Anything from Clay Canyon variscite to black tourmaline to red beryl. From the southern I-15/I-80 interchange in Salt Lake city: drive 11.3 miles east on I-80 to exit 134 (Mountain Dell Recreation exit). This shop is run out of the back room of a convenience store on main street in Enterprise Utah. Id like to get this blog back up and going again and make sure everything is current and that I am always adding to it. This area is inaccessible. 2. At any rate, Im excited to hear what you all find. The museum also has three wonderfully preserved petrified trees and unique movie memorabilia. On the inside, between the outer clay shell and the crystal pocket inside, is a brown layer of aragonite. U-Dig Fossils supplies the tools and know-how necessary to collect and identify trilobites and other ancient marine specimens. From what it sounded like he does go to shows and is able to bring in new stuff occasionally which is something I really like in a rock shop. Paying visitors can spend a half or full-day fossil hunting, and take all of their prehistoric souvenirs home. What universal energy do you share with your terrestrial predecessors? State-specific rockhounding books (including the books listed here as well as other books), regional rockhounding site guides, and other helpful rockhounding resources are identified - by category - in the Books & Gear section of Gator Girl Rocks with a link to the Gator Girl Rocks Amazon Store where you may easily browse selected resources and . This landscape, as well as some wild history, make Dinosaur a must-visit part of the state. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Agate beds here are typically not marked as Wendover is not known for their rock hounding the way other areas are. You might even get lucky enough to find pyritohedrons, pentagonal dodecahedron-shaped pieces, although many have claimed that no such thing exists at this site. Sundance Institute. 209 State Park Rd, Murfreesboro, AR 71958, USA Phone +1 870-285-3113 Web Visit website 03 of 07 Gem Mountain, Montana Gem Mountain Gem Mountain is located in Philipsburg, Montana, a remote area in western Montana. The state's diverse terrain is home to numerous varieties of rare rocks, gemstones, and fossils. for a little bit of heavy/dirty work to get the bigger pieces. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. He says that is where you are most likely to find a few treasures. Limestone shale is a type of sedimentary rock made from a compressed mixture of clay and silt. (This is the town of Central.) Guide to the park and its unique features. At N. 1300 East, turn left and follow the road as it climbs up into the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. Despite its troubling origins, Navajo fry bread is an inspired food of the nations people, and it can be found in many forms with various names around the southwest. Gypsum can be collected with a rake and shovel. Most easily accessed places have been hit hard, you really do need to get off the beaten track. Fishers Rock Shop and Jewelry (Orderville), Website: I cant find a website for this location, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fishers-Rock-Shop-Jewelry/123159094408563. If you are looking for agate, you can find it in the mountain range just north of Wendover. Larry and Vickies jewelry Rockh sShop, here if you come to our shop it is on the north side of the house. Just like in old times, Main Street is always where the action is. Geodes, like topaz, are a result of volcanic activity. This is one of those areas where it definitely pays to explore. This location is well known by many, but that hasnt stopped it from producing amazing specimens for decades. Drive mile north of the Ruth turnoff, and turn right onto the graded access road. I did see them at the rock show so I do know that they exist ha ha ha. Utah Travel Industry Website, Printable Road Trip Activity Book For Kids, Monument Valley | Highway 163 Scenic Drive, Places to Stay Near Coral Pink Sand Dunes. It is adjacent to the business where they cut the headstones for the cemetery (and rightfully sothey probably have some large rock saws in the back). This includes any area which has signs of recent digging. Gypsum (sometimes called dirty diamonds) is a common sulfate mineral that is created from salt in evaporated water. Enjoy! Vernon Hills is just southwest of Salt Lake City. The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. And, someone who has some. Here's a link to a nearby Geocache that will get you into the area. stux. Rolling in as the number one place to live in Utah is Park City. The salt crystals accumulate and grow from the bottom of the lake. Utah rockhounding locations. Drive 2.76 miles on this main dirt road, 7. Best petrified wood ever!!! The Main Street Historic District is one of the best Park City attractions for those interested in visiting the heart and soul of the region. The area is also flush with quartz crystals. Many people choose to bring along sifters to go through their own tailings often finding even better pieces than what they had dug out. In Vernon hills, there is Wonderstone Quarry. Southern Utah is a veritable playground for rockhounds, offering a wide