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. . Afton Canyon is one of only three places where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round in the Mojave Desert. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Im out of the US as I update this revision, so I dont have photos of the really good specimensgo figure. ), Check ant beds in this area for peridot and other little gems. 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. Simple Explanation, 8 Factors Why Opal is Valuable (Prices for Different Types), How To Cut & Polish Petrified Wood: Follow These 3 Steps, Recommended tools and equipment for rockhounding, Commonly found in the Paleozoic rocks, the Permian Phosporia formation, and the Mississippian Madison limestone, The northwest city of Cody and the Lovell town in Big Horn County, The Spirit Mountain Cavern, located west of Cody, along the Yellowstone Highway, The Eocene Green River Formation of southwestern Wyoming, or the town of Green River, Very common in all of the Precambrian mountain cores of Wyoming, On the west of Jay Em in Muskrat Canyon area of Goshen County, about 15 miles west of Wheatland, in the Marble Canyon area of Platte County, in the Medicine Bow Mountains of Albany and Carbon Counties, the Bighorn Mountains, near Douglas, in Converse County, and from the west flank of the Black Hills in Crook County, The Copper Mountain, Freemont County, in the Laramie Range of Albany and Converse counties, the Lewiston area of Fremont County, and the Bighorn Mountains area of Washakie County, Almost in all of the Precambrian pegmatites of Wyoming, Albany County, Carbon County, or 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. Members can participate in outings, monthly meetings and be a part of a fantastic rockhounding community. Public access. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. Garnets near Custer 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. Each of the included tracks will eventually have its own transcription of events. I cant thank you enough! 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. Phosphate rock is also located here. The famous Triceratops fossils are plentiful in Wyoming; however, the Knightia Fish is the official state fossil of Wyoming. 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. 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). Check out the table below to find where to find the more important metamorphic rocks in the state of Wyoming. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In general, the best places to find agates in Wyoming are in gravels and washes, particularly in Sweetwater County, Fremont County, and along the Sweetwater and Wind Rivers. Rockhounding Wyoming by Kenneth Graham. 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. You can probably find it just about anywhere in the area, though I had good success looking along the eastern flank of Black Rock. The Sand Creek and Red Buttes areas of Albany County are full of sedimentary rocks. HOME These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! 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. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes. Lots of sand. 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. Wyoming is among the best rockhounding places in the U.S., and this is partly because around 50% of its lands are public! Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. LockA locked padlock The prominent minerals found in Wyoming are agates quite a variety of them, jades, opals, chalcedony, and other varieties of quartz crystals, among others. 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. You can follow the formations exposure along a great length of the escarpment. The road is really easy going, but the locals arent friendly, even by my states standards. It should be no surprise that there are several rockhound societies in Wyoming worth checking into. 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 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; just get the KML file. Use caution, be respectful, and play by whatever the rules are now. 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. (I do not live in the US right now.). at Cedar Mountain. 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. I hope my articles will be useful to you. Enter your email address to subscribe to this the content of this site, some of which, we hear, is worthwhile. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. RedLong-duration hikes, typically 5+days. That is partly because of about 50 percent of the state's public land. here. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. Rockhound Trip report spring 2008. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17-pa3pYy0AqN0D2Zh4cXklR9A7g&ll=39.483150381536596%2C-111.60763899999999&z=8, Rated R and 5 Stars: Septoplasty and More, Review: Green River Lakes Campground and Kayaking Green River, Wyoming, Review: Fun Overnight Hike to Powell Lakes, Wyoming, Review: Brewster, Lunch, & Shoal Lakes via Big Balls of Cowtown Trail. 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. However, that hasnt limited their successful innovation and progress. GreenDay hikes; can be done as overnights. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; google_ad_width=120; See my hikes in to this area in the early spring, middle-summer, and late summer. Bookmarked. Quartz crystals are abundant in the feldspar pits south of Laramie. 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 also find agates a few miles west of Saratoga, Carbon County. Public access with nice walk in. WYOMING ROCKS AND MINERALS Description of the types of rocks and minerals found in wyoming. Thanks! Tip: Not sure if the rock youve found is a geode? The ants use them for construction material. 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. Follow the dirt roads toward and past the water tower on the ridge. Black Rock itself is ultrapotassic and in the past (and even still now), shed peridot. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for its jade findings, while the mineral molybdenite is found in the Wind River Mountains. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; google_color_link="000000"; 15. At the top of this small incline, make a right. And you can typically find them laying around, but often youll have to pry open the rocks. This publication can be downloaded directly from the WSGS The specimens found here vary from blue, and light gray, to deep colors such as violet. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Im going to try and find a shark tooth location to surprise my husband. That said, lab is pretty much a plagioclase feldspar. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. While there may have been changes in hours of public viewing, business location and/or other Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! Fossil Mountain & Darby Wind Cave near Jackson, WY: 8.) Their annual Mineral and Gem Show is a massive hit with members and anyone interested in the field of topics. 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. Petrified wood occurs in the Specimen Ridge and Amethyst Mountain area of Yellowstone. 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. This club hosts multiple outings every month during the summer. However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. Sapphires and other treasures lie north of Yellowstone. The entire region boasts many outcrops of bentonites, which are ash clay layers left over from ancient volcanic activity. google_color_link="000000"; My best to you and your family. We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting. The Wyoming State Mineral and Gem Society is an umbrella organization. I cant tell you exactly where to go due to land-access issues. Check out how valuable different types of opal can be in the article below:8 Factors Why Opal is Valuable (Prices for Different Types). In the charred areas with coal youll find petrified wood. If you want to find agates in Albany, they are usually found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. 