PurpleCamping, international trips; excursions. Belemnites and other fossils near Bridger, MT: 3.) Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. google_color_link="000000"; ), let me know. 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 What a great reason to go rockhounding. Use this resource as a guide to get you started. PDF Maps; Google Maps. I hope my articles will be useful to you. In fact, Wyoming is home to a unique variety of agate called Turritella agate that is extremely popular with local collectors. I mention all this as it helps explain how to find the peridot. 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. 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. Use caution. may be of interest to rockhounds. Albany is among the best rock-hounding places in Wyoming since you can find various rocks and minerals. Ammonite-like fossils, kimberlite, etc. Agates, copper minerals, uranium minerals, and calcite-aragonite can be found throughout Park County in northwestern Wyoming. Rockhounding Locations - Google My Maps Rockhounding Locations Rockhounding Locations Search Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More Calendar Translate Mobile Books. If youre looking to start collecting rocks in Wyoming, agates are a great place to start. 11 Essential Rock Tumbling Tips - Get Better Results! Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. Map of Locations 1.) "Rockhounding Rules on BLM Public Lands" and Rockhounding Wyoming by Kenneth Graham. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; Everyone enjoys the prospect of finding their very own geodes out in the wild, and its easy to see why. Some areas of individual parks are legal to rockhound, but it all depends on the state. There is a limit to the number of specimens you can carry, which differs from site to site. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes; the cinders can be found at Black Rock, too. I had an odd experience last year. Here at Rockhounding Maps, we give you access and information to the best dig sites for crystals and minerals in Wyoming. There is of course another way to find larger pieces of peridot in the area. Since rockhounds are highly prize geodes, we have made a special section on where to find these sedimentary rocks in Wyoming. The state of Wyoming is noted for its copper minerals, lithium minerals, uranium minerals, feldspar minerals, manganese minerals, mica minerals, and quartz minerals. In that case, you might want to explore the Kortes Dam area and the Sierra Madre Mountains. Red Gulch Dino Track Site near Shell, WY: 8a.) 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. google_ad_type="text_image"; Thanks!! You can also find agatized and opalized wood specimens here. Follow the four-wheeler track down the mountain and into the badlands below. See my hikes in to this area in the early spring, middle-summer, and late summer. 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. Now that you know where to find agates in Wyoming, lets see where you can find the official state gemstone of Wyoming, the famous nephrite variant of jade. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Though there are many locations listed here, this list is far from exhaustive. 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. The GPS coordinate I put up in the map at the top of the page is right by a place called Black Rock, which is an ultrapotassic, lamproite volcaniclastic exposure. Is the watermelon rock you mentioned in article of the tourmaline family? The sapphire specimens found in the Canyon vary from blue and light grey to deeper colors, including violet. Additionally, you cannot progress away from Black Rock to the southGoogle Earth and maps for the area are old, but mining concerns have cordoned off the area and dug huge swaths of land away, so youll just drive for 30 minutes and get stuck. 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. Late Tertiary welded tuffs are known to crop out in Yellowstone, while volcanic breccia is typical here. Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. (I do not live in the US right now.). That is partly because of about 50 percent of the states public land. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; This will be our first time rock hounding Wyoming. An official website of the United States government. The Sublette County Rock Hounds Club is relatively new to the scene of formal rockhound organizations. The True Worth of Agates. As you 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 types. Obsidian is abundant in Yellowstone, with the most famous location being the Obsidian Cliff, located in the northwest part of the Park. ), Check ant beds in this area for peridot and other little gems. google_ad_type="text_image"; It is going to take me a while to get all the locations in here. 5 Crucial Signs. Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. As you can see, opals are found in many places in Wyoming, so let us dive into where to find chalcedony in Wyoming. You can find opal here, in the deposits associated with the hot springs. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Rockhounds have several excellent locations to choose from in Wyoming. Any tips would be great! I f you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! The best place to start is in Yellowstone National Park. I lost service and I dont think I went to the exact location because I didnt see much there. Obsidian isnt listed here since we know how much rockhounds love this igneous rock, so let us talk about obsidian separately. While much of the region is difficult to access, a large portion of the land is managed by the National Forest Service and is largely open to the public for collecting. Places for rockhounds to explore in Wyoming. The Hartville district in Platte County may contain some copper minerals, while the kyanite is found 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. The Sierra Madre Mountains are noted for their jade findings too. Carbon County is another prime rockhounding location in 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. I would probably start by contacting the assessor in whatever county youre interested in and getting whatever contact information you can for the landowner. Azurite, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Galena, Gold, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz crystals, Sphalerite, etc. You can also find it in the Wiggins formation of the Oligocene age near the head of Frontier Creek in the Absaroka Mountains. Find out the differences between these two minerals in the article below:Feldspar vs. Quartz: Whats the Difference? I am uploading a couple of pictures that my friend Henri took of me hunting it with his kids. Clear chalcedony and vein moss agate occur along this countys outcrops of the Bridger Formation. You may also find gold along with parts of the Snake River in the southern part of Jackson Hole, northwest Wyoming. Official websites use .gov Find out more in the article below:Difference Between Real & Fake Geodes: Focus on These Signs. Zoom in for full list. This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. Interesting sedimentary features near Adobe Town, WY: 7.) 