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. Black jade can be found in Fremont County as well. You can also find agatized and opalized wood specimens here. Most of the gold produced in Wyoming comes from the Atlantic City-South Pass-Sweetwater district. Places for rockhounds to explore in Wyoming. I'm Mike Rhea, and I'm a professional Geologist with a passion for rocks, minerals, and everything related to Geology. Simple Explanation. Gold can also be panned in Douglas Creek in the Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming, or the Sweetwater River and tributaries in the southern part of the Wind River Mountains. Azurite, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Galena, Gold, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz crystals, Sphalerite, etc. (I do not live in the US right now.). 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. I am wondering what it looks like on top of canyon. Is the watermelon rock you mentioned in article of the tourmaline family? Natrona County is located in central Wyoming, and it is another excellent county when it comes to rocks or minerals. Sharktooth Ridge teeth and trace fossils near Rawlins, WY: 6.) Posted on Published: September 29, 2020- Last updated: July 26, 2022. I have written entire articles which cover the rockhounding laws and regulations for nearly every type of public land you can think of. 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. Some of the most prominent metamorphic rocks in Wyoming are gneiss, marble, quartzite, schist, and slate, among many others. This is a great resource for anyone who loves rockhounding, from beginners to experts alike! The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information for every location on this page. To get started, you can check out my recommended gear page which contains my full reviews for every Geologists favorite rock hammer and the best hiking backpack Ive ever owned. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; 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. google_ad_type="text_image"; amzn_assoc_title = "Here is some of my favorite rockhounding gear from Amazon"; We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because were always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. This website also participates in Google Adsense. Cryptocrystalline quartz varieties like agate, jasper, chalcedony, and petrified wood are prevalent over much of the region. The Hartville district in Platte County may contain some copper minerals, while the kyanite is found 23 miles southwest of Wheatland, Platte County. 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. These rockhounding sights of Wyoming are mostly on public land but a good. I found this book very useful and clearly written. The state fossil Knightia-fish is located in the Green Fiver Formation of Wyoming. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; 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. 2. Fort Bridger, area gravels, streams, washes, etc. However, lets talk about the 11 best places to rockhound in Wyoming. google_color_text="FFFFFF"; Also explore the WSMGS Topic Library for articles such as You can even find geodes in Wyoming. 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 Members can expect various educational speakers and a lot of group interaction. Bookmarked. ), let me know. Here you can also find agatized and opalized wood, while agates are common a few miles west of Saratoga. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Secure .gov websites use HTTPS This book is a 6" x 9" paperback with 246 pages, descriptions, maps and photos. Tip: Not sure if the rock youve found is a geode? PurpleCamping, international trips; excursions. You can purchase a Bighorn National Forest visitor map for $14 at ranger district offices in Buffalo, Greybull, and Sheridan. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. Quartz crystals are abundant in the feldspar pits south of Laramie. A lock ( Follow the road toward its terminus (going down toward a river) and easy, walk-in access is available. Zirkel Mesa to the west is actually remnants of exposed cinder cone volcanoes; the cinders can be found at Black Rock, too. What a great reason to go rockhounding. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. google_color_url="FFFFFF"; You are sure welcome. This place is located in the south part of Wyoming, and Albany County is located on its eastern side. 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. //-->, ,