We found loads of great agate there, and if you take a 4 wheeler ride up casto wash, you will find agate the entire way, but not in the quantities that you find on agate hill. We spent the rest of the day searching the area they suggested we try, but were, for the most part, unsuccessful (not to mention extremely tired). 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. We know of plenty of spots to find excellent material for cutting and tumbling. Glauconite, Collophane, Apatite, Francolite, Phosphorite. Also I didnt see any no trespassing signs. Hi Jason! Albite, Alunite, Bornite, Calcite, Chalcocite, Copper, Cuprite, Rutile, Sylvanite, Tenorite, many other minerals. Visitors and locals alike work old abandoned mining claims for placer gold, and people actually find small quantities. Apatite, Colophane, Fluorapatite, Francolite, Phosphorite, Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Petrified wood. Currently Rockhounding 33.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 8.3K Share Save 256K views 1 year ago Let's talk about Agates and Jasper some. Azurite, Barite, Cerussite, Galena, Jamesonite, Malachite, Pyrite. The recurring colors I was seeing were yellow, white, brown, pink, red, orange, and grey. Salt Lake City, UT 84114 Anglesite, Azurite, Cerussite, Galena, Malachite, Autunite, Orpiment, Realgar, Pyrite, Hematite, Marcasite, etc. 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. But i had more fun collecting down lower in the washes. Drive for 7.2 miles and the destination will be on the right (South). 1594 West North Temple, Suite 3110 Beryl, Chalcedony, Fluorite, Garnet, Topaz, Gold, Lead, and Silver minerals, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Fluorite, Galena, Limonite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Beryl, Calcite, Fluorite, Garnet, Hematite, Quartz crystals, Topaz. Let me know if you are ever in SoCal in the fall or winter and want to go rockhounding out here in the Mojave. Turn north on the dirt road and drive about two miles, then turn west toward Topaz Mountain. Good to hear you managed to grab some big ones as well. We passed a group of young skiers just learning the basics on what little snow had fallen the day before. Agate Hilloffers excellent agate in many colors. Petrified wood is more difficult to find, probably because the larger specimens have already been collected. The goal was to fill up some buckets with agate to stare at and play around with while we remain cooped up all winter. So come and enjoy some quality time with your friends and family collecting these exquisite Opals! Western Utah is perhaps the best place in the entire state for rockhounding, thanks in large part to the world famous Dugway Geode Beds. Aragonite, Bloedite, Gypsum, Halite, Thenardite, Mirabilite. Most pieces are black but some reddish-brown and snowflake obsidian can be found. From precious gems to ancient fossils, much can be found in our West Desert country. The agate and chert at this location are white, gray, green, purple, orange, and red. When you have gone 31 miles youll come to a road that heads southwest. Some of the sunstones (golden labradorite) are the size of small fingernails. I love this area! Thanks for posting. Since those dont look like very good directions to Brian Head, you might want to change it to Agate Hill You can delete this log, but I just wanted to let you know about the copy/paste error. Hill City Kansas Greetings~Boat ers On Lake~Night Moon Shines On Water~1940 Linen. :
In general, the best places to rockhound in Utah are the gravels of streams, washes, and draws, as well as old mining dumps and rocky outcrops. 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. The petrified wood is tan and found in small pieces. The mining districts of the Wasatch mountains are perhaps the best places to go rockhounding in the Salt Lake area. Visit Garden of the Gods, take a driveor tour to Pike's Peak, go zip lining or take a cave tour. You never know what mysteries you will find underground. Antlerite, Bornite, Fluorite, Hematite, Limonite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Cerussite, Galena, Quartz, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Malachite. Hi Ryan! I think the majority of shooters generally go over to the Lake Mountains up North or maybe further out into the West Desert. Agate Hill Inn Corner of Spencer and Cave Avenues Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829 Phone: (719)685-0685 . I may have a trailer on the truck and would hate to not be able to turn around. Box 122 AboutPressCopyrightContact. 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). Disappointed about that aspect. 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. The mines are almost too numerous to count but offer a large selection of rocks and minerals. Fossil Mountain is one of the better places in the Western US to find a variety ofshells and other invertebrate fossils. Caineville 7.5-minute topographic map. 1: Agate Hill Utah Rockhound Guide One man's ramblings in the deserts and mountains of Utah. Big J and I had the chance to do one last hoorah before winter sets in and snow covers all of our favorite spots. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. 