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Stream gravels, washes, and draws all over this region will have the potential to contain nephrite jade as well as agates and petrified wood. Here you can also find agatized and opalized wood, while agates are common a few miles west of Saratoga. The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. Rockhounding Locations - Google My Maps Do NOT attempt unless dry. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. 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. Quartz crystals are typically found everywhere north of Saratoga along Highway 130 to Walcott Junction. Albany County is located in the bottom easter part of Wyoming, having its border with the northern Colorado state line. . Google Maps Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. The Owl Creek Mountains, Fremont, and Hot Spring counties also have jade. Note: magnetite is also present. If youre unsure where to start, try looking into some of Wyomings rockhound clubs and societies. However, that hasnt limited their successful innovation and progress. An official website of the United States government. Obsidian is abundant in Yellowstone, with the most famous location being the Obsidian Cliff, located in the northwest part of the Park. A number of the best locations are on private land, and while Ive gotten access from the owners, I cant list them here. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. 2. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; google_color_url="FFFFFF"; State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps You are sure welcome. The GPS coordinate I put up is right by a place called Black Rock, which is an ultrapotassic, lamproite volcaniclastic exposure. Check out my article about how to identify a geode. Simple Explanation. Rockhounds can explore most of Wyoming's geologic products up close because over 50% of the state is public land! Wall of crystals found hiking Big Balls of Cowtown Trail. The Wyoming State Mineral and Gem Society is an umbrella organization. You can also find agates a few miles west of Saratoga, Carbon County. Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler. Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. 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 have several excellent locations to choose from in Wyoming. Thats one of the reasons why you can quite a lot of fake ones for sale. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. amzn_assoc_linkid = "aac5e87b1ca95eb9841c18e11fbbd48f"; Devils Kitchen walk-in access near Red Gulch, Wyoming: 9.) A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. Go north on 191, take a right on the dirt road (GPS should lead you there), continue on dirt road until you see a sign that is marked for Winton and Superior. You may also find gold along with parts of the Snake River in the southern part of Jackson Hole, northwest Wyoming. Rockhounds can find opal within the deposits associated with the parks hot springs. 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. Places such as Fremont, Washakie, Sweetwater, Carbon, or Natrona County are where you can find jade, which is Wyomings official state gemstone. Hi, do you have the gps coordinates for the peridot/ant hills? I cant tell you exactly where to go due to land-access issues. A relatively large area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties also contains chalcedony. Is the watermelon rock you mentioned in article of the tourmaline family? 44 is recommended for this ingress, but if you access it from the table to the east, 44 is required. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes; the cinders can be found at Black Rock, too. In the table down below, you can see what other minerals can be found in Wyoming, and their exact locations. 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. 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. Note: stramatolites can be found in some washes at the base of the Pryors nearby. Tip: Check out my Complete Rock Tumbling Guide to make your rocks and gemstones really shine! But where else can rockhounds explore, and what can they find? Veins of banded agate and drusy quartz occur in Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Platte County. While much of the region is difficult to access, a large portion of the land is managed by the National Forest Service and is largely open to the public for collecting. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. Member Clubs can be found in Casper, Big Piney, Cody, Cheyenne, Gillette, Riverton, Powell, and Torrington. However, Jade can be located in the Sweetwater River district, just southeast of the Wind River Mountains. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17-pa3pYy0AqN0D2Zh4cXklR9A7g&ll=39.483150381536596%2C-111.60763899999999&z=8, Rated R and 5 Stars: Septoplasty and More, Review: Green River Lakes Campground and Kayaking Green River, Wyoming, Review: Fun Overnight Hike to Powell Lakes, Wyoming, Review: Brewster, Lunch, & Shoal Lakes via Big Balls of Cowtown Trail. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; You can buy ithere(Amazon link). 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. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. Youll learn so much and get the experience you might miss out on if you were on your own. HOME 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. The road is really easy going, but the locals arent friendly, even by my states standards. Becoming a member of one or more clubs or societies comes with a wealth of benefits. As you tour the State of Wyoming, feel free to contact any of the Sign in to your account on ArcGIS Online. The best place to rockhound in Wyoming is Fremont County where you can find nephrite jade and Turritella agates in relative abundance. 130 to Walcott Junction. I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. In Sweetwater County, west of Wamsutter along the old road to Baggs, the Green River Basin is plentiful in agates. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! Exploring the Laramie Mountain Range can lead to finding specimens like amphibole, epidote, plagioclase minerals, garnet, magnetite, and mica. There are a couple of metamorphic rocks that you can find in the state of Wyoming. 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. If you head to Copper Mountain, you might find some specimens like beryl, feldspar, lithium, magnetite, and manganese. Their annual Mineral and Gem Show is a massive hit with members and anyone interested in the field of topics. If youre looking for gemstones and crystals, Wyoming is home to quite a few that will make good additions to your collection. And if you have any tips (Ill keep your finds a secret! 