variety of location types including old mining dumps, stream and river gravels, washes, draws, and placer deposits. Filter by Sort by National Parks Map & Guide. So, make sure you have plenty of gas and supplies as the ride takes around 1 hour. Did you know that interstate highway construction created Fremont Indian State Park? Like the other shops, they have a small display case with some of the more expensive stuff at the front. Mines in these mountains (closed to the public) have yielded opal, pyrite, gold, silver, obsidian and blue beryl one of the worlds most prized gems. Turn right and go 1.1 miles on Silver Island Loop Road. Fun! Great smoky quartz and rainbow citrine location for rockhounds. This map was created by a user. Rockhounding is free to the public at this geode-hunting hotspot in Utah's West Desert. Trilobites are small, prehistoric marine invertebrates that roamed the shallow sea which covered Utah millions of years ago. Plus you get someone who is knowledgeable about the whole spiritual and healing side of minerals, if that is what you are into. A billion years of geological history surrounds Salt Lake City, where a modern landscape reflects ancient constraints. The Great Salt Lake is called Americas Dead Sea. Topaz, a yellowish or amber crystal, is the most common of these minerals on Topaz Mountain. Although free or at a low cost, all collections come with some restrictions. If you have camel packs ($18-60), then fill them up with ice water in the summer. The Muddy Creek area West of Orderville is known for containing numerous septarian and ammonite nodules. A high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle is best, since you may be going over rocks and down into ruts making it a bumpy ride. Many enjoy hiking in the area, even if they are not avid rock hunters. From Kamas, travel Utah Highway 150 (the Mirror Lake Road) east for 3 miles; make a right turn at the Willow Springs Trout Farm. Rockhounding near Jordanelle Resavoir, Park City, Utah! Feel free to share in the comments. Colors: Multicolored If you are only interested in a specific show or two, you can always just add it to your calendar by opening a particular event and clicking the copy to my calendar link. Super low prices on those. Cowboys and dinosaurs dont always come to mind in tandem. When you reach the area, you will find chips and small chunks around the area, but most of it is white. I'm a rockhound and love rock hunting but Im not sure Im up for treks too far off the beaten trail or ones that would required guides. I have created guides for every U.S. state including thousands of rockhounding sites - and continue to add more every day. Despite what we read about the location, you actually do not necessarily need a four wheel drive or high clearance vehicle. Hey there! Note that the pass is usually closed during the winter months due to snow. Two rock hounding areas lie on Arizona's far eastern edge, within an hour's drive of Safford. Colors: Purple, Blue, White The Rock Corral Recreation Area is a popular starting point for collectors, who often find spectacular pieces of smoky quartz in abundance around the picnic grounds. Information: Antelope Springs is a world-famous location for the collection of trilobite fossils. Rockhounders can find amphibolite, which may contain hornblende, actinolite, and plagioclase. If you are feeling adventurous, the Golden Spike Connection, where the first transcontinental railroad was completed, is just 15.5 miles away from the jetty. Below the map I have included a short review of each shop as well as a link to their website. Information: The variety of rocks available for collection at this former volcanic site make it one of Utah's most popular rock hounding destinations. It is maroon with orange-yellow bands that were created by iron oxides in the stone and flowing water. Note that Moqui Marbles are most commonly found in national parks and tribal lands where rock collecting is not allowed. Topaz is a silicate mineral that forms in the veins of cooling rhyolite. Pockets of gas are trapped inside cooling volcanic material, creating hollow spheres which eventually fill with mineral-rich groundwater and coat the inside with crystals. Utah Septarian nodules are among the finest in the world with others being found in England, New Zealand, Morocco, and Madagascar. Explore Red Fleet State Park's cleverly built trail that crosses sandy washes, ribs of exposed stone and a dinosaur trackway. The Salt Lake City area is home to a fascinating geological history and, as a result, many interesting rocks to find. Schedule an appointment with your local museum or university to help identify your specimen. Fee mining sites are places where you can pay a fee to dig, pan, or search for rocks, minerals or gemstones and keep whatever you find. Farmington Canyon is located in the Wasatch Mountain range, which meanders through the state and meets with the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. These include barite, calcite, chlorite, epidote, galena, garnet, magnetite, sphalerite, spinal, tetrahedrite, cerussite, malachite, pyrite, quartz, and azurite. Whole and split, as well as conjoined and misshapen, Moqui Marbles can be found