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. Azurite, Cuprite, Chalcedony, Chalcopyrite, Malachite, Pyrite, Pyrolusite, Rhodochrosite, Jasper, Albite, Biotite, Diopside, Garnet, Gold, Idocrase, Molybdenite, Pyrite, Scheelite, Tourmaline, Tremolie, Wollastonite, Garnet, Idocrase, Microcline, Orthclase, Muscovite, Pyrite, Scheelite, Andesine, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Magnetite, Anhydrite, Geodes (chalcedony), Gypsum, Halite, Selenite. Drive to the end of the spur road and then start looking for fossils in the wash and on the mountainside. The trees and vegetation have been leveled in several areas as the previous comments mentioned so the collecting is prime! Thanks again! 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. It will be on the left. We spent yesterday in the Thomas Range and added some great new locations to our collection. Turn right (North) for .68 miles to a fork in the road where you will hang left for another .32 miles to another fork, 4. You can dig pretty much anywhere, but the claim is located near the Northeast corner of the beds and the easiest route to get there is to take the road that wraps wide around the left side and pops out on the North side of the claim. We just went today, no snow, (2/17/18) it was easy to get there in our truck. To get to the hill, drive northeast from Delta on US Hwy 6/50 to the Brush Wellman Road (about 11 miles). We found so many awesome agate pieces! S in Morrison formation, Dry Lake Wash, Dume Point, & White Wash deposits, Thompson Springs, surrounding area, esp. Any theories? Turn Right (West) on W 100 North for 33.2 miles until you hit Highway 6, 4. 1. Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Petrified wood may be collected for non-commercial use only from public lands up to 25 pounds plus one piece of any size per day with a yearly limit of 250 pounds. Others are larger and yellow in color. You will find a lot more jasper in this area we dont do much with jasper but were able to find a few nice agates. From Delta, drive southwest on US Hwy 6/50 for about 51 miles to the road leading south through Blind Valley. The beauty of the area surrounding this location really is extraordinary. Most of the economic mines in the state were after copper-family minerals. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Azurite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Chlorite, Chrysocolla, Galena, Gold, Gypsum, Jarosite, Malachite, Opal, Pyrite, Siderite, Sphalerite, etc. Thanks for your postings and tips on where to seek rocks and minerals in beautiful Utah. Coffinite, Doloresite, Uraninite, Azurite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Malachite, Pyrite, Vanadium, Carnotite, Cerussite, Galena, Fluorite, etc. Agate is scattered over the top of the large hill to the west. 801-537-3320 or 1-888-UTAH-MAP. 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. A wide variety of rocks, minerals and fossils can be found in our West Desert country. Drive 21.5 miles and turn left (North) onto US-189 N/Us-40 W/South Main Street in Heber, 4. It will be tempting to crack them open right there on site with your rock hammer to see what each one contains, but dont fall into that trap. I am conducting the expedition and I am inviting you to come with us. Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. Ive actually also heard of some really nice pieces actually coming from inside the mines around the area. I can promise you that they will look much better on your shelf with a clean cut and polish . When I zoomed in it looked like there were buried logs all over the area. Kanosh: Turn east onto the dirt road and travel about 6 miles to the sign for Black Spring. Barite, Calcite, Chlorite, Epidote, Galena, Garnet, Magnetite, Sphalerite, Spinal, Tetrahedrite, Cerussite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz, Azurite, etc. 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. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Or, take US 6&50 west of Delta to SR 257 and turn south. Bieberite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Marcasite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Uraninite, etc. Turn south on U.S. Highway 6 and drive for approximately five miles. Natural Resources Map & Bookstore Follow that road southwest and then south for 12.5 miles to a spur which heads southwest to the north side of Fossil Mountain. Alunite, Azurite, Barite, Cerussite, Chysocolla, Copper, Galena, Limonite, Malachite, Variscite, Wulfenite, Hematite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, etc. Turn right onto the Black Spring dirt road and park in the open area by the watering trough. Hey yall! Agate everywhere. Work the canyon bottom and foothills for specimens. Drive Hwy 257 south from Deseret for about 43 miles, until you come to a sign identifying a road that heads east. The ESR green road sign is set back off the road but there to confirm your decision once you have committed to the road. When does it snow down there? If you check the parcel map on this web site it shows that everything is BLM land and the no trespassing signs are bogus. I thought Woohoo, an undiscovered petrified forest!. Galena, Pyrite, Quartz, Sphalerite, Cerussite, Silver, Hematite, Limonite, Pyrolusite, Pyrite, Barite, Jasper, etc. Golden labradorite is believed to increase inner strength, vitality, courage, mental clarity, endurance and spiritual focus. Junipers have a deep taproot. An annual permit if $10 per person or $200 per family. I like to learn to use it . Drive another 10.4 miles to the four way stop in the town of Francis and go straightonto UT-35 East/W Main Village Way, 6. 