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. See my hikes in to this area in the early spring, middle-summer, and late summer. I would probably start by contacting the assessor in whatever county youre interested in and getting whatever contact information you can for the landowner. Im here to serve you! The real gems that rockhounds are eager to get their hands on in Platte County are banded agates and drusy quartz specimens. Rockhounding Wyoming by Kenneth Graham. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. Rockhounds might find pegmatite within the Bighorn Range in Natrona County, while igneous rocks like pumice-pumice in the Split Rock area. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Sweetwater County is located in the southwestern part of Wyoming. Palmer Canyon is the place to be if you want to find sapphire. Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. Let us begin with gems. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. If you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! Where are the best places for rockhounding in Wyoming? amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; google_color_url="FFFFFF"; google_ad_format="120x240_as"; We wont be over that area probably until June but I like to plan ahead. At the top of this small incline, make a right. You can find these in the Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Wyoming. TIP: Geodes can form anywhere in the world, but they do not form at random. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. I spent about an hour at this location, and . amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; The specimens found here vary from blue, and light gray, to deep colors such as violet. Wolsey Shale yields abundant articulated trilobites (Albertella helena, Kochina gordonensis, Strotocephalus gordonensis, Ptarmigania gordonensis, and Vanuxemella contracta), as well as brachiopods (Acrothele colleni and Micromitra scuptilis) and hyoliths (Hyolithus convexus). Not a member of this organization? The Wasatch Formation is a great place to find manganese and uranium minerals. Meteorites have been found on a highway cut north of Laramie. If youre looking to start collecting rocks in Wyoming, agates are a great place to start. This article will dive deeper into the many great rockhounding sites across the state (along with maps), but Id like to highlight a few standouts here. Fish fossils and some shark teeth near Farson, WY: 13.) Find out where to find minerals in Wyoming down below. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. That said, lab is pretty much a plagioclase feldspar. Some areas of individual parks are legal to rockhound, but it all depends on the state. google_ad_width=120; Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. This paper has an alternate location along the logging road. 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! . For all of my maps, you can use my maps page. Quartz crystals are relatively abundant in the feldspar pits just south of Laramie. Fossil Butte National Monument These are mostly comprised of old mining prospects, washes, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) i am wondering if we can even make it to the top. google_ad_width=120; Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook $19.73 A must have for every serious rockhound! Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for jade findings. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; If you want to find gemstones, such as amethyst, a great place in Park County is Amethyst Mountain. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. Despite the otherwise impressive rockhounding in Wyoming, geodes are a fairly rare occurrence in the state. (I do not live in the US right now.). The 12 Best Places to See Lava (With Helpful Tips) Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. As you can see, opals are found in many places in Wyoming, so let us dive into where to find chalcedony in Wyoming. 15 Best Rocks & Minerals, Are Agates Valuable rocks? Note: stramatolites can be found in some washes at the base of the Pryors nearby. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; 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. The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. Various outcrops along the road contain specimens. I have created guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day. The True Worth of Agates. 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. This is where the famous Yellowstone National Park is located, which stretches for more than 2 million acres. In Sweetwater County, west of Wamsutter along the old road to Baggs, the Green River Basin is plentiful in agates. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. Other great places to find opals are the Absaroka Mountains, which are in the area of northwest Wyoming, near Smith Creek in Carbon County, or near Lusk in Niobrara County. (Said Kimm-ur.). I f you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! The GemHunter (Dan Hausel) found peridot and garnets in the area, the latter of which can also be found NNW of Cedar Mountain. There are many rockhounding clubs in Wyoming so you can most likely find one you like nearby. 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. 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. My best to you and your family. The Hartville district within Platte County is said to contain some copper minerals. Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. The Triceratops was designated as the official state dinosaur of Wyoming in 1994, while the Knightia Fish gained the status of state fossil in 1987. Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) google_ad_height=600; We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for its jade findings, while the mineral molybdenite is found in the Wind River Mountains. You may also find gold along with parts of the Snake River in the southern part of Jackson Hole, northwest Wyoming. NOTE! 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. When you look for it, it often just looks like ugly, whiteish or greyish rocks. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; It will turn slightly left for a short, steep incline. This is missing a ton of great places, but I do update it every few months with a new location or two from my past explorations. You can get an individual or family club membership at a low rate. 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. Rockhounds have several excellent locations to choose from in Wyoming. BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? Check out the table below to find where to find the more important metamorphic rocks in the state of Wyoming. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; Its located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. Down below is where you will find out where to find gold, fossils, and petrified wood in Wyoming. Manganese minerals or uranium minerals are found in the Wasatch Formation. may be of interest to rockhounds. Note: magnetite is also present. The Medicine Bow Mountains contain slate, platinum-sperrylite, galena, beryl, and barite. Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres. Sapphires and other treasures lie north of Yellowstone. However, there are no charges for attending club-led outings, and you dont have to be a resident of Wyoming to join. Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) Find out the differences between these two minerals in the article below:Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? google_color_border="1B1B1B"; The majority of national parks located in the U.S. prohibit gem hunting/rockhounding. For reference, Ive explored both directions in a small, Cheep Patriot [sic]. 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 GPS coordinate I put up is right by a place called Black Rock, which is an ultrapotassic, lamproite volcaniclastic exposure. TIP:Dont forget to follow all the safety recommendations when rockhounding because your health is always the most important. Peridot in ant hills and arroyos near Black Rock Butte. The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links): How can we talk about rockhounding in Wyoming and not mention the famous Yellowstone National Park? Teepee Canyon Agates 13. 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. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. Hi!! This publication can be downloaded directly from the WSGS Library for the books I use when I go out rock hunting. Wyomings state gemstone, nephrite, can primarily be found in Fremont County, particularly in the large area centered around the towns of Lander and Atlantic City. Tom, this is an AMAZING resource. Exploring the Laramie Mountain Range can lead to finding specimens like amphibole, epidote, plagioclase minerals, garnet, magnetite, and mica. This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. Check out how to cut and polish petrified wood in the article below:How To Cut & Polish Petrified Wood: Follow These 3 Steps. Go to Albany County, since agates are commonly found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. In Wyoming, you can find sedimentary rocks such as bentonite, chert, coal, concretion-geode, conglomerate, gypsum, limestone-dolomite, oil shale, shale, taconite, or trona, among many others. Thats both an easy and challenging question since all of Wyoming is excellent for rockhounding enthusiasts. 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. TIP:Agates are one of the most popular minerals among rockhounds in the United States. Still, if you know where to look you may be able to find one for your collection. Knightia Fish fossils are primarily uncovered in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. | google_ad_format="120x600_as"; The Hot Park Area is near the Sierra Madre Mountains, and barite is commonly found a few miles southwest of Encampment. The state fossil Knightia-fish is located in the Green Fiver Formation of Wyoming. The Wiggins and Late Basic Breccia formations in the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming are also great for finding obsidian, but you should check the regulations before you attempt this. An official website of the United States government. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. 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. 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. If you want to find geodes in Wyoming, you should look for places with many sedimentary rocks, such as in the beds of the conglomerate, which crop out throughout the state. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks again for this site. The clamber down through the woods and thicket is well worth the spectacular site of the mountainous, artesian well. The famous Triceratops fossils are plentiful in Wyoming; however, the Knightia Fish is the official state fossil of Wyoming. Map of Locations 1.) Rockhounding in eastern Wyoming offers a lot of opportunities to find a wide variety of rocks and minerals. Here are 10 of the best rockhounding sites for rocks and minerals in Montana: Crystal Park - Amethyst, Quartz crystals Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine - Sapphire Jefferson River - Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper American Bar - Sapphire, Garnet, Kyanite Yellowstone River, Custer County - Moss Agate Pryor Mountains - Agate, Geodes, Fossils Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler. The Riverton Mineral and Gem Society is an organization for people of all ages and experience levels. Forgot username? 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. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! If youre hoping to find agates in Albany County, check around Marshall in the northwestern region of the county. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) Rockhounds can find opal within the deposits associated with the parks hot springs. 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. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you. And you can typically find them laying around, but often youll have to pry open the rocks. Albany County is in the bottom eastern portion of Wyoming and borders the northern Colorado state line.
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