embedded in Southern Utahs sandstone walls or covering the ground and pooling in shallow divots. Box 122 Hinckley UT, 84635 435-864-8823 E-mail: anewdiginc@frontiernet.net website Apache Tears The best part is the kickoff bash they hold each year where they have classes, food, a raffle, and reveal the list of field trips for the upcoming year. They are known for their beauty and unique coloring. Turn right (West) on the dirt road there (NOT the one into the Geneva gravel pit), 6. **Important update 05/01/2019** *Due to ongoing construction, this location is currently off limits to collecting without permission. A group barbeque area is also available. You can drive your passenger car and park along the sides of the highway to snap photos or get out and explore the rocks and minerals found in the area. It is also best to take this hike with someone else, and not alone. Moqui Marbles formed underground as iron-rich groundwater slowly coated and compacted sandstone into spheres. Hi, great spot. The gentleman (sorry, I cant remember his name) is quite knowledgeable about the Southern and Central Utah rock hounding scene. They have a decent selection, but it just didnt seem as warm or legitimate as the other locations. During the ride, you will see rocks made from iron, magnesium, and chlorite. An official website of the United States government. Just south of The Dugway Geode Beds, Topaz Mountain is a place where you can find a variety of minerals. If you are planning on a longer stay, they have cabins available for rent on their property as there are quite a few other exciting recreational adventures to be had around that area. The best rockhounding strewn fields in Arizona are found in the high deserts of the following regions in the state: Winslow, Arizona. You can tell the geode from the surrounding rock by its round shape and dark gray color. Incredibly friendly gentleman. You should be able to drive your vehicle to the parking area with no problem. Backcountry trails beckon with the chance to discover precious gemstones, climbing routes and airy summits with expansive views across southwestern Utah. Turn left (west) and travel 1 mile to I-84. Because of the algae present in the lake, crystals can be found in a variety of colors including pink. Source Topaz If you look on the map on the locations page I placed the pin right on the dig we ended up going past and coming back to. (4) The number of feet or acreage claimed. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/White-Winds-Stone-Jewelry/154198026598. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material. Very nice people! Be mindful of collecting rules. If you discover an artifact, do NOT touch or remove it. The location of a placer claim shall be made in the following manner: (1) The name of the claim. Guardsman Pass is just another great spot to stop and try your luck searching for rocks and stones. At the shop you can find a variety of septarians and petrified wood around the area and then piles of other great stuff as well. Do not continue on the causeway to the island. Dig down deep enough to the bedrock and you might just find some more world class sized clusters. Looking for things to do in Vernal, Utah? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Went out today for the first time. Here youll find a road veering off to the left (South) through a ravine and up a small canyon. The only way to get there after you park your vehicle is to hike the two miles to the Canyon. Visit the park and Museum for a peek into Utahs past, plus hiking and ATV trails. Staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. We have an instagram page you can look at. It is a picturesque area; the slide is 40 feet high, and each side is 25 feet apart. Like many other shows, theyll have field trips, craft demonstrations, workshops, the whole bit! Plus find backcountry maps, Lake Powell maps and so much more. Open full screen to view more. Exploring Horseshoe Canyon isnt for everyone. This quarry contains (you guessed it) wonderstone. Lots of good stuff here and most of it from Utah. Take Exit 317 onto 400 W. North and travel this road east for 3.4 miles as it becomes 400 E. North. These geodes are primarily made of different types of quartz. Search the material up top to find different rocks from different locations. It began forming about 75 million years ago. I havent had the chance to visit this location yetnot officially anyway. The areas main attraction is the colorful, volcanic glass called wonderstone. Thats four rock shops in one small town! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-78464863', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Torry related attractions like Escalanta Park, Little Wildhourse Canyon, Goblin Valley Park, Petrified Trail, etc). Explore Utah's Mighty Five National Parks-Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Drive six miles west on Antelope Drive to the Great Salt Lake. Website: I cant find a website for this location, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Desert-Collectors/164408473584960. Although unique and interesting rocks are available throughout the state, there are several areas of Utah that attract rock hounders from around the world. Park City. Or A Compound? In remote Park Valley, Utah, a short stretch of the Rocky Mountains seem to be tinted green by the exposed earth jutting out from the sagebrush. 