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. Rock on! Most pieces are black but some reddish-brown and snowflake obsidian can be found. Follow US Hwy 6/50 west from Delta for about 54 miles to the Painter Springs Road. Either way, it might be bad news for rockhounds for the next little while. Turn left (East) onto UT-20 E and drive 20.5 miles to US-89, 3. Apache Tears (round nodules of obsidian) form if water is present during the cooling of obsidian lava. Again, as with many of the other locations I have been to and mention on this site, the directions to this place were completely off-base in the other books and references I was using so I have corrected that below. We considered state hill on a trip last year, but we missed it. From the turnoff you can clearly see the mountain. Follow the east dirt road until you see a knoll outcropping hill north of the road. If you search in the right place you may even be able to find some plume agate and snowflake obsidian. A rock hounding permit is required to collect on these lands. After seeing your picture, I really wish we had gone. Youll now begin your hike into Rileys canyon. Was there a few days ago. From Caineville, travel 8.5 miles west on Utah Highway 24 to where the road crests over a pass. See ourrockhounding map. On the north side of the road, collecting can begin next to the road and continue up the hillslopes. It was only with about 30-45 minutes before we had to leave for the day that we finally found what we presume to be the location. Agate can be found in many excellent colors at Agate Hill. P.O. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is located just northwest of Notch Peak. Your email address will not be published. The spur road leads into a wash that defines the north edge of the mountain. November 19, 2014 3264 1840 Brian Head Agate. 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 . For example, I will often list a particular mining district that has several nearby mines. These sediments eventually became mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates; cavities in these rocks were later filled in with the quartz. Turn left (East) onto UT-20 E and drive 20.5 miles to US-89 3. Nearby in the Burbank Hills are Devonian to Permian carbonate rocks, named after Margie Burbank Clay, the wife of local Judge E. W. Clay. Petrified wood is fossil wood in which the organic material has been replaced by cryptocrystalline quartz during the process of fossilization. We followed your directions and stayed at the East base of the hill, found a good wash area and scored some amazing rocks! Chapel Hill, N.C. : Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2006. 324 South State As you said, this is a great close location. As always, please let me know if you have any new information on ANY of these locations or if I have any incorrect information. 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. But here goes nothing. Most state lands are administered by the Schools and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. Follow that road 17 miles to the Denderite site. The first location is just north of a dirt road you enter heading West, .7 mile from the exit on route 24. 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, 1 gal Bucket not to Exceed 10 lbs is only $ 40.00 One, 3 gal Bucket not to Exceed 30 lbs is only $ 80.00 One, 5 gal Bucket not to Exceed 50 lbs is only $100.00 Pricing Discounts for Large Groups and Clubs! Actinolite, Barite, Bismuth, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyrolusite, Rutile, Tetrahedrite, etc. Drive Hwy 257 south from Deseret for about 43 miles, until you come to a sign identifying a road that heads east. The first place we visited was located near Brian Head ski resort (I do love snowboarding here with the Misses in the rockhounding offseason). 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. It leads to a great find of Chicken Scratch Jasper. Like many of the other locations I have on this site, the directions and distances can and will vary quite a bit from what you will see in books or on other websites. Other sources include: Connecticut Rockhounding Location Guide & Map, Massachusetts Rockhounding Location Guide & Map. Sunday, May 4, 2008 Thomas Range Pt. Phone: (435) 259-2100. Magnetite, Wulfenite, Azurite, Bornite, Diopside, Garnet, Magnetite, Malachite, Apatite, Pyrite, Scheelite, etc. The exciting thing to find while out looking for jasper are thin walled geodes with crystals of celestite, calcite and quartz . 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. Smith, Lee. Thanks so much bro. Youll find some killer burgers and some proud Eurekans who are always good for a story or two. My brother and I went to remote area in SE Oregon. 