1.) The Great Wyoming Rockhounding Page!! - Google Fossil Butte National Monument NPS Public Domain Photo Places to Explore. The specimens found here vary from blue, and light gray, to deep colors such as violet. You can also usually get the landowners name and address by visiting the county records office. That is partly because of about 50 percent of the states public land. TIP: Geodes can form anywhere in the world, but they do not form at random. Through quite a bit of research and cross-referencing of available literature, I have compiled this list of some prospective locations in Wyoming which I would recommend to people looking to do some rockhounding. Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? Fremont County, washes and draws in extreme SE corner, Wind River and tributaries, in gravels near Riverton, Warm Springs, area draws and hills over a large area, Rattlesnake Mountain, area N of Shoshone River, Sweetwater County, all area outcrops of Green River formation, Rock Springs, washes and draws over large area to E, Blacks Fork Creek, NE corner of Uinta County. And of course, nephrite jade can be found in such abundance that it is Wyomings state gemstone. If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. PDF BLM Wyoming Rockhounding on Public Lands - Bureau of Land Management I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. 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. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list. google_ad_type="text_image"; Quartz crystals are relatively abundant in the feldspar pits just south of Laramie. ROCK SHOWS Gem, mineral. To this general information we might add: The article Places to See Geologic Displays in Wyoming Posted on Published: September 29, 2020- Last updated: July 26, 2022. popular museums of interest to rockhounders, places to visit, and rockhounding sites for children and families. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. Beryl, columbite-tantalite, copper minerals, feldspar minerals, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, and mica minerals may be found in Copper Mountain in Fremont County. 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. Let us begin with gems. The most commonly found gems and crystals in Wyoming are quartz and feldspar, but you can also find many others including garnet, tourmaline, and opal. 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. Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. Hi Frank. Geodes can also reportedly be found in gravels in the southern reaches of the Absaroka mountain range. Rainbow agates are plentiful in the Wind River near Riverton, Fremont County. Wyoming State Mineral & Gem Society We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. This club hosts multiple outings every month during the summer. 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. Peridot in ant hills and arroyos near Black Rock Butte. We also hope to find Jade on same trip. Rockhounding Site And Information Near Me (Clickable Map) Everyone enjoys the prospect of finding their very own geodes out in the wild, and its easy to see why. The prominent minerals found in Wyoming are agates quite a variety of them, jades, opals, chalcedony, and other varieties of quartz crystals, among others. No, this wont make you rich. Membership is only $15 for adults 18 and up. Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) 5 Crucial Signs. Public access with nice walk in. Black Rock itself is ultrapotassic and in the past (and even still now), shed peridot. You never know what type of crystals or patterns youre going to find inside and it makes them incredibly exciting. google_ad_format="120x600_as"; Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) Johnson County is located in north-central Wyoming. Teepee Canyon Agates 13. I recommend accessing the area from highway 414 to the west, turning right just above Behunin Reservoir. These rockhounding sights of Wyoming are mostly on public land but a good. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) The Riverton Mineral and Gem Society is an organization for people of all ages and experience levels. That is partly because of about 50 percent of the state's public land. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. Rockhounding Near Me: Best Locations State-by-State (Map) Thanks!! BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? Anyway, follow that Jeep trail down toward the bottom, where it first starts getting pretty flat, and youll find a ton of fossils. google_ad_width=120; During my brief exploration, I didnt have time to find the gems, but did get diverted by the thousands of exposed fossils. Meteorites have been found on a highway cut north of Laramie. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. LOCATIONS FOR ROCKHOUNDING IN WYOMING Includes descriptions and maps. Similar to what you explained looking for topaz in the Thomas range. Obsidian isnt listed here since we know how much rockhounds love this igneous rock, so let us talk about obsidian separately. This way I can make arrangements to make trip as enjoyable and stress free as possible. Should I be digging ? This will be our first time rock hounding Wyoming. This region is full of mica minerals, phonolite, pumice, and Wyomingite in the Leucite Hills area. Most of the collectible material in the area is in the quartz family. 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 . Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. Proceed up canyon dirt road (12) until you reach the top plateau and it is flat. Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. 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. 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. When you look for it, it often just looks like ugly, whiteish or greyish rocks. This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. Black jade can be found in Fremont County as well. I found this book very useful and clearly written. You can purchase a Bighorn National Forest visitor map for $14 at ranger district offices in Buffalo, Greybull, and Sheridan. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. The most commonly found and collected rocks and minerals in Wyoming are: If youve already found a rock and youre not sure what it is, I would highly recommend checking out my Practical Rock Identification System.