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. Whether you're one of the thousands who come to Wyoming each year to admire its unique geologic features or you've come to rockhound and prospect for gemstones and gold, However, there are no charges for attending club-led outings, and you dont have to be a resident of Wyoming to join. The entire region boasts many outcrops of bentonites, which are ash clay layers left over from ancient volcanic activity. Here, rockhounds can find some incredible specimens, including: The Casper Mountains contain chromite, feldspar, and beryl. YellowOvernight hikes, typically 2 nights. 5 Crucial Signs. If youre into gemstones like amethyst, I suggest checking out Amethyst Mountain; it got its name for a reason. My best to you and your family. Exploring the Laramie Mountain Range can lead to finding specimens like amphibole, epidote, plagioclase minerals, garnet, magnetite, and mica. Proceed up canyon dirt road (12) until you reach the top plateau and it is flat. The higher hills to the west (the mesas and buttes) are all ultrapotassic and mafic rocks. For all of my maps, you can use my maps page. Forgot username? google_ad_type="text_image"; Follow the dirt roads toward and past the water tower on the ridge. 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. NPS Public Domain Photo. 05-01-11 Water line and fortification agate and calcite geodes and selenite phew!! The ranchers might harass you, but I just harass them back, since its public. Geologic mapping of the Phantom Lake quadrangle in Carbon County is available. Veins of banded agate and drusy quartz occur in Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Platte County. 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. Tom, this is an AMAZING resource. The Wyoming State Mineral and Gem Society is an umbrella organization. I'm Mike Rhea, and I'm a professional Geologist with a passion for rocks, minerals, and everything related to Geology. 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. This will be our first time rock hounding Wyoming. Below you will find maps published by the Wyoming State Geological Survey. Here are 10 of the best rockhounding sites for rocks and minerals in Wyoming: If youre doing some rockhounding in Wyoming, you wont be lacking for rocks and minerals to find. Rockhounding in Wyoming is a great way to get out and enjoy the states expansive landscapes and beautifully unique terrain. Manganese minerals or uranium minerals are found in the Wasatch Formation. google_color_link="000000"; As with most states, each county in Wyoming will have records of who owns each piece of property. Post navigation. Black jade can be found in Fremont County as well. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes; the cinders can be found at Black Rock, too. Still, if you know where to look you may be able to find one for your collection. I find the watermelon stone about halfway up the canyon. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Clear chalcedony and vein moss agate occur along this countys outcrops of the Bridger Formation. The pyroxene group of minerals is confined to Precambrian rocks and the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Absaroka Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. Check out the table down below to see where these specimens of sedimentary rocks are found in Wyoming. Jades are present in Carbon County as well. //-->, , Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Objective is to get to Road 4412. Gemstones are some of the most enjoyable specimens that rockhounds can find, but its not always easy to know where to look. Pegmatite and sedimentary rocks such as bentonite are also found in Johnson County. Rockhounding Locations - Google My Maps Fort Bridger, area gravels, streams, washes, etc. 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. Simple Explanation. The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. Check out the table below to find where to find the more important metamorphic rocks in the state of Wyoming. Thats one of the reasons why you can quite a lot of fake ones for sale. I would probably start by contacting the assessor in whatever county youre interested in and getting whatever contact information you can for the landowner. Im doing a fossil camping trip near the buttes to a quarry where you can pay to dig for fish fossils. Located east of Boysen reservoir on the south flank of the owl creeks. High-clearance only. We are noobies at rockhounding and shark teeth have been on our bucket list.