4. 1. Rockhounding Utah by Gary Warren and William A. Kappele. To Kanosh. Agate Hill is at the intersection of Spencer and Cave Avenues. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Survey Notes, v. 27 no. I live in Idaho and Id like to head down that way, but not if its for nothing. Obviously, it seems silly to randomly dig holes all over the mountainside, but you might have similar luck checking holes where someone (or something) has already done the work for you. Turn left (East) onto Brian Head Peak Road and drive .4 miles to the creek that runs right under the road. We are huge fans of Southern Utah and have been for 30 years. Salt Lake City, UT 84114 If youre planning on heading to the field, make sure you have all the gear youll need! The R.O.C.K. Mahogany, snowflake, and black obsidian can be found on the hillsides and on the roadbeds near Coyote Spring and Black Spring. Hi Ratwaffles! I am a little reluctant to post this since I havent exactly become an expert on this particular area just yet. Drive for 6.5 miles and turn right (North) on Redwood Road, 4. Painter Springsarea offers garnets, pyrite, muscovite, quarts and other interesting rocks. This made for an easy scoping of the area, but I didnt know the reason for it. Agates galore, as promised! Weathering of these rocks has released the agate, chert, and jasper that now are scattered on the terrain. In Connecticut, I would recommend starting with the County Assessors office. Azurite, Malachite, Andalusite, Jasper, Malachite, Pyrite, etc. When we got there it was cut Junipers! Continue another 6.0 miles to destination on left (there is a parking area at the base of the canyon), 7. 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 collectors have found geodes also containing jasper or calcite, barite, or amethyst crystals which is a real treat. 257. We went slow and made it over the big bumps in our Pilot. 1.8K views 2 months ago 49th. Nevertheless, it is a good location to add to Utahs vast database of rockhounding opportunities! I dont want to lead any of you astray! Drive on a small connector road for about 270 feet before taking a right (North) on the road to the destination for 550 feet. Depending on the cottage spare bedrooms have either twin or full beds. We found most of ours along the sides of the revine. Were you able to drive right up to the location or did you have to hike around? The Salt Lake area, like much of the rest of Utah, contains an almost endless supply of rockhounding locations consisting of old mining dumps, stream gravels, draws, and washes. Autunite, Carnotite, Corvusite, Uvanite, etc. The effort is mostly centered on old claims in the Amasa Valley, southwest of Marjum Canyon. Bring a wide hammer Bring a pick and a chisel Bring eye protection Bring lots of water Don't expect to find any garnets of substantial size Don't go in the middle of the day when it's hot and sunny Getting there & other important notes: The official name is Garnet Fields Rockhound Area, but the locals call it Garnet Hill. Awesome directions and finds!! It's a Large size geocache, with difficulty of 1.5, terrain of 2. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. Thanks and be careful out there peace and love to all! Gold, Arsenopyrite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite. Joining up with a local rockhounding club for a group trip can often get you access to otherwise off-limits locations like privately owned mines and quarries. EDIT: The family who owns the Bug House contacted me and gave me an updateWe have recently lost Dugway geode claims to the BLM. Inquire locally for ideas and directions. Bornite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla. Drive South on I-15 for 178.4 miles until exit 95 toward US-89/Panguitch/Kanab, 2. Eroded holes in the face of the mountain attest to the forces of nature sculpting the peak by removing the softer pumice. Turn left (East) onto UT-20 E and drive 20.5 miles to US-89 3. website. From Delta go west on US Hwy 6/50 for about 32 miles to the signed road leading to U-Dig. As always, make sure to gain permission from any landowners or claim holders before collecting on their property. This is beautiful, remote country, I love it! The next location is on a dirt road heading east 4.2 miles from I-70, or 3.5 miles from the first dirt road. Just call: Jerry at (801) 503-8736 for a Date and Time., 2. its our first rock hounding. I have written entire articles which cover the rockhounding laws and regulations for nearly every type of public land you can think of. wasnt sure if the picture to post was accurate or if the hill is just behind whoever took the picture as thats where i found my rocks. Several of the roads have been closed likely when they chained the cedar trees. I think last weeks rain must have stirred things up because so many specimens were laying in plain site- perfect for my kids. Turn left (South) on Highway 6 for 16 miles until you hit Highway 50, 5. Agate, Azurite, Dolomite, Malachite, Garnet, Rutile, Bornite, Calcite, Chalcedony, Diopside, Galena, Limonite, Malachite, Opal, Pyrite, etc. This site contains affiliate links to products. So many colors in the rocks we found. Hi The Dude. 1594 North Temple One of the more interesting sites to check out is the Moses Rock and Comb Ridge area in the southeastern part of the state. Scattered on the gray- and brown-colored hills are pieces of agate, chert, jasper, and petrified wood, as well as large black boulders deposited by ancient streams. id imagine anywhere along the road would have them too. Agate Hill near Bryce Canyon - Rockhounding Utah 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"). Early Ordovician fossil-bearing rock from six distinct rock formations roughly 485 to 470 million years old are to be found: the House Limestone, Fillmore Formation, Wah Wah Limestone, Juab Limestone, Kanosh Shale, and Lehman Limestone. 