She said she was looking for Sand People.. As for what you should be looking for, the following link provides better examples than I have (since Im on my phone). To this general information we might add: The article Places to See Geologic Displays in Wyoming Places for rockhounds to explore in Wyoming. Johnson County is located in north-central Wyoming. The state of Wyoming is noted for its copper minerals, lithium minerals, uranium minerals, feldspar minerals, manganese minerals, mica minerals, and quartz minerals. Quartz crystals are relatively abundant in the feldspar pits just south of Laramie. Red Gulch Dino Track Site near Shell, WY: 8a.) Also explore the WSMGS Topic Library for articles such as may be of interest to rockhounds. If youre unsure where to start, try looking into some of Wyomings rockhound clubs and societies. google_ad_width=120; //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! Rockhounds can find opal within the deposits associated with the parks hot springs. To get you started on prospecting, the Wyoming State Geological Survey has prepared a Find out how these beautiful minerals are formed and more in this article:What Is Agate And How Do Agates Form? The Sierra Madre Mountains are noted for their jade findings too. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. In fact, everywhere in the blackened areas has petrified wood on both sides of the draw. However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. An official website of the United States government. ArcGIS login. I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. 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. That is partly because of about 50 percent of the states public land. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. google_ad_type="text_image"; The road is really easy going, but the locals arent friendly, even by my states standards. It will turn slightly left for a short, steep incline. Quartz crystals, chalcedony, and vein moss agate occur along outcrops of the Bridger formation in the regions north of Sweetwater County. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. The famous Triceratops fossils are plentiful in Wyoming; however, the Knightia Fish is the official state fossil of Wyoming. This site contains affiliate links to products. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. Petrified wood can be found in the Amethyst Mountains area of Yellowstone as well. While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. 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. 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. Continue on the main path to Winton, Follow it. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; They were easy to dig out of formation, but even more easily were found eroded perfectly on the surface. Thanks! Clear chalcedony and vein moss agate occur along this countys outcrops of the Bridger Formation. In Johnson County, located in the north-central part of Wyoming, you can find agate. TIP:Feldspar minerals are very common in Wyoming. Note: stramatolites can be found in some washes at the base of the Pryors nearby. We wont be over that area probably until June but I like to plan ahead. If you want to find sapphires in Fremont, you should go to Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin. Joining up with a local rockhounding club for a group trip can often get you access to otherwise off-limits locations like privately owned mines and quarries. If youre looking for individual hiking tracks (rather than single-point GPS data), please see my GaiaGPS page, which is hosted off-site, and is free. Moonshine Arch near Vernal, UT along with a dinosaur track site at Red Fleet: 10.) Should I be digging ? They are some of the most popular rocks to tumble, and its easy to see why with their intricate banding and unique designs. As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Rock Hound Etiquette 7. 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. Other sources include: North Carolina Rockhounding Location Guide & Map, Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. TOP Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. You can buy ithere(Amazon link). The GPS map below shows how I drove, as well as the two main places I walked which had good anthills. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; was featured in the November 2012 issue of Jade State News. The real gems that rockhounds are eager to get their hands on in Platte County are banded agates and drusy quartz specimens. I am in Farson WY and went to check out the fish fossil/shark tooth location listed. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. you can access Utah rockhounding locations https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17-pa3pYy0AqN0D2Zh4cXklR9A7g&ll=39.483150381536596%2C-111.60763899999999&z=8. google_ad_type="text_image"; This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. Ill be adding to this in the coming years. Still, if you know where to look you may be able to find one for your collection. Since rockhounds are highly prize geodes, we have made a special section on where to find these sedimentary rocks in Wyoming. popular museums of interest to rockhounders, places to visit, and rockhounding sites for children and families. This area is very close to Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite. However, there was some trouble with this in the recent past. 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. Carbon County is also a famous location for rockhounding in Wyoming. Public access. But where else can rockhounds explore, and what can they find? For reference, Ive explored both directions in a small, Cheep Patriot [sic]. (I do not live in the US right now.). google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; If you sign up for GaiaGPS (free, takes about 2 clicks, and Ive never gotten mail from them, as its a husband+wife team that runs it), you can download the GPS data in the map to use on your phone or to import to Google Earth. I hope my articles will be useful to you. If you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! Exploring the Laramie Mountain Range can lead to finding specimens like amphibole, epidote, plagioclase minerals, garnet, magnetite, and mica. Check out recommended tools for rockhounding here:Recommended tools and equipment for rockhounding, What Rocks Are Good For Tumbling? You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. In fact, Wyoming is home to a unique variety of agate called Turritella agate that is extremely popular with local collectors. This paper has an alternate location along the logging road. You can also find agatized and opalized wood specimens here. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; google_ad_format="120x240_as"; Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Im going to try and find a shark tooth location to surprise my husband. 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. It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. The Hartville district in Platte County may contain some copper minerals, while the kyanite is found 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. If you want to find agates in Albany, they are usually found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. Agatized fossil shells near Rock Springs, WY: 14. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; The 12 Best Places to See Lava (With Helpful Tips) //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. I love finding agates because you never know what sort of beautiful patterns and colors they might contain. Wyoming isnt just rich in rocks and minerals; it also has gold, fossils, and petrified wood. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Where are the best places for rockhounding in Wyoming? 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. Fort Bridger, area gravels, streams, washes, etc. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; 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. The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. at Cedar Mountain. (DO NOT TAKE ANY FOSSILS! Here, rockhounds can find agates. I will update this to add many locations as I am able, but its one of my lower priorities. Beryl, columbite-tantalite, copper minerals, feldspar minerals, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, and mica minerals may be found in Copper Mountain in Fremont County. Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. Cody 59ers Rock Club was established in 1959 to help promote and share knowledge surrounding rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils through field trips. lol Thanks again! However, Jade can be located in the Sweetwater River district, just southeast of the Wind River Mountains. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. I found this book very useful and clearly written. BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? Theyre excellent for novices and experts alike, not to mention the members can likely share some of the lesser-known locations. This collecting area contains several lithum enriched pegmatites. 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. Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres. Wyoming is an incredible place for rockhounds. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. Forgot username? 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. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. Turritella agates are most commonly found in southwest Wyoming, especially near the town of Granger. Youll see a lot of shining material along the tops of the exposure, but unless you really want some trona, you can ignore it. Sadly, it is illegal to rockhound in Yellowstone National Park, but you can do it outside the area. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. I cant thank you enough! This book is a 6" x 9" paperback with 246 pages, descriptions, maps and photos. Rockhounding is incredible, but its even better when youre a member of a club or society. Despite the otherwise impressive rockhounding in Wyoming, geodes are a fairly rare occurrence in the state. In the charred areas with coal youll find petrified wood. Peridot in ant hills and arroyos near Black Rock Butte. Lots of sand. In the Absaroka Mountains, you may discover opal, galena, or molybdenite. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. as well as detailed information that will interest any rockhound. Here you can also find agatized and opalized wood, while agates are common a few miles west of Saratoga. The Owl Creek Mountains, Fremont, and Hot Spring counties also have jade. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. 19. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) Agates, copper minerals, uranium minerals, and calcite-aragonite can be found throughout Park County in northwestern Wyoming. The Wasatch Formation is a great place to find manganese and uranium minerals. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments section below. Zoom in for full list. Hello, I am John.As a little boy, I was fascinated by stones and liked to take them home. You may want to look in the Kortes Dam area or the Sierra Madre Mountains for jades. 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. Sign In. //-->,