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. types. Luckily, Wyoming is a prime spot for hunting your own crystals and gemstones. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. If you head to Copper Mountain, you might find some specimens like beryl, feldspar, lithium, magnetite, and manganese. The counties are alphabetized, and within each county the locations are . These are mostly comprised of old mining prospects, washes, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. Calcite for making lamps and also nice bots in roadside cut near Lander. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you. Here, rockhounds can find some incredible specimens, including: The Casper Mountains contain chromite, feldspar, and beryl. hobby, or education. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. Fossilized leaves near Miles City, MT: 2.) Hi!! The Lost Creek areas of this county contain many uranium minerals, while petrified wood is found northeast of Eden. 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. Post navigation. 130 to Walcott Junction. Please take our survey about how you use and access the data we provide on our website. But where else can rockhounds explore, and what can they find? The prominent minerals found in Wyoming are agates quite a variety of them, jades, opals, chalcedony, and other varieties of quartz crystals, among others. 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. From beginners to advanced collectors, everyone will find something in Wyoming! Various outcrops along the road contain specimens. They are most commonly found in gravels and the clays lining nearby streams. Do NOT attempt unless dry. Triceratops fossils are mostly found in the Hell Creek Formation in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, eastern Wyoming. 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. Jade can be found in the Sweetwater River district southeast of the Wind River Mountains in Fremont County. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! (Said Kimm-ur.). This place is located in the south part of Wyoming, and Albany County is located on its eastern side. 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. Obsidian is plentiful in Wyoming, especially abundant in Yellowstone National Park, where the Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest part of the Park. The 12 Best Places to See Lava (With Helpful Tips) Thanks again for this site. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. You can find pegmatites in the Haystack Range of Goshen County. Quartz crystals, chalcedony, and vein moss agate occur along outcrops of the Bridger formation in the regions north of Sweetwater County. In Sweetwater County, west of Wamsutter along the old road to Baggs, the Green River Basin is plentiful in agates. 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! Agatized fossil shells near Rock Springs, WY: 14. 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. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. I love finding agates because you never know what sort of beautiful patterns and colors they might contain. Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. Thats both an easy and challenging question since all of Wyoming is excellent for rockhounding enthusiasts. Fossil Butte National Monument NPS Public Domain Photo Places to Explore. However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. Some people say that they have a lot of success near the reservoir, but this hasnt been too true for my family. Wyoming isnt just rich in rocks and minerals; it also has gold, fossils, and petrified wood. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Sapphires and other treasures lie north of Yellowstone. See my details at this link. Public access with nice walk in. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. Geologic Map of Phantom Lake Quadrangle Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. My neighbor and i hopefully will be heading out to Wyoming if our health is good, sometime this summer. 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. Lets dig in! Sign in to your account on ArcGIS Online. Through quite a bit of research and cross-referencing of available literature, I have compiled this list of some prospective locations in Wyoming which I would recommend to people looking to do some rockhounding. Their annual Mineral and Gem Show is a massive hit with members and anyone interested in the field of topics. You never know what type of crystals or patterns youre going to find inside and it makes them incredibly exciting. Ill be adding to this in the coming years. 2. 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. I found this book very useful and clearly written. Wyoming is also noted for its abundance of discovered meteorites. Wyoming is perhaps most well known for its world-class National Parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 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. In Wyoming, nearly all 18 million acres of public land are legal for gem enthusiasts to pursue their recreational activities. The club started in 2016 and has been growing in numbers ever since. popular museums of interest to rockhounders, places to visit, and rockhounding sites for children and families. 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. My little girl loves rocks now (gems and fossils both). Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook $19.73 A must have for every serious rockhound! Rock Hound Etiquette 7. Public access. at Cedar Mountain. Please respect the claim owners rights and stay off active claims withoutpermission. But sometimes you can mistake feldspar with quartz. Places such as Fremont, Washakie, Sweetwater, Carbon, or Natrona County are where you can find jade, which is Wyomings official state gemstone. or Forgot password? 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. 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. The GPS map below shows how I drove, as well as the two main places I walked which had good anthills. So pack up your stuff, since once you read this, you might want to move to Wyoming and start rockhounding! TIP:Feldspar minerals are very common in Wyoming. After a little bit it will split; right goes to Superior, and left goes to Winton. Hello, I am John.As a little boy, I was fascinated by stones and liked to take them home. I cant thank you enough! 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. google_ad_width=120; The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. //-->,