Here, rockhounds can find agates. 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. Rockhounds can explore most of Wyoming's geologic products up close because over 50% of the state is public land! Lets dig in! or Forgot password? what are the host rocks associated with watermelon rock and the labradorite? 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. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) Meteorites have been found on a highway cut north of Laramie. They were easy to dig out of formation, but even more easily were found eroded perfectly on the surface. 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. The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; 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. Where are the best places for rockhounding in Wyoming? If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Gold can also be found in Park County, specifically the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas. google_color_link="000000"; In the Bighorn Range part of Natrona County, you may discover pegmatite, while the igneous rock pumice-pumicite is located in the Split Rock area of Natrona County. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle. Cryptocrystalline quartz varieties like agate, jasper, chalcedony, and petrified wood are prevalent over much of the region. google_ad_width=120; I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. However, that hasnt limited their successful innovation and progress. NPS Public Domain Photo. Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. Follow the road toward its terminus (going down toward a river) and easy, walk-in access is available. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Obsidian isnt listed here since we know how much rockhounds love this igneous rock, so let us talk about obsidian separately. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Fossils in the escarpment. Do NOT attempt unless dry. 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. I hope my articles will be useful to you. Keep me signed in. Quartz crystals, chalcedony, and vein moss agate occur along outcrops of the Bridger formation in the regions north of Sweetwater County. The Hot Park Area is near the Sierra Madre Mountains, and barite is commonly found a few miles southwest of Encampment. (Said Kimm-ur.). google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; The 75 sites described in this guide take you across the red desert to the high mountain majesty of the Big Horns and Wind Rivers as well as the geologic wonders of Yellowstone National Park. Thank you for your reply! //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. For all of my maps, you can use my maps page. Some of the most prominent metamorphic rocks in Wyoming are gneiss, marble, quartzite, schist, and slate, among many others. Wyoming is full of jades, mostly of the nephrite class, and the jadeite class, which sounds like something out of Star Wars. The majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous minerals, rocks, gemstones, and fossils. 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. Forgot username? They are most commonly found in gravels and the clays lining nearby streams. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Everyone enjoys the prospect of finding their very own geodes out in the wild, and its easy to see why. 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"; PurpleCamping, international trips; excursions. 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. It states that the road is very rough, and to not attempt it during a rain storm. Knightia Fish fossils are primarily uncovered in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. Thanks! This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. Most of the gold produced in Wyoming comes from the Atlantic City-South Pass-Sweetwater district. That was a joke. Wyoming is an incredible place for rockhounds. This site contains affiliate links to products. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! google_ad_height=240; Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. High-clearance only. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. Sign in to your account on ArcGIS Online. To get you started on prospecting, the Wyoming State Geological Survey has prepared a I hope this will make it a bit easier to find information on my Wyoming rockhounding pages. See my details at this link. WYOMING ROCKS AND MINERALS Description of the types of rocks and minerals found in wyoming. RedLong-duration hikes, typically 5+days. Files WYNF-0004_rockhounding (051418).pdf (PDF / 264 KB) Publication Date 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. Thats why I wrote an article about all helpful safety tips and more:PRO Tips for Beginner & Experienced Rockhounds + Safety Tips. 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. Peridot in ant hills and arroyos near Black Rock Butte. At the top of this small incline, make a right. 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. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) 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. at Cedar Mountain. Moonshine Arch near Vernal, UT along with a dinosaur track site at Red Fleet: 10.) Below you will find maps published by the Wyoming State Geological Survey. Hello and thank you for posting this information. This new version of the guide arranges the sites into counties and regions, with a different chapter for each county. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 4.) Im going to try and find a shark tooth location to surprise my husband. Places such as Fremont, Washakie, Sweetwater, Carbon, or Natrona County are where you can find jade, which is Wyomings official state gemstone. You may want to look in the Kortes Dam area or the Sierra Madre Mountains for jades. Library for the books I use when I go out rock hunting. Make a right on it. A majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous rocks, minerals, fossils, and gemstones. 