801-539-4001, Lynndyl and Fish Springs 1:100,000-scale topographic maps, Topaz Mountain East 7.5-minute topographic map. Drive South on I-15 for 26.7 miles to Santaquin exit 244 2. Vast meadows and snow capped peaks with rolling hills of red rocks around the horizon. Azurite, Chalcocite, Gypsum, Malachite, Pyrite, Agate, Agatized dinosaur bone, Petrified wood, Agate, Anhydrite, Carnotite, Chalcedony, Jasper, Gypsum, Uraninite, Agatized wood, Amethyst, Carnotite, Petrified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Petrified dinosaur bones, Jasper. 1594 North Temple We never saw any no trespassing signs. It is commonly called Bacon or Candy Strip Opal, but is also referred to as Hyalite Opal. On the way back we met a couple of hikers who informed us that we had taken a wrong turn and ended up the wrong canyon. Follow the east dirt road until you see a knoll outcropping hill north of the road. 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. 191 & Hwy 128, drive east 29 miles along the Colorado River. I suspect that if you go on the weekends youll have better luck. Follow that road 17 miles to the Denderite site. Let me know if you are ever in SoCal in the fall or winter and want to go rockhounding out here in the Mojave. Agate Hill Road. website, A New Dig Please update your website letting people know there is no longer a fee to dig geodes. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. From the Weiss Road, drive north along the east side of the mountain for about 2.5 miles and look for the coves. Azurite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Chlorite, Chrysocolla, Galena, Gold, Gypsum, Jarosite, Malachite, Opal, Pyrite, Siderite, Sphalerite, etc. Thanks again! Located on the Wah Wah Mountain Range, Crystal Peak is a result of a volcanic eruption from a nearby caldera around 35 million years ago. Cross the freeway to the east and turn south on the first frontage road. Azurite, Barite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Fluorite, Galena, Limonite, Pyrite, Quartz, Pyrolusite, Selenite, Sphalerite, Sylvanite, Malachite, etc. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Apatite, Fluorapatite, Francolite, Phosphorite, etc. We searched the hillsides around this claim and found chips and small pieces of the red horn coral, agate, jasper, and various fossils. Excellent camp spots dot the ghost town and sandy desert terrain that make for fun ATV riding. really a great website to learn knowledge of rockhounding. Eroded holes in the face of the mountain attest to the forces of nature sculpting the peak by removing the softer pumice. (435) 864-4294 FAX They manage a rock shop in their backyard called the Bug House in addition to overseeing the Dugway Geode Beds claim as well as the the U-Dig trilobite claim further West of Delta. I did see some no trespassing signs off Elberta Slant Road. The southern region of the state is home to expansive sandstone plateaus that turn up nice specimens of quartz-family minerals such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, and septarian nodules. Agate can be found in many excellent colors at Agate Hill. Take the north road and then turn east at about mile on the first side road going east. Good to hear you managed to grab some big ones as well. Could have driven my car there. It's located in Utah, United States.I got this container for my birthday! Anhydrite, Carnallite, Gypsum, Halite, Polyhalite, Sylvite, Anhydrite, Carnotite, Gypsum, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Azurite, Bornite, Limonite, Calcite. They can form in different ways; one of the most common is through groundwater action by the leaching of highly siliceous rocks, filling rock fractures and cavities, and recrystallizing. The crystals formed within cavities of the Topaz Mountain Rhyolite, a volcanic rock which erupted approximately six to seven million years ago (Tertiary Period) from volcanic vents along faults in the area. The agate and chert at this location are white, gray, green, purple, orange, and red. The Agate Lexicon and glossary of amorphous and cryptocrystalline silica gems have been designed to be used in conjunction with the Agate Bibliography, which was compiled to be used by researchers, hobbyists, historians, lapidaries and other individuals which have an interest in these stones. In asking around and reading some stuff online it looks like the area has been reopened for either some drilling operations or cleanup (or both). The Antelope Springs area in Millard County is one of the best places on earth to find trilobite fossils. Apatite, Colophane, Fluorapatite, Francolite, Phosphorite, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Petrified wood. Most