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. Anyway, follow that Jeep trail down toward the bottom, where it first starts getting pretty flat, and youll find a ton of fossils. what are the host rocks associated with watermelon rock and the labradorite? google_color_link="000000"; 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. Fossils in the escarpment. See my details at this link. Some people say that they have a lot of success near the reservoir, but this hasnt been too true for my family. Its water has provided food and habitat for humans and wildlife . They are most commonly found in gravels and the clays lining nearby streams. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) If you want to find sapphires, you may go to the Palmer Canyon in Albany. This collecting area contains several lithum enriched pegmatites. Thanks again for this site. google_color_border="1B1B1B"; Agates also happen to be some of the most commonly collected rocks in the United States, including Wyoming. No rockhound excursion would be complete in Wyoming without exploring Yellowstone National Park. Places such as Fremont, Washakie, Sweetwater, Carbon, or Natrona County are where you can find jade, which is Wyomings official state gemstone. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. I f you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! 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? Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! google_color_url="FFFFFF"; There are several excellent rockhound locations all throughout the state. In that case, you might want to explore the Kortes Dam area and the Sierra Madre Mountains. A relatively large area between Labarge and Granger, Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta Counties also contains chalcedony. 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. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. You can find agate, allanite, lithium minerals, magnetite, manganese minerals, uranium minerals, and bentonite. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. was featured in the November 2012 issue of Jade State News. You can get an individual or family club membership at a low rate. 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. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 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 lost service and I dont think I went to the exact location because I didnt see much there. 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. 17. However, there was some trouble with this in the recent past. Other sources include: North Carolina Rockhounding Location Guide & Map, Montana Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. Most of the gold produced in Wyoming comes from the Atlantic City-South Pass-Sweetwater district. Sign In. I had an odd experience last year. Fish fossils and some shark teeth near Farson, WY: 13.) This area was explored by a South African diamond company briefly but nothing came of it. The Owl Creek Mountains, Fremont, and Hot Spring counties also have jade. The gravels of streams and rivers like the Sweetwater and Wind Rivers are great places to search for rocks and minerals like quartz, agate, and petrified wood. The pyroxene group of minerals is confined to Precambrian rocks and the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Absaroka Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. There is of course another way to find larger pieces of peridot in the area. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. 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. However, Jade can be located in the Sweetwater River district, just southeast of the Wind River Mountains. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) . Turritella agates are most commonly found in southwest Wyoming, especially near the town of Granger. Note: magnetite is also present. If you want to know more about rockhounding in Wyoming or you prefer paper books, I recommend buying the book Rockhounding Wyoming: A Guide to the States Best Rockhounding Sites (2nd Edition). Most of the geodes in Wyoming tend to be lined with chalcedony, and more rarely with microcrystalline quartz. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. Here you can find minerals, rocks, and varieties of quartz such as allanite, beryl, calcite-aragonite, columbite-tantalite, copper minerals, euxenite, galena, hematite, jade, mica minerals, monazite, opal, pyrite, agates, uranium minerals, vermiculite, gabbro, pegmatite, sedimentary rocks, taconite, and slate, among other things. South of Douglas in Converse County is where you will find jade as well. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. A single column may be searched using the blank field at the top of each column. The most commonly found gems and crystals in Wyoming are quartz and feldspar, but you can also find many others including garnet, tourmaline, and opal. I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; If youre hoping to find agates in Albany County, check around Marshall in the northwestern region of the county. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; Wall of crystals found hiking Big Balls of Cowtown Trail. I recommend accessing the area from highway 414 to the west, turning right just above Behunin Reservoir. Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. In the Absaroka Mountains, you may discover opal, galena, or molybdenite. From beginners to advanced collectors, everyone will find something 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. Map of Locations 1.) . Blue forest petrified wood near Granger, WY: 11.) Rockhounds might find pegmatite within the Bighorn Range in Natrona County, while igneous rocks like pumice-pumice in the Split Rock area. Bula, yall! Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. Wyoming is full of jades, mostly of the nephrite class, and the jadeite class, which sounds like something out of Star Wars. However, lets talk about the 11 best places to rockhound in Wyoming. Find out how these beautiful minerals are formed and more in this article:What Is Agate And How Do Agates Form? You can purchase a Bighorn National Forest visitor map for $14 at ranger district offices in Buffalo, Greybull, and Sheridan. 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 find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. 130 to Walcott Junction. NOTE! NPS Public Domain Photo. Atlantic City, area stream gravels, draws, etc. That was a joke. Ill be adding to this in the coming years. It will help show how non-descript the host is. Gator Girl Rocks provides useful information about The many mountain ranges and associated volcanic activity throughout the state have created a perfect geologic environment for the creation of many interesting gemstones that you can now find in countless locations across the region. 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. We also hope to find Jade on same trip. Use caution. Congleton Hollow; Glass Buttes; Maury Mountain; Pigeon Springs; Skokomish River; . These public lands administered by the BLM are open to everyone to take limited amounts of rock material for noncommercial purposes without charge. amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; Copyright 2022 Rockhound Resource | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Greybull, area washes and draws btwn Big Horn River and Mountains, Lovell, E to Big Horn Mountains in draws and washes, Fremont County, all regional washes and draws. A quick jaunt down a nice dirt road brings you to the overlook, which is marked with a sign. As you Becoming a member of one or more clubs or societies comes with a wealth of benefits. 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. Sublette County, located in western Wyoming, is noted for jade findings. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "rockhoundreso-20"; Library for the books I use when I go out rock hunting. google_ad_format="120x600_as"; You can find plenty of minerals in Wyoming, especially in the mountains, such as Casper Mountain, Absaroka Mountain, Laramie Range, or Medicine Bow Range. We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because were always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. I recommend walk-in access via the Radio Creek Road starting at a pullout located here. Members can expect various educational speakers and a lot of group interaction. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County.