07/07/2011. Hi Yiwen! (From Delta go west on US Hwy 6/50 for about 32 miles to the signed road leading to U-Dig. It is probably only a 45 minute drive (max) from Orem. stands for Rockhounders Outreach for Community Knowledge. The only problem with coming as a guest is you wont be covered under our club accident insurance. We were able to drive right up only had to move one tree branch out of the way. Great stuff out there! Drive pass the sign to the west end of the pavement. Drive up the hill and over the crest. The further away from the roads you get, the better the stuff you find. When I was little my mom and dad and I would go out to rock hound all the times but being young I dont remember alot of it so even though I did it alot when I was young and knew what I was looking for then today I feel like Im starting all over lol many years went by that we stopped so still learning spots and rocks. Azurite, Cerussite, Copper, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Galena, Gold, Limonite, Malachite, Orpiment, Pyrite, Quartz, Realgar, Rhodochrosite, Sphalerite, etc. Monday through Friday, We are easy walking distance to downtown Mantiou enjoy restaurants, shopping, art galleries,microbreweries, wine shops and the old fashioned Manitou Acrade . Go around the turn, through the wash and up the little hill. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation and Vehicle Guide to the House Range Resource Area map. Beryl, Fluorite, Scheelite, Azurite, Gold, Malachite, Galena, Pyrolusite, Beryl, Sphalerite, etc. To make things easier, Ill break the state up into several areas and discuss the rockhounding sites and anything noteworthy in each region. The petrified wood is tan and found in small pieces. I went there last Tuesday with the person in our club that heard about the new road. I noticed right off the bat several large boulders of agate just chilling right there in the creek. This is super unfortunate because this is one of our favorite go-to locations for when we only have time for a quick run close to home. Follow it for about 3 miles, to where a dirt road forks south. We are easy walking distance to downtown Mantiou enjoy restaurants, shopping, art galleries,microbreweries, wine shops and the old fashioned Manitou Acrade . Road was wet and muddy in places, i used 44 to stop sliding around. Amethyst, Azurite, Bornite, Carnotite, Chalcocite, Chrysocolla, Limonite, Malachite, Molybdenite, etc. Downtown Colorado Springs is just four miles away. Probably could get there in a van when the road is dry. All the jasper I found was nice, with good coloring. It's free! PO BOX 146100 They were definitely picture worthy!Reds, yellows, blues, blacks, and whites mostly, but we only explored a small section of the river. Little flakes, larger softball size, and some big rocks poking out of the dirt my guess 2-3ft diameter. Up to 25 pounds per day plus one piece per person is allowed. On Google Earth or Google satellite view you can see this from above as a large white area on the map where the dirt road drops down a bit. This Agate Hill is truly a hill made up almost entirely of agatejust about every single rock you pick up will be some sort of agate. so Im glad you brought up more details on the directions. Carnallite, Halite, Kainite, Kieserite, Polyhalite, Sylvite, etc. Drive on Highway 73 for 20.9 miles through the towns of Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield until the highway starts to turn back Northwestward, 6. Almost 70% of Utah is BLM land open for recreational rockhounding. We came across one of these claims on one of the ridges (there was a little red shack next to it). Analcite, Anhydrite, Crocidolite, Fluorapatite, Illite, Pyrite, Bassanite, Dawnsite, Riebeckite, Shortite, etc. Anhydrite, Chalcopyrite, Copper, Gold, Gypsum, Malachite, Agate, Jasper, Petrified dinosaur bone, Jasperized dinosaur bone. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "449ea551b1326ba1099098f322f2d915"; Im sure there are multiple agate hills throughout the world, but the two I know of in Utah are one located in the Drum Mountains South of Topaz Mountain and another one located Southeast of Panguitch near the West wall of Bryce Canyon National Park. So good to hear that you and the kids came out with some great stuff! ISBN: 1-56512-452-9. The next week, after searching online and staring at Google satellite images for hours on end, we determined to take the Cedar Hollow road just past the town of Woodland that seems to wrap up and around the location (mainly so we didnt have to hike as muchwe are lazy farts like that). We went out to this site yesterday. Fluorite, Bertrandite, Carnotite, Chalcedony, Chalcopyrite, Fluorite, Hematite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Quartz. The Tintic Mining Museum is right there on the downtown strip or, right as you get into town, there is a small restaurant called the 3 Prospectors. I noticed some jasper there too as you usually would see. There are a lot of trees so you can find plenty of shade which is nice, Has any one been to this location recently Im wanting to go with my husband and 2 kids my 2 yr old son lives rocks and Im slowly teaching/learning about rock my self. We never saw any no trespassing signs. A couple of years ago we found your blog about agate on the saddle of the peak and hiked all over it and found some nice cutting and tumbling material. The site is so rich that you cant walk 5 feet without stepping on jasper. The casual rock hound or collector may take small amounts of fossils, gemstones and rocks fromunrestricted federal lands in Utah without obtaining a special permit if for personal, non-commercial purposes. This cache is hidden on a hill covered with agate that we've been to a few times. 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. Many other spots also offer good rockhounding opportunities. A liability waiver must also be signed before entering the site. This is a great place to go since it is so close to home for me. Wonder if these agates were formed differently than normal (i.e. And any good tips on certain area up her to go thanks in advance. This is the next place I will want to do but just checking before the drive with three kids lol. For many of the locations listed here, there are actually many sites in the immediate area worth investigating. Utah is home to a variety of gems and minerals that rivals any other state in the U.S. Take Nephi exit 228 and keep right on Main Street (SW) for 2.7 miles, 3. My parents wanted to get me a birthday present that was customized to me. If you get bored searching the hill itself, I would highly recommend meandering around the washes surrounding the hill, especially to the East when you start getting into the red sand. If you remember, we were coming from the Brian Head location and I noticed we passed several lava flows on Highway 143 while en route to this location. Sometimes it is hard putting together all of the information out there or even just validating its accuracy in the first place. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system youll find anywhere. Sunstone Knoll is about 11 miles south of Deseret, just east of Hwy. These ornamental rocks are attractive for their colors, shapes, or as mementos of the geologic past. Aragonite, Bloedite, Gypsum, Halite, Glauberite, Thenardite, Apatite, Allumite, Biotite, Hornblende, Magnetite, Microcline, Feldspar, Pyrite, Quartz, Sphene, Sericite, Sheelite, Zircon. Were headed back out soon for a short summer S.Utah rockhounding trip and noticed the spot at Twisted Forest (which weve snowmobiled over a dozen times in the thick of winter!) Depending on the cottage spare bedrooms have either twin or full beds. Turn left (west) on to Fountain Blvd (U.S. 24). World-famous Fossil Mountain holds perhaps the most diverse accumulation of fossils in one area in the world. Along the main road going north of this tree is the abandoned site of the Antelope Springs Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp established in the 1930s. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. Excellent camp spots dot the ghost town and sandy desert terrain that make for fun ATV riding. Thanks Bill. Bischofite, Carnallite, Halite, Kainite, Keiserite, Polyhalite, Sylvite, etc. Delta, Utah 84624 As always, please let me know if you have any new information on ANY of these locations or if I have any incorrect information. Turn left (South) onto Redwood Road and drive another 8.3 miles to the Dyno Nobel plant turnoff. You will cross railroad tracks and eventually run into Highway 36 running North to South, 8. Following the directions where it says go right /north for .32 miles there is a rockslide at .3 miles blocking the road so we parked right there and walked the rest of the way. Salt Lake City Utah USA Collectible Topographical Postcards, . Also, it is super hot and many of the vegetation was cleared out a year or so ago I think so Id prepare for that as well. I really hope it wont be closed for good. 801-539-4001, Lynndyl and Fish Springs 1:100,000-scale topographic maps, Topaz Mountain East 7.5-minute topographic map. 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. Please update your website letting people know there is no longer a fee to dig geodes. Again, as with many of the other locations I have been to and mention on this site, the directions to this place were completely off-base in the other books and references I was using so I have corrected that below. be warned/prepared! Turn west on the Brush Wellman road and travel 38 miles until you reach the Topaz Mountain sign. Many people we had asked about this location mentioned that it was about a mile and a half from the base of the canyon. FYI, their are no trespassing signs all along the road. 