. Most of the gold produced in Wyoming comes from the Atlantic City-South Pass-Sweetwater district. Stream gravels, washes, and draws all over this region will have the potential to contain nephrite jade as well as agates and petrified wood. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. TIP:Agates are one of the most popular minerals among rockhounds in the United States. Monthly educational meetings are held during the autumn and winter on the second Monday of every month. Note: stramatolites can be found in some washes at the base of the Pryors nearby. If you want to dig for gems in Wyoming, Amethyst Mountain would be an excellent place to start. After a little bit it will split; right goes to Superior, and left goes to Winton. LOCATIONS FOR ROCKHOUNDING IN WYOMING Includes descriptions and maps. Below you will find maps published by the Wyoming State Geological Survey. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. We wont be over that area probably until June but I like to plan ahead. google_ad_width=120; You can purchase a Bighorn National Forest visitor map for $14 at ranger district offices in Buffalo, Greybull, and Sheridan. Follow the road toward its terminus (going down toward a river) and easy, walk-in access is available. Knightia Fish fossils are primarily uncovered in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. Congleton Hollow; Glass Buttes; Maury Mountain; Pigeon Springs; Skokomish River; . Goshen County is located in the southeastern end of Wyoming. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. My kid loved exploring it with me. Each of the included tracks will eventually have its own transcription of events. It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. Many other varieties of agates, jasper, petrified and opalized wood are also very commonly found in gravels and washes all over the state. LockA locked padlock You can get an individual or family club membership at a low rate. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Turritella agates are most commonly found in southwest Wyoming, especially near the town of Granger. There is nothing quite like uncovering a quartz crystal with a perfect termination or finding a beautiful agate that has been waiting in a river bank for you to come along and take it home. Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: 5.) This paper has an alternate location along the logging road. 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. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Should I be digging ? Im here to serve you! 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. To get you started on prospecting, the Wyoming State Geological Survey has prepared a Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) The best place to start is in Yellowstone National Park. However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; Quartz crystals are typically found everywhere north of Saratoga along Highway 130 to Walcott Junction. Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook $19.73 A must have for every serious rockhound! 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. The clamber down through the woods and thicket is well worth the spectacular site of the mountainous, artesian well. 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. It is located in the northwestern part of Wyoming, and you can find amethyst, opals, and many other types of valuable gems and minerals. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Western Wyoming is hard to beat if youre a rockhound. I am wondering what it looks like on top of canyon. Rockhounding Wyoming: A Guide to the State's Best Rockhounding Sites $24.95 This title will be released on July 1, 2023. ), let me know. google_ad_height=240; You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. Google Maps The majority of national parks located in the U.S. prohibit gem hunting/rockhounding. Obsidian is abundant in Yellowstone, with the most famous location being the Obsidian Cliff, located in the northwest part of the Park. Though there are many locations listed here, this list is far from exhaustive. While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps Luckily, Wyoming is a prime spot for hunting your own crystals and gemstones. If you want to find sapphires, you may go to the Palmer Canyon in Albany. That said, lab is pretty much a plagioclase feldspar. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; At the same time, some reports of meteorite findings are also standard in this region. This club hosts multiple outings every month during the summer. 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. Forgot username? I have written entire articles which cover the rockhounding laws and regulations for nearly every type of public land you can think of. BTW: Check out this amazing metal sign (Amazon link) which is perfect for everyone who loves rockhounding in Wyoming! Im going to try and find a shark tooth location to surprise my husband. 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. I recommend walk-in access via the Radio Creek Road starting at a pullout located here. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. These gemstones are found throughout Wyoming in Albany, Carbon, Natrona, Park, Platte, and Fremont Counties. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for its jade findings, while the mineral molybdenite is found in the Wind River Mountains. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. amzn_assoc_asins = "B01IEX2TEO,B0002YWWVE,B08N41884X,B00A4H4ZQ4"; Use caution. The real gems that rockhounds are eager to get their hands on in Platte County are banded agates and drusy quartz specimens. Membership is only $15 for adults 18 and up. The majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous minerals, rocks, gemstones, and fossils. (Rough Draft, 05/02/2021 Revision), Hiking and Adventure Map (Work in Progress). To this general information we might add: The article Places to See Geologic Displays in Wyoming Files WYNF-0004_rockhounding (051418).pdf (PDF / 264 KB) Publication Date Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. However, it is legal to hound the areas surrounding this famous park. If youre hoping to find agates in Albany County, check around Marshall in the northwestern region of the county. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Hi, do you have the gps coordinates for the peridot/ant hills? GreenDay hikes; can be done as overnights. They are widespread and fairly easy to find if you have a general idea of where to look. Can You Collect Rocks in State Parks? All 50 States Answered If youre looking to start collecting rocks in Wyoming, agates are a great place to start. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Wyoming Rockhounding Guide | Bureau of Land Management Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. So, this saves us precious time. 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. So where to rockbound in Wyoming, and what can you find? Let me know if this is useful or if I can improve it in any way! 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. Rockhounding Wyoming by Kenneth Graham. The prominent minerals found in Wyoming are agates quite a variety of them, jades, opals, chalcedony, and other varieties of quartz crystals, among others. Most of the collectible material in the area is in the quartz family. Rockhounds can find opal within the deposits associated with the parks hot springs. 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 may be of interest to rockhounds. Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. Check out how to cut and polish petrified wood in the article below:How To Cut & Polish Petrified Wood: Follow These 3 Steps. Im out of the US as I update this revision, so I dont have photos of the really good specimensgo figure. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. You can even find geodes in Wyoming. i am wondering if we can even make it to the top. Atlantic City, area stream gravels, draws, etc. Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map - Rockhound Resource The famous Triceratops fossils are plentiful in Wyoming; however, the Knightia Fish is the official state fossil of Wyoming. Hi!! This interest of mine has lasted until today, so I decided to create this website. google_color_link="000000"; Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) This collecting area contains several lithum enriched pegmatites. You can follow the formations exposure along a great length of the escarpment. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. Rockhounds might find pegmatite within the Bighorn Range in Natrona County, while igneous rocks like pumice-pumice in the Split Rock area. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. No rockhound excursion would be complete in Wyoming without exploring Yellowstone National Park. I'm starting with the most popular and working my way to the more obscure. The Hartville district within Platte County is said to contain some copper minerals. Google Maps Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: Winton petrified wood near Rock Springs, WY: Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: Red Gulch Dino Track Site near Shell, WY: Devils Kitchen walk-in access near Red Gulch, Wyoming: Moonshine Arch near Vernal, UT along with a dinosaur track site at Red Fleet: Blue forest petrified wood near Granger, WY: Fish fossils and some shark teeth near Farson, WY: Agatized fossil shells near Rock Springs, WY: Calcite for making lamps and also nice bots in roadside cut near Lander. I have tried to take care not to list locations within National Park boundaries since collecting is illegal there, but please remember that it is up to you to make sure you have permission to collect wherever you are. The Hartville district in Platte County may contain some copper minerals, while the kyanite is found 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. The Sublette County Rock Hounds Club is relatively new to the scene of formal rockhound organizations. You never know what type of crystals or patterns youre going to find inside and it makes them incredibly exciting. Hello and thank you for posting this information. 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). Thats why I wrote an article about all helpful safety tips and more:PRO Tips for Beginner & Experienced Rockhounds + Safety Tips. or Forgot password? 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? Thank you for sharing this! You can also find agatized and opalized wood specimens here. They are most commonly found in gravels and the clays lining nearby streams. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. Members can expect various educational speakers and a lot of group interaction. However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. Wyoming State Geological Survey A relatively large area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties also contains chalcedony. Suitable for the advanced backpacker. The relatively recent volcanic and metamorphic activity in Wyoming has given rise to many desirable and sought-after rocks and minerals, but it helps to have an idea of where to look and what to search for. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; In order to really find the good stuff in the main area, go on sunny day with a spray bottle, a rock hammer, chisel, and a 4-lb/10-lb sledge hammer. The GemHunter (Dan Hausel) found peridot and garnets in the area, the latter of which can also be found NNW of Cedar Mountain. Some of the more unique specimens you may be interested in are Turritella agates and nephrite jade which can both be found in relative abundance if you look in the right places. In the charred areas with coal youll find petrified wood. Quartz crystals are abundant in the feldspar pits south of Laramie. Its located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. Agatized fossil shells near Rock Springs, WY: 14. PDF Maps; Google Maps. Wyoming is full of jades, mostly of the nephrite class, and the jadeite class, which sounds like something out of Star Wars. Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. Wyoming Rockhound Locations Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. It is going to take me a while to get all the locations in here. The state of Wyoming is noted for its copper minerals, lithium minerals, uranium minerals, feldspar minerals, manganese minerals, mica minerals, and quartz minerals. Guide to Prospecting and Rock Hunting in Wyoming This publication can be downloaded directly from the WSGS Youll learn so much and get the experience you might miss out on if you were on your own. I have created guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day. The Wasatch Formation is a great place to find manganese and uranium minerals. 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. The Wyoming State Mineral and Gem Society is an umbrella organization. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. Where to Rockhound in Wyoming & What You Can Find 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. 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. (DO NOT TAKE ANY FOSSILS! Fish fossils and some shark teeth near Farson, WY: 13.) My neighbor and i hopefully will be heading out to Wyoming if our health is good, sometime this summer. Exploring the Laramie Mountain Range can lead to finding specimens like amphibole, epidote, plagioclase minerals, garnet, magnetite, and mica. The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. If you want to find sapphires in Fremont, you should go to Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin. The GPS map below shows how I drove, as well as the two main places I walked which had good anthills. In fact, everywhere in the blackened areas has petrified wood on both sides of the draw. She said she was looking for Sand People.. ArcGIS login. I find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. The ants use them for construction material. Fossil Butte National Monument You may also find gold along with parts of the Snake River in the southern part of Jackson Hole, northwest Wyoming. State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps No matter where you live in the U.S., there are likely many exciting rockhounding sites nearby. 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. hobby, or education. 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. Meteorites have been found on a highway cut north of Laramie. Gold can also be found in Park County, specifically the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas. Cancel. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. The entire region boasts many outcrops of bentonites, which are ash clay layers left over from ancient volcanic activity. Fossil Butte National Monument NPS Public Domain Photo Places to Explore. High-clearance only. Black jade can be found in Fremont County as well. I enjoy collecting and tumbling rocks with my daughter and traveling the world with my wife seeing geologic wonders. 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. Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list. Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! However, there are no charges for attending club-led outings, and you dont have to be a resident of Wyoming to join. 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. I cant tell you exactly where to go due to land-access issues. If you want to find nephrite-type jades in Carbon County, which is the state mineral of Wyoming, you may want to look in the Kortes Dam area or the Sierra Madre Mountains. WSMGS Affiliated Clubs when planning your visit. South of Douglas in Converse County is where you will find jade as well. This new version of the guide arranges the sites into counties and regions, with a different chapter for each county. google_color_link="000000"; 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. If you head to Copper Mountain, you might find some specimens like beryl, feldspar, lithium, magnetite, and manganese.