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. Rock Hound Etiquette 7. Anyway, follow that Jeep trail down toward the bottom, where it first starts getting pretty flat, and youll find a ton of fossils. Here at Rockhounding Maps, we give you access and information to the best dig sites for crystals and minerals in Wyoming. But where else can rockhounds explore, and what can they find? However, lets talk about the 11 best places to rockhound in Wyoming. It is located in the northwestern part of Wyoming, and you can find amethyst, opals, and many other types of valuable gems and minerals. If youre looking to start collecting rocks in Wyoming, agates are a great place to start. Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. Fossil Butte National Monument NPS Public Domain Photo Places to Explore. 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. 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 majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Rockhounding Wyoming: A Guide to the State's Best Rockhounding Sites $24.95 This title will be released on July 1, 2023. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; Wyoming State Mineral & Gem Society Members can participate in outings, monthly meetings and be a part of a fantastic rockhounding community. It will turn slightly left for a short, steep incline. Rocks there have a different variety of lab than down below. The prominent minerals found in Wyoming are agates quite a variety of them, jades, opals, chalcedony, and other varieties of quartz crystals, among others. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. Other sources include: North Carolina Rockhounding Location Guide & Map, Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. Tip: Check out my Complete Rock Tumbling Guide to make your rocks and gemstones really shine! google_ad_width=120; amzn_assoc_asins = "B01IEX2TEO,B0002YWWVE,B08N41884X,B00A4H4ZQ4"; Hi!! It should be no surprise that there are several rockhound societies in Wyoming worth checking into. I lost service and I dont think I went to the exact location because I didnt see much there. Public access. This publication can be downloaded directly from the WSGS lol Thanks again! Triceratops fossils are mostly found in the Hell Creek Formation in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, eastern Wyoming. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; 11 Essential Rock Tumbling Tips - Get Better Results! you can access Utah rockhounding locations https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17-pa3pYy0AqN0D2Zh4cXklR9A7g&ll=39.483150381536596%2C-111.60763899999999&z=8. The ant hills are basically everywhere if you get out and walk around, and your biggest issue will most likely be needing 44 to get there, and especially across the creek to the north. I recommend walk-in access via the Radio Creek Road starting at a pullout located here. It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. 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. Sweetwater County is located in the southwestern part of Wyoming. Many other varieties of agates, jasper, petrified and opalized wood are also very commonly found in gravels and washes all over the state. Youll learn so much and get the experience you might miss out on if you were on your own. 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 For reference, Ive explored both directions in a small, Cheep Patriot [sic]. And of course, nephrite jade can be found in such abundance that it is Wyomings state gemstone. My neighbor and i hopefully will be heading out to Wyoming if our health is good, sometime this summer. 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. Speaking of Laramie, you can find in the Laramie Range amphibole, cordierite, epidote, orthoclase and plagioclase minerals, garnet, magnetite, and mica minerals, among many other materials. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. If you want to find sapphires, you may go to the Palmer Canyon in Albany. Only very minor surface mining has been done here. 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). google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Gemstones are some of the most enjoyable specimens that rockhounds can find, but its not always easy to know where to look. This way I can make arrangements to make trip as enjoyable and stress free as possible. If youre looking for gemstones and crystals, Wyoming is home to quite a few that will make good additions to your collection. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. Monthly educational meetings are held during the autumn and winter on the second Monday of every month. Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) If youre really nice and want a piece, maybe Ill send you some. Map of the area. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. Wyoming's Cultural Geology Guide, published by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (2015), provides an up-to-date, comprehensive list of Museums and sites that Black Rock itself is ultrapotassic and in the past (and even still now), shed peridot. The best place to rockhound in Wyoming is Fremont County where you can find nephrite jade and Turritella agates in relative abundance. Also lots of buzzworms. I had an odd experience last year. Note: stramatolites can be found in some washes at the base of the Pryors nearby. 15 Best Rocks & Minerals, Are Agates Valuable rocks? If you are interested in checking out the best book about rockhounding in Wyoming you can find it by clickinghere(Amazon link). This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. I find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. Use caution, be respectful, and play by whatever the rules are now. The GPS map below shows how I drove, as well as the two main places I walked which had good anthills. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. After a little bit it will split; right goes to Superior, and left goes to Winton. //-->,