wyoming rockhounding locations google maps wyoming rockhounding locations google maps

From beginners to advanced collectors, everyone will find something in Wyoming! BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? Below is a list of rockhounding locations in wyoming with a description of the minerals found there and pictures. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Rockhounds can find opal within the deposits associated with the parks hot springs. Fossil Butte National Monument NPS Public Domain Photo Places to Explore. Wyoming rockhounding map on Google maps click link below. Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! Sign in to your account on ArcGIS Online. TIP: Geodes can form anywhere in the world, but they do not form at random. Fossils in the escarpment. 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. The best place to rockhound in Wyoming is Fremont County where you can find nephrite jade and Turritella agates in relative abundance. Petrified wood can be found in the Amethyst Mountains area of Yellowstone as well. You can also find agates a few miles west of Saratoga, Carbon County. Most of the gold produced in Wyoming comes from the Atlantic City-South Pass-Sweetwater district. I am wondering what it looks like on top of canyon. As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. Library for the books I use when I go out rock hunting. Use caution. State-By-State Rockhounding Location Guides & Maps No matter where you live in the U.S., there are likely many exciting rockhounding sites nearby. The Rockhounding Wyoming guide book lists a spot just south of Cody. The counties are alphabetized, and within each county the locations are . Posted on Published: September 29, 2020- Last updated: July 26, 2022. google_ad_width=120; If you want to dig for gems in Wyoming, Amethyst Mountain would be an excellent place to start. Wyoming is also noted for its abundance of discovered meteorites. We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. Some people say that they have a lot of success near the reservoir, but this hasnt been too true for my family. Its an excellent society that provides education and experience to its members. For reference, Ive explored both directions in a small, Cheep Patriot [sic]. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments section below. 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. Now lets look at what sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. 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. Welcome to the Wyoming State Geological Survey Interpreting the past, providing for the future Take our Survey for a Chance to Win a Map! The Medicine Bow Mountains are excellent places to find slate, galena, beryl, barite, and platinum-sperrylite. If you want to find agates in Albany, they are usually found near Marshall, located in northwestern Albany. 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. Albany County is in the bottom eastern portion of Wyoming and borders the northern Colorado state line. Members have access to the Jade State Newsletter, containing news and updates on subjects concerning geology and mineralogy. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. And you can typically find them laying around, but often youll have to pry open the rocks. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. If you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! Rockhounding Wyoming: A Guide to the State's Best Rockhounding Sites $24.95 This title will be released on July 1, 2023. If youre into gemstones like amethyst, I suggest checking out Amethyst Mountain; it got its name for a reason. This website also participates in Google Adsense. However, that hasnt limited their successful innovation and progress. Agates, copper minerals, uranium minerals, and calcite-aragonite can be found throughout Park County in northwestern Wyoming. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to discover the states diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. You can buy ithere(Amazon link). google_color_url="FFFFFF"; Is the watermelon rock you mentioned in article of the tourmaline family? 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. Some icons at default view contain 5+ hikes when zoomed in. However, Jade can be located in the Sweetwater River district, just southeast of the Wind River Mountains. Public access. google_ad_client="pub-2930148589555936"; It is located in the northwestern part of Wyoming, and you can find amethyst, opals, and many other types of valuable gems and minerals. Carbon County is also a famous location for rockhounding in Wyoming. amzn_assoc_linkid = "aac5e87b1ca95eb9841c18e11fbbd48f"; Tip: Check out my Complete Rock Tumbling Guide to make your rocks and gemstones really shine! google_color_url="FFFFFF"; My neighbor and i hopefully will be heading out to Wyoming if our health is good, sometime this summer. google_ad_type="text_image"; Black jade can be found in Fremont County as well. 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. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes. ), Check ant beds in this area for peridot and other little gems. This area is very close to Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite. 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. Everyone enjoys the prospect of finding their very own geodes out in the wild, and its easy to see why. A majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous rocks, minerals, fossils, and gemstones. A number of the best locations are on private land, and while Ive gotten access from the owners, I cant list them here. In the Casper Mountains, you can find chromite, feldspar minerals, or beryl. (Said Kimm-ur.). However, anywhere in the area around Black Rock should be good, and maybe to the west, too, which I havent checked yet. The majority of national parks located in the U.S. prohibit gem hunting/rockhounding. Here you can also find agatized and opalized wood, while agates are common a few miles west of Saratoga. 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. If you explore the highway cut north of Laramie, you might find meteorites. 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). google_ad_width=120; My best to you and your family. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. I hope my articles will be useful to you. The best place to start is in Yellowstone National Park. Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. Lots of sand. Another good place would be the 100 miles west of Casper County, discovered by a local rockhound. Also lots of buzzworms. Cancel. My kid loved exploring it with me. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; As for what you should be looking for, the following link provides better examples than I have (since Im on my phone). There are several excellent rockhound locations all throughout the state. You are sure welcome. These rockhounding sights of Wyoming are mostly on public land but a good. Some areas of individual parks are legal to rockhound, but it all depends on the state. Rock Hound Etiquette 7. You can find these in the Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Wyoming. Rockhounding is recognized as a legitimate recreational pursuit on nearly all of the 18 million acres of public land in Wyoming. For all of my maps, you can use my maps page. Fossil Butte National Monument Petrified wood occurs in the Specimen Ridge and Amethyst Mountain area of Yellowstone. An official website of the United States government. Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. So pack up your stuff, since once you read this, you might want to move to Wyoming and start rockhounding! Red Gulch Dino Track Site near Shell, WY: 8a.) Cracking them open reminds me of opening a Kinder-Egg with a surprise toy inside. 5 Crucial Signs, Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home), Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids), Difference Between Real & Fake Geodes: Focus on These Signs, What Is Agate And How Do Agates Form? That is partly because of about 50 percent of the states public land. Bookmarked. Black jade is a real prize to find. TIP:Feldspar minerals are very common in Wyoming. Find out where to find minerals in Wyoming down below. It will help show how non-descript the host is. The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. Hello and thank you for posting this information. Wyoming happens to be among the best states in the entire country for rockhounding thanks to the sheer volume of prospective collecting sites and the impressive array of rocks and minerals to be found. I f you are a rockhound and don't live in Wyoming, you may want to move here! 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! 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. A quick jaunt down a nice dirt road brings you to the overlook, which is marked with a sign. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, there are no charges for attending club-led outings, and you dont have to be a resident of Wyoming to join. Membership is only $15 for adults 18 and up. You may want to look in the Kortes Dam area or the Sierra Madre Mountains for jades. Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres. 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, Not a member of this organization? Gold can also be found in Park County, specifically the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas. Natrona County is in central Wyoming. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Teepee Canyon Agates 13. Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) Where are the best places for rockhounding in Wyoming? . You can find many types of feldspar minerals in Goshen County, including mica minerals, and in the Muskrat Canyon area of the county, you can find the marble. Fish fossils and some shark teeth near Farson, WY: 13.) google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Objective is to get to Road 4412. Veins of banded agate and drusy quartz occur in Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Platte County. google_color_bg="1B1B1B"; Use caution. Let me know if this is useful or if I can improve it in any way! When you look for it, it often just looks like ugly, whiteish or greyish rocks. Azurite, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Galena, Gold, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz crystals, Sphalerite, etc. To gain permits for rockhounding in Wyoming, please check the BLM website here. That said, lab is pretty much a plagioclase feldspar. Here are 10 of the best rockhounding sites for rocks and minerals in Wyoming: Fremont County - Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Jade Split Rock - Ruby, 'Sweetwater' Agate Sweetwater County - Agate, Quartz crystals, Chert Rock Springs - Silicified wood, Agate, Jasper Box Elder Canyon - Geodes, quartz crystals Wamsutter Agate Beds - Turritella agates If its sapphires you fancy, you may want to check out Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin. 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. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. Of special note, a very interesting surge-flow outlet for a creek is found in the V section of the road by the pullout. I will update this to add many locations as I am able, but its one of my lower priorities. Its water has provided food and habitat for humans and wildlife . Any tips would be great! 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. The True Worth of Agates. To find petrified wood in Wyoming, you should go northeast of Eden, Sweetwater County, or the Wind River Formation where the Eocene age petrified wood is, 35 miles north of Medicine Bow, near the old Casper road. (I do not live in the US right now.). 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. Rainbow agates are plentiful in the Wind River near Riverton, Fremont County. 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. Peridot in ant hills and arroyos near Black Rock Butte. Wyoming is home to some incredible jade specimens, mainly of the classes nephrite and jadeite. Rainbow agates are located along the Wind River near Riverton, in Fremont County. here. types. Goshen County is located in the southeastern end of Wyoming. You can find opal here, in the deposits associated with the hot springs. //-->, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. And of course, nephrite jade can be found in such abundance that it is Wyomings state gemstone. While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. //-->,