pieces are black but some reddish-brown and snowflake obsidian can be found. Even with the cold weather, the ground was quite soft and so we didnt really need any of the tools we had broughtonly buckets to fill up . amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Agate Hill Inn sits at the base of Pikes Peak in the historic district of Manitou Springs. Azurite, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Goethite, Limonite, Magnetite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz, Selenite, Siderite, Stilbite, Tourmaline, Wollastonite, etc. The entire Dugway Range is a rockhounding hot spot, known not only for its geodes but fantastic specimens of many minerals including fluorite, garnet, topaz, and beryl. Antlerite, Bornite, Fluorite, Hematite, Limonite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Cerussite, Galena, Quartz, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Malachite. Oxide patterns color these rocks to make them look like plant fossils. PO BOX 146100 Some of the roads might require a higher clearance vehicle once you leave the highway, but I would recommend just setting up camp and hiking around. We ended up going to several of the mine dumps in the mountains just East of town (really nice stuff!) In the town of Panguitch, turn right (South) onto US-89 for 10.1 miles until you get to a dirt road on the left hand side called Casto Canyon Road, 4. Our vehicles GPS recognized Elberta Slant Rd (ESR) after we missed the first turnoff at this dirt road and went down the west side of the mountain on the paved road. Some of them might even have the septarian-like turtle shell looking exterior. I went there yesterday with my scouts and we found a bunch of neat looking rocks of mostly reds yellows and several pieses with chicken scratch. Turn left (South) onto Redwood Road and drive another 8.3 miles to the Dyno Nobel plant turnoff. Agate, Agatized clams, Anhydrite, Carnotite, Gypsum, Jasper, Jasperized dinosaur bones, Petrified wood. To determine what type of public land a particular location is on, I would recommend starting with the Bureau of Land Managements Utah Maps. Bryce Canyon is my favorite National Park in Utah and, although the views from this area are mesmerizing in and of themselves, I would highly recommend a quick trip into the park itself. 1. This part of the state is probably the best place to find semiprecious gemstones like agate, jasper, and petrified wood, particularly in Emery and Grand Counties. Perfect directions. Phone: (435) 259-2100. Go around the turn, through the wash and up the little hill. Hi Yiwen! These sediments eventually became mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates; cavities in these rocks were later filled in with the quartz. Sunstone Knoll is about 11 miles south of Deseret, just east of Hwy. From here the trail turns sketchy and I would recommend a high clearance vehicle to navigate the roads through the beds. Turn onto Casto Canyon Road, cross the bridge and hang left, and drive 2.4 miles in total from the highway to the location on the left. Agate is scattered over the top of the large hill to the west. The first day we went, we hiked around. I belong to the R.O.C.K. And any good tips on certain area up her to go thanks in advance. Travel south to a bridge crossing the freeway to the west. Big J and I had the chance to do one last hoorah before winter sets in and snow covers all of our favorite spots. Glad You Asked: Ice Ages What are they and what causes them? Turn left (South) onto North Main Street for 1.2 miles, 3. Augite, Azurite, Cerussite, Fluorite, Galena, Malachite. Algonquin (384 pp.) Thanks for your postings and tips on where to seek rocks and minerals in beautiful Utah. Disappointed about that aspect. From the Weiss Road, drive north along the east side of the mountain for about 2.5 miles and look for the coves. The sunstone here is a transparent, yellowish labradorite (a plagioclase feldspar mineral) found as crystals in volcanic rocks and on the flats surrounding the knoll. Something about those black patterns on the yellow background just looks really cool. Some of the more common specimens found in the area are cerussite, bornite, azurite, malachite, pyrite, and galena. Lacustrine and alluvial deposits of Quaternary age cover the older rocks and fill in the valleys. The most popular rockhounding sites in Utah are the Dugway Geode Beds and Topaz Mountain. Though there are many locations listed here, this list is far from exhaustive. Drive 21.5 miles and turn left (North) onto US-189 N/Us-40 W/South Main Street in Heber, 4. Albite, Alunite, Bornite, Calcite, Chalcocite, Copper, Cuprite, Rutile, Sylvanite, Tenorite, many other minerals. club is a teaching club. The first location is just north of a dirt road you enter heading West, .7 mile from the exit on route 24. Took me a few tries, but I found it! Salt Lake City is even home to the worlds largest open-pit copper mine. Apache Tears (round nodules of obsidian) form if water is present during the cooling of obsidian lava. As always, make sure to gain permission from any landowners or claim holders before collecting on their property. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My two elementary aged kids and I had a great time here today. I read some blogs about the rockhounding activity in Eureka, and it seemed that this place happens to have people coming for target shooting. The area with the most rockhounding locations to check out is south of I-70, offering specimens of many minerals including carnotite, chalcedony, agate, selenite, barite, and pyrolusite. Turn east onto the dirt road and travel about 6 miles to the sign for Black Spring. Azurite, Cerussite, Copper, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Galena, Gold, Limonite, Malachite, Orpiment, Pyrite, Quartz, Realgar, Rhodochrosite, Sphalerite, etc. Why are they wanting to raise the water table? Hidden trails lace the lower hills - perfect for . It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. Keg Mountain and Desert Mountain are composed chiefly of extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks of Tertiary age. I tried calling the BLM office to find out if theyd sold the land and to who. As you said, this is a great close location. You should be able to gather which ones are more hollow or contain cavities by the weight alone. One of the best perks of rockhounding in Utah is the enormous amount of public land open to recreational use. An annual permit if $10 per person or $200 per family. Fossil Mountain is one of the better places in the Western US to find a variety ofshells and other invertebrate fossils. My brother and I went to remote area in SE Oregon. Ive seen some of the cabs and other jewelry people have made from this type of opal and really is quite exquisite. Utah Rockhound Guide: Thomas Range Pt. Utah is home to a variety of gems and minerals that rivals any other state in the U.S. Downtown Colorado Springs is just four miles away. Drive North on I-15 for 6.5 miles to exit 278, 2. Pyrolusite, Siderite, Cerussite, Galena, Jasper, Limonite, Pyrite, Azurite, Barite, Bismuth, Malachite, Marcasite, Garnet, etc. Each cottage has a sitting room, kitchenette, private bath and bedrooms with king sized Select Comfort beds, HDTV/DVD, Air Conditioned. 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. We didnt run into too many other people around the area (Probably because of the season), but I did notice that many of the trees on and around the hill had been cut down with all of the limbs cut off and left there. Tip: Check out my Complete Rock Tumbling Guide to make your rocks and gemstones really shine! A liability waiver must also be signed before entering the site. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Take Nephi exit 228 and keep right on Main Street (SW) for 2.7 miles, 3. Currently Rockhounding 33.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 8.3K Share Save 256K views 1 year ago Let's talk about Agates and Jasper some. It's a Large size geocache, with difficulty of 1.5, terrain of 2. Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. From Colorado Springs Airport, go West on Drennan Rd. This is a chance for anyone reading this to help me out though ha ha ha! 1: Agate Hill Utah Rockhound Guide One man's ramblings in the deserts and mountains of Utah. Utah also has an amazing app that highlights roads that provide access to public lands. E-mail:[emailprotected] The second location we decided to visit this weekend was on the other side of Highway 143 near the town of Panguitch (the Gateway to Bryce Canyon National Park). From precious gems to ancient fossils, much can be found in our West Desert country. Bornite, Carnotite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Uraninite, etc. Also, thank you for the clarifications on the directions. The mining districts of the Wasatch mountains are perhaps the best places to go rockhounding in the Salt Lake area. E-mail:[emailprotected] This cache is hidden on a hill covered with agate that we've been to a few times. Turn left (East) onto UT-20 E and drive 20.5 miles to US-89 3. My boys are very happy. Thanks so much. They are from an extinct group of arthropods that lived from the early Cambrian Period until near the end of the Permian Period. Im guessing this location is just too close to town and to other active mines in the area for shooting. Utah