as well. Monthly educational meetings are held during the autumn and winter on the second Monday of every month. A number of the best locations are on private land, and while Ive gotten access from the owners, I cant list them here. Obsidian isnt listed here since we know how much rockhounds love this igneous rock, so let us talk about obsidian separately. TIP:Rockhounding is much easier when you use proper tools and equipment. 44 is recommended for this ingress, but if you access it from the table to the east, 44 is required. These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. Bookmarked. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. . Ill be adding to this in the coming years. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; My little girl loves rocks now (gems and fossils both). My kid loved exploring it with me. 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. 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. google_ad_width=120; Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. You can buy ithere(Amazon link). The True Worth of Agates. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. RedLong-duration hikes, typically 5+days. Files WYNF-0004_rockhounding (051418).pdf (PDF / 264 KB) Publication Date So, this saves us precious time. These rockhounding sights ofWyoming are mostly on public land but a good blm ownership map isrecommended allowing you to stay off private land. Fort Bridger, area gravels, streams, washes, etc. If you have a public-lands GPS map, you can proceed up the Plumbago Canyon road to the top, where people dont go, and find some nice specimens lying on the roadside. Fish fossils and some shark teeth near Farson, WY: 13.) It states that the road is very rough, and to not attempt it during a rain storm. You are sure welcome. Cracking them open reminds me of opening a Kinder-Egg with a surprise toy inside. In that case, you might want to explore the Kortes Dam area and the Sierra Madre Mountains. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; This place is located in the south part of Wyoming, and Albany County is located on its eastern side. Wyoming State Mineral & Gem Society You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. NPS Public Domain Photo. Zoom in for full list. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. Wyoming is also noted for its abundance of discovered meteorites. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The Wyoming State Mineral and Gem Society is an umbrella organization. google_ad_height=240; The Sierra Madre Mountains are noted for their jade findings too. 5 Crucial Signs. And if you have any tips (Ill keep your finds a secret! Proceed up canyon dirt road (12) until you reach the top plateau and it is flat. BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? Forgot username? They were easy to dig out of formation, but even more easily were found eroded perfectly on the surface. 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. Thanks again for this site. There are many rockhounding clubs in Wyoming so you can most likely find one you like nearby. BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Wyoming! Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. Obsidian is abundant in Yellowstone, with the most famous location being the Obsidian Cliff, located in the northwest part of the Park. Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. Follow the four-wheeler track down the mountain and into the badlands below. But where else can rockhounds explore, and what can they find? These are mostly comprised of old mining prospects, washes, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. Here, rockhounds can find some incredible specimens, including: The Casper Mountains contain chromite, feldspar, and beryl. "Rockhounding, Prospecting, and Fossil Hunting on the Shoshone National Forest" As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. google_ad_type="text_image"; Let me know if this is useful or if I can improve it in any way! 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. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. They are some of the most popular rocks to tumble, and its easy to see why with their intricate banding and unique designs. 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. As you can see, opals are found in many places in Wyoming, so let us dive into where to find chalcedony in Wyoming. (I do not live in the US right now.). google_ad_format="120x600_as"; Use caution. 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. I recommend accessing the area from highway 414 to the west, turning right just above Behunin Reservoir. 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 google_color_url="FFFFFF"; This book is a 6" x 9" paperback with 246 pages, descriptions, maps and photos. To get started, you can check out my recommended gear page which contains my full reviews for every Geologists favorite rock hammer and the best hiking backpack Ive ever owned. Buy on Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Manganese minerals or uranium minerals are found in the Wasatch Formation. Carbon County is also a famous location for rockhounding in Wyoming. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; Jades are present in Carbon County as well. That is partly because of about 50 percent of the state's public land. 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. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Rockhounds might find pegmatite within the Bighorn Range in Natrona County, while igneous rocks like pumice-pumice in the Split Rock area. Objective is to get to Road 4412. 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. You can find plenty of minerals in Wyoming, especially in the mountains, such as Casper Mountain, Absaroka Mountain, Laramie Range, or Medicine Bow Range.