wyoming rockhounding locations google maps wyoming rockhounding locations google maps

And you can typically find them laying around, but often youll have to pry open the rocks. Tip: Check out my Complete Rock Tumbling Guide to make your rocks and gemstones really shine! Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes; the cinders can be found at Black Rock, too. Wyoming rockhounding map on Google maps click link below. Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. You are sure welcome. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 4.) Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) I love finding agates because you never know what sort of beautiful patterns and colors they might contain. Forgot username? After a little bit it will split; right goes to Superior, and left goes to Winton. This area was explored by a South African diamond company briefly but nothing came of it. hobby, or education. 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. GreenDay hikes; can be done as overnights. Im here to serve you! Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. 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! Thats both an easy and challenging question since all of Wyoming is excellent for rockhounding enthusiasts. The Rocky Mountain area, the Encampment district in Carbon County, Hartville district, Platte County, the Copper Mountain district, Precambrian pegmatites in Fremont and Natrona Counties, the Black Mountain, and the Copper Mountain, The Eocene Wind River formation of the Gas Hills area, Fremont and Natrona Counties, the Shirley Basin area of Carbon County, the Fall River, and Lakota sandstones in the Black Hills area of Crook County, The Casper Mountain, Natrona County, Haystack Range, Goshen County, Laramie Range, Albany, and Laramie Counties, In Albany, Fremont, Johnson, Natrona, Washakie, and Weston Counties, north of Sundance in the Warren Peaks area of Crook County, In the Laramie Range, Albany and Platte Counties, the southern part of the Medicine Bow Range, Albany and Carbon Counties, the Copper Mountain area, The western half of the Bighorn Basin, of Bighorn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties, the area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties. A number of the best locations are on private land, and while Ive gotten access from the owners, I cant list them here. Follow the four-wheeler track down the mountain and into the badlands below. You can find them in volcanic conglomerates in the Tertiary rocks of the southern part of the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming. Late Tertiary welded tuffs are known to crop out in Yellowstone, while volcanic breccia is typical here. 15. Find out where to find minerals in Wyoming down below. Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest region of Yellowstone. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! Moonshine Arch near Vernal, UT along with a dinosaur track site at Red Fleet: 10.) What a great reason to go rockhounding. Rainbow agates are plentiful in the Wind River near Riverton, Fremont County. Wyoming is full of jades, mostly of the nephrite class, and the jadeite class, which sounds like something out of Star Wars. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. A lock ( Guide to Prospecting and Rock Hunting in Wyoming Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) Library for the books I use when I go out rock hunting. Most of the mining has been less than 20 feet . Note: magnetite is also present. . 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. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Members can expect various educational speakers and a lot of group interaction. Below is a list of rockhounding locations in wyoming with a description of the minerals found there and pictures. Rockhounding is incredible, but its even better when youre a member of a club or society. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. If you want to hunt for Jade in Wyoming, you can start from the northern part of the Granite Mountains, or to the south of Crooks Countys Gap-Green Mountain. Please direct technical questions (including broken links) about this Web site to webmaster@wsmgs.org. The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. This land is filled with hundreds of prospective rockhounding sites where you can find a nice variety of rocks and minerals including nephrite jade, azurite, quartz crystals, and unique varieties of agates. Should I be digging ? 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. Albany County is in the bottom eastern portion of Wyoming and borders the northern Colorado state line. google_ad_height=240; This club hosts multiple outings every month during the summer. I had an odd experience last year. I am wondering what it looks like on top of canyon. Kemmerer, all washes and draws over a large area, Owl Creek, in placers SE of Washakie Needles, Lander, area surface over a very large region, Laramie Mountains, draws and washes of eastern slopes, Seminoe Reservoir, all area draws and washes, Saratoga, area draws and washes N to Walcott, Poison Spider Creek, area washes and draws, Check out my article about how to identify a geode, Rockhounding on Public Land: Laws and Regulations, Can You Collect Rocks in State Parks? //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. The Rockhounding Wyoming guide book lists a spot just south of Cody. The state of Wyoming is noted for its copper minerals, lithium minerals, uranium minerals, feldspar minerals, manganese minerals, mica minerals, and quartz minerals. Zoom in for full list. They are widespread and fairly easy to find if you have a general idea of where to look. I hope this will make it a bit easier to find information on my Wyoming rockhounding pages. While you cant collect rocks within those parks, the fantastically complicated and gorgeous geology found within their borders is a testament to the complex geological history of the area. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Sadly, it is illegal to rockhound in Yellowstone National Park, but you can do it outside the area. Members have access to the Jade State Newsletter, containing news and updates on subjects concerning geology and mineralogy. Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! google_ad_width=120; TOP Pegmatite and sedimentary rocks such as bentonite are also found in Johnson County. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) or Forgot password? Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) TIP:Rockhounding is much easier when you use proper tools and equipment. Albany County is located in the bottom easter part of Wyoming, having its border with the northern Colorado state line. We also hope to find Jade on same trip. ROCK SHOWS Gem, mineral. As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. This will be our first time rock hounding Wyoming. Since rockhounds are highly prize geodes, we have made a special section on where to find these sedimentary rocks in Wyoming. The GemHunter (Dan Hausel) found peridot and garnets in the area, the latter of which can also be found NNW of Cedar Mountain. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Cody 59ers Rock Club was established in 1959 to help promote and share knowledge surrounding rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils through field trips. google_ad_format="120x600_as"; Sign in to your account on ArcGIS Online. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Veins of banded agate and drusy quartz occur in Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Platte County. . google_ad_height=600; At the top of this small incline, make a right. They are most commonly found in gravels and the clays lining nearby streams. Rockhounding Locations - Google My Maps Rockhounding Locations Rockhounding Locations Search Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More Calendar Translate Mobile Books. Palmer Canyon is the place to be if you want to find sapphire. (DO NOT TAKE ANY FOSSILS! circumstances since the article was originally published in 1989, it remains a valuable guide for anyone seeking additional resources in the pursuit of their interests, Precambrian metamorphic rocks are abundant in Wyoming. If you head to Copper Mountain, you might find some specimens like beryl, feldspar, lithium, magnetite, and manganese. Thats why I wrote an article about all helpful safety tips and more:PRO Tips for Beginner & Experienced Rockhounds + Safety Tips. Agates also happen to be some of the most commonly collected rocks in the United States, including Wyoming. at Cedar Mountain. google_ad_format="120x240_as"; Triceratops fossils are mostly found in the Hell Creek Formation in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, eastern Wyoming. Anyway, follow that Jeep trail down toward the bottom, where it first starts getting pretty flat, and youll find a ton of fossils. Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. 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. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. In the Absaroka Mountains, you may discover opal, galena, or molybdenite. Monthly educational meetings are held during the autumn and winter on the second Monday of every month. Thank you for your reply! I find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. Let me know if this is useful or if I can improve it in any way! Follow the road a short distance until it splits; stop at the fork and walk up the washed-out left road for a few hundred feet. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Please respect the claim owners rights and stay off active claims withoutpermission. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; Other sources include: North Carolina Rockhounding Location Guide & Map, Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. 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'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. Similar to what you explained looking for topaz in the Thomas range. Map of Locations 1.) There is plenty of BLM and National Forest land to collect on in Wyoming which is, in general, open for public use. 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. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. Agate, calcite-aragonite, copper minerals, and uranium minerals are found in Park County, located in the northwestern part of Wyoming. 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. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Cracking them open reminds me of opening a Kinder-Egg with a surprise toy inside. Im out of the US as I update this revision, so I dont have photos of the really good specimensgo figure. 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. 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. The best place to find geodes in Wyoming is in Box Elder Canyon near the town of Glenrock. This paper has an alternate location along the logging road. There are many rockhounding clubs in Wyoming so you can most likely find one you like nearby. In the table down below, you can see what other minerals can be found in Wyoming, and their exact locations. 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. If you want to find sapphires in Fremont, you should go to Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin. This interest of mine has lasted until today, so I decided to create this website. Buy on Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Members can participate in outings, monthly meetings and be a part of a fantastic rockhounding community. 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. Agates, copper minerals, uranium minerals, and calcite-aragonite can be found throughout Park County in northwestern Wyoming. Use caution. Obsidian is abundant in the park, with the most famous location to find these beauties being the Obsidian Cliff. As a group, members learn so much about the local geology and spend time sharing knowledge of lapidary techniques necessary to enhance the appearance of their finds. We are using my Subaru forester. There is of course another way to find larger pieces of peridot in the area. The pyroxene group of minerals is confined to Precambrian rocks and the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Absaroka Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Wyoming! Wall of crystals found hiking Big Balls of Cowtown Trail. The clamber down through the woods and thicket is well worth the spectacular site of the mountainous, artesian well. No rockhound excursion would be complete in Wyoming without exploring Yellowstone National Park. If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. However, Jade can be located in the Sweetwater River district, just southeast of the Wind River Mountains. Wyoming is home to a large array of rocks and minerals that will be of interest to the collector, some of which are fairly unique to the area. I have created guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; You can find pegmatites in the Haystack Range of Goshen County. Go to Albany County, since agates are commonly found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. Though there are many locations listed here, this list is far from exhaustive. The real gems that rockhounds are eager to get their hands on in Platte County are banded agates and drusy quartz specimens. In Johnson County, located in the north-central part of Wyoming, you can find agate. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you. Some people say that they have a lot of success near the reservoir, but this hasnt been too true for my family. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Western Wyoming is hard to beat if youre a rockhound. google_ad_height=240; that describes some of the most common rocks and minerals to be found in Wyoming, along with general localities in the state where they might be found. , Places to See Geologic Displays in Wyoming, Guide to Prospecting and Rock Hunting in Wyoming, "Rockhounding, Prospecting, and Fossil Hunting on the Shoshone National Forest". This area is very close to Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. TIP: Opal is a one-of-a-kind, highly valuable gemstone. High-clearance only. Atlantic City, area stream gravels, draws, etc. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Medicine Bow Mountains are excellent places to find slate, galena, beryl, barite, and platinum-sperrylite. Red Gulch Dino Track Site near Shell, WY: 8a.) Hi!! You can get an individual or family club membership at a low rate. First of all, check the Tertiary igneous rocks in the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas of Park County and the Black Hills area of northeastern Wyoming. Albany is among the best rock-hounding places in Wyoming since you can find various rocks and minerals. Quartz crystals are relatively abundant in the feldspar pits just south of Laramie. That was a joke. Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. Carbon County is also a famous location for rockhounding in Wyoming. In the charred areas with coal youll find petrified wood. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Lets dig in! It is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 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. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. I lost service and I dont think I went to the exact location because I didnt see much there. From beginners to advanced collectors, everyone will find something in Wyoming! Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Its located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. Knightia Fish fossils are primarily uncovered in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Petrified wood, Silicified wood, Quartz crystals, Agate (Turritella agate), Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Quartz crystals, Silicified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Silicified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Petrified wood, Agate, Jasper, Opalized wood, Silicified wood, Silicified algae, Agate (Turritella agate), Chalcedony, Jasper, Quartz crystals, Petrified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper (red, yellow), Quartzite, Agate (Turritella agate), Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Quartz crystals, Petrified wood, Silicified wood, Coffinite, Ilsemannite, Autunite, Pyrite, Uranophane, Uraninite, Cobaltite, Erythrite, Linnaeit, Pyrrhotite, Agate, Chalcedony, Gastroliths, Jasper, Petrified wood, Quartz crystals, Azurite, Bornite, Chalcocite, Chrysocolla, Malachite. Specimens may become depleted from other collectors, the location may have been built on or altered, locality information in literature may be inaccurate, and property ownership may have changed hands. Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. Rainbow agates are located along the Wind River near Riverton, in Fremont County. google_ad_width=120; The famous Triceratops fossils are plentiful in Wyoming; however, the Knightia Fish is the official state fossil of Wyoming. 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. google_color_link="000000"; Quartz crystals are typically found everywhere north of Saratoga along Highway 130 to Walcott Junction. Everyone enjoys the prospect of finding their very own geodes out in the wild, and its easy to see why. Petrified wood occurs in the Specimen Ridge and Amethyst Mountain area of Yellowstone. may be of interest to rockhounds. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; There are several excellent rockhound locations all throughout the state. 08-07-11 Elusive Wyoming fluorite specimens. The majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous minerals, rocks, gemstones, and fossils. 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. WYOMING ROCKS AND MINERALS Description of the types of rocks and minerals found in wyoming. We have listed each type of crystal in separate sections since we know how much you love them. In general, the best places to find crystals and gemstones in Wyoming are washes and draws across the western half of the state, particularly near Kemmerer, Atlantic City, and Rock Springs. Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. Pictures and notes on the fossils near Farson. While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! Objective is to get to Road 4412. TIP: A great deal of petrified wood is not suitable for rock tumbling or lapidary work because it has too many faults and fractures. google_ad_type="text_image"; 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. These gemstones are found throughout Wyoming in Albany, Carbon, Natrona, Park, Platte, and Fremont Counties. google_ad_type="text_image"; Is the watermelon rock you mentioned in article of the tourmaline family? 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). Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes. Rockhounds can explore most of Wyoming's geologic products up close because over 50% of the state is public land! If you have limited time and want to have the best chance of success, you might prefer to use either of these private areas which have fees associated: Both are located near Kemmerer! I'm starting with the most popular and working my way to the more obscure. No, this wont make you rich. Rockhounding Wyoming Table of Contents: About This Book ix. 2. Petrified wood can be found in the Amethyst Mountains area of Yellowstone as well. 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. See my hikes in to this area in the early spring, middle-summer, and late summer. My kid loved exploring it with me. For reference, Ive explored both directions in a small, Cheep Patriot [sic]. ), Check ant beds in this area for peridot and other little gems. LOCATIONS FOR ROCKHOUNDING IN WYOMING Includes descriptions and maps. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for jade findings. Also explore the WSMGS Topic Library for articles such as The Medicine Bow Mountains contain slate, platinum-sperrylite, galena, beryl, and barite. Fossil Butte National Monument Some areas of individual parks are legal to rockhound, but it all depends on the state. 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). Its water has provided food and habitat for humans and wildlife . The Bridger Formation in areas north of Wamsutter, Sweetwater County, and in an area north and east of Farson, Sweetwater, and Sublette counties, the western half of the Bighorn Basin of Bighorn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties, or the Steamboat Mountain in the Leucite Hills. Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook $19.73 A must have for every serious rockhound! I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. Agatized fossil shells near Rock Springs, WY: 14. Use this resource as a guide to get you started. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. I hope my articles will be useful to you. Despite the otherwise impressive rockhounding in Wyoming, geodes are a fairly rare occurrence in the state.