2 other families visited while we were there. Garnet Hill is also an excellent location to view the excavations of the massive open pit copper mines near Ruth, Nevada. Yes this area is now closed to the public. Holbrook, Arizona. Turn left (East) on the road that goes up the hill (back toward Mt. Riley Canyon is known for its red-horned coral fossils. Don't forget to pick up your "evolution of a rockhound" t-shirt for just 14 bucks! We are obsessed with the outdoors, and work constantly to bring you the information you need to enjoy the rocks and minerals you've added to your collection. Marine fossils located near Cedar City, Utah, June 23, 2019 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News. Directions to Muddy Creek Septarian Nodule Dig: 1. Turn left (South) onto Redwood Road and drive another 8.3 miles to the Dyno Nobel plant turnoff, 5. Address: 95 East 500 North Fillmore, UT 84631 Latitude/Longitude: 39.666259, -113.124711 Directions: From Nephi, travel southwest from Nephi on Hwy 132 for about 34 miles to the town of Lynndyl and the junction with Hwy 6. For example, yellow and maroon bands are caused by the iron oxides. Jim runs this rock shop right out of a small bedroom of his house. As we begin to explore some great places to collect rocks, fossils, and stones, bond with nature, and return with some great memories and tangible treasure, here are some great places to start. About a mile down the road is the Golden Spike National Historic Site. Will definitely stop again! Box 146100, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6100 info@utahpaleo.org 85 reviews . It is fairly small as rock shops go, but they have some great stuff. We live in NM in the summer and Sun City, Az in the winter. The public is not allowed to retrieve trilobites from the rock face of the quarry, but visitors can collect fossils from the piles of loose rock pulled from the quarry by commercial collectors. Before rock hunters begin traversing Southern Utah's thick forests and red rock deserts in search of fossils, rocks and minerals, they should do their research. Would like to see all of you folks some day. Vernon Hills, in Utah, is also public land under the Bureau of Land Management. AndShesDopeToo is a worldwide adventure community of women run by Jennifer and Taylor Killian from Ogden, Utah. It's outlined in the book. Drive 20.5 miles on US-20 until you run into US-89. Location: Roughly 38 miles west of Utah Highway 6 Ask him about some of the maps he has around the Topaz mountain area. The red horn coral found there also features light pink and deep red color tones and a unique cell structure. Stone from this quarry is in the Utah State Capital Building, The Mormon Chappel in Washington D.C., and the Lincon Memorial, as well as other buildings. Utah Rockhounding Couple 2 weeks ago HUGE gold ring found metal detecting & its dated almost 100 years old with initials engraved inside Sunstone Knoll // Labradorite Crystals In The Utah. Since almost everything at this location is encrusted in a brownish or whitish clay, it is quite easy to lose track of these little specimens as you shovel and dig and explore about. All in all it was disappointing. Ancient erosion and modern cinema joined forces to elevate Monument Valley to one of the world's most iconic places to visit but it's also the sacred home of the Navajo people. My favorite was the greenish semi-transparent stuff we found on the other side of the mountain. Type of rocks/minerals: Trilobites But I do feel this spot would be worthwhile. If you know of any other shows Ive missed or if any of the information needs updating please let me know. Brown, wooden signs will direct you to the Visitor Center, which is the last place for good cell reception and restrooms. Thanks, Milt Davis 505-400-7360 [emailprotected]. They are most often found in clay soil surrounding the water and will sparkle when you see them. Wonderstone Quarry is a peaceful, remote rockhounding site in Vernon Hills, Tooele. UFOP, c/o Utah Geological Survey, P.O. The metamorphic structure of this quartzite . So sorry it has been so long since the last post. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. So far, Ive only been able to cut the ones found from this area, but I hope to polish them up and post some pictures very soon. From the intersection of 800 North and I-15 in Orem, Utah, 1. 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Would like to see all of their prehistoric souvenirs home which meanders through the state: Winslow Arizona... So much more even better pieces than what they had dug out deep enough to the Center. Every day about the location, you actually do not continue on road! ) and travel this road East for 3.4 miles as it climbs up into the area long! To snow in Arizona are found in the state things to do in Vernal, Utah, 1 slide. Into Utahs past, plus hiking and ATV trails created guides for every U.S. state including thousands rockhounding... Rainbow citrine location for the next time I comment all find remove..