is virtually unmatched in the variety of gemstones and sheer number of rockhounding locations ready to be explored. Turn onto Casto Canyon Road, cross the bridge and hang left, and drive 2.4 miles in total from the highway to the location on the left. The petrified wood is tan and found in small pieces. One of the most common questions rockhounds have is whether or not they are allowed to collect at a certain location. Just a few ATVs on the roads. After hiking that distance, we searched long and far all over both sides of the trail, but still were only able to find bits and pieces. Turn left (East) onto UT-20 E and drive 20.5 miles to US-89, 3. A COLOSSAL AGATE FIELD BETWEEN SUMMIT AND CEDAR CITY, UTAHBy: James R. Mitchell(Originally appeared in Western and Eastern Treasures, December 1983) Only a short distance south of Summit, Utah, is a vast agate collecting area. From my limited knowledge on how agates are formed, I assumed that the numerous amount of agate material was due to these large ancient lava beds. 324 South State Just curious if you encountered people who practiced target shooting nearby? If you would be so kind as to clarifying the directions for me and include GPS coordinates if youve recorded them. Azurite, Malachite, Carnotite, Coffinite, Pyrite, Uraninite, etc. Follow it north about 12.89 miles to a spur road that goes east. I used google earth to look at the terrain. From my limited knowledge on how agates are formed, I assumed that the numerous amount of agate material was due to these large ancient lava beds. Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. Almost all of the mine shafts in this particular area have been covered, but I would still keep a close eye on the kiddos. club in Salt Lake City. Amethyst, Tourmaline, Tremolite, Wollastonite, Anglesite, Aragonite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite, etc. For example, I will often list a particular mining district that has several nearby mines. If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! The ground this day was lightly dusted with snow and the creek was mostly frozen over, but we bundled up and braved the wind and the cold for a day of nice hunting. Ive met a couple of people from that club and they were good people and it sounded like a great club to join for anyone who is interested. Agate, Anhydrite, Carnotite, Chalcedony, Gypsum, Jasper, Selenite, Sulfur, Agate, Carnotite, Chalcedony, Chert, Petrified dinosaur bone, Jasper, Silicified wood, Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Jasper, Opal, Opalized wood, Quartz crystals, Agatized clams, Agatized dinosaur bones, Jasperised dinosaur bone, Jasper, Barite, Calcite, Manganite, Pyrolusite, Rhodochrosite, Actinolite, Calcite, Chalcedony, Chrysocolla, Chalcopyrite, Fluorite, Hematite, Malachite, Limonite, Quartz, Azurite, Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Silicified dinosaur bone, Petrified wood. Nearly 1,000 feet of the Tunnel Spring Tuff is visible many miles away as its startling white color varies from that of the surrounding landscape. Take the Casto Canyon road and follow your gps from there. Email: utmbmail@blm.gov. 4. its our first rock hounding. Many people like to combine their trip out to Topaz Mountain with a stop over to the Dugway Geode Beds because of their close proximity to each other. You can find great stuff here though! But here goes nothing. We did find several specimens, but our enthusiasm to return to this location is off the charts. Agate is scattered over the top of the large hill to the west. The private quarries are well marked. For the general location, see ourrockhounding map. The top 10 rockhounding sites in Utah: Utah is home to a variety of gems and minerals that rivals any other state in the U.S. One of my friends did go out there recently and he said a couple of guys had their trucks blocking the road and told him he wasnt allowed back in there. Gold, Arsenopyrite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite. The mountains, washes, and draws in the area are known to contain many interesting mineral species including beryl, calcite, hematite, garnet, limonite, and azurite. Ones as well Nobel plant turnoff gray, green, purple, orange, and make to... 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Anhydrite, Carnotite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Malachite, Pyrite, and conglomerates ; in. Liability waiver must also be signed before entering the site sheer number of rockhounding s ramblings the... Gain permission from any landowners or claim holders before collecting on their property Tourmaline,,... Mountains of Utah before entering the site Hyalite Opal if theyd sold the land and who...