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. Let us know how they polish up , Hello Yang, I have two tumblers and a vibratory polisher, I would be happy to sell one of the tumblers, so you can polish your agates, you can contact me at my email address [emailprotected]. Azurite, Barite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Fluorite, Galena, Limonite, Pyrite, Quartz, Pyrolusite, Selenite, Sphalerite, Sylvanite, Malachite, etc. Thanks again for your comment! These private areas charge a fee to dig in their quarries, but can almost guarantee that you will find trilobites. Otherwise, dig where others have, and look for rocks holding the crystals within hollow cavities by cracking them open. Salt Lake City, Utah 84116, Mailing Address: 350 East 300 South Agate, Agatized clams, Anhydrite, Carnotite, Gypsum, Jasper, Jasperized dinosaur bones, Petrified wood. Find directions to Agate, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more. The Antelope Springs area in Millard County is one of the best places on earth to find trilobite fossils. club in Salt Lake City. Glad You Asked: What should you do if you find a fossil? Garnet (pyrope, Arizona Rubies), Chlorite, Corundum, Rutile, Spinel. Deseret: Obsidian can be found west ofBlack Rock. Take the Casto Canyon road and follow your gps from there. The views alone are totally worth it! One of the best perks of rockhounding in Utah is the enormous amount of public land open to recreational use. Glad You Asked: Ice Ages What are they and what causes them? Tip: Check out my Complete Rock Tumbling Guide to make your rocks and gemstones really shine! Easy parking can be found off the road. About eBay; I was wondering if the jasper there had a specific name so Im glad you shared that. Bismutite, Rhodochrosite, Fluorite, Quartz, Azurite, Cerussite, Galena, Malachite, Calcite, Garnet, Limonite, Pyrite, Wulfenite, Sphalerite, etc. My two elementary aged kids and I had a great time here today. (For those interested, the rumor is that ebay user Carver2 is the owner of the claim). Bureau of Land Management maps are available from: BLM Utah Office Join now to view geocache location details. The old mines in the area will contain the largest variety of minerals (and likely more exotic finds) but there are many more accessible locations where you can find nice specimens of minerals like garnet, magnetite, onyx, agate, chalcedony, and petrified wood. The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Azurite, Barite, Calamine, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Galena, Gypsum, Kaolinite, Malachite, Opal, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Wulfenite, Zircon, etc. I went out today and was still able to get in. We did find several specimens, but our enthusiasm to return to this location is off the charts. Drive South on I-15 for 194 miles until exit 78 toward UT-143/Parowan/Paragonah, 2. Take exit 278 and turn left (West) onto Pioneer crossing, 3. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We have family in mammoth, going to check around there too! The colors most seen are clear, white, purple, and pink (I really like the pink ones for some reason). Drive for 49.5 miles on Pony Express Road until you see the brown sign on the right for the geode beds, 10. Starting in Delta, follow US 6 north about 11 miles to the Brush Wellman Road. 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). E-mail:[emailprotected] To determine what type of public land a particular location is on, I would recommend starting with the Bureau of Land Managements Utah Maps. Agate Map The City of Agate is located in Grand County in the State of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah 84114. Could have driven my car there. Turn left (South) onto North Main Street for 1.2 miles, 3. Quartz crystals and other rocks and minerals are embedded in the tuff. We visited this location the last two Saturdays and finally found the specific site spoken of in several of the resources Ive come across (we think). There are abandoned mines and mine dumps scattered everywhere. Email:
[email protected]. This usually makes for a great adventure and you may want to bring a kite or a pinwheel or something for the kids. The majority of these locations are my interpretation of Robert Bestes A Location Guide for Rock Hounds in the United States. Awesome Steve! The owner of the claim, Jerry, commented below and I want to include the information he provided in the post itself, Hello! Most of the Dugway geodes I have collected have been hollow and full of chalcedony and beautiful druzy quartz crystals. Near this intersection Apache Tears can be found scattered on the surface of the ground. 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. Ive seen some of the cabs and other jewelry people have made from this type of opal and really is quite exquisite. It is said that Millard County is one of the best locations in the world for rockhounding because of the variety of rocks, and exhilarating rare finds. Agate Hill Road. Cross the freeway to the east and turn south on the first frontage road. Utah Rockhound Guide: Thomas Range Pt. Take a right (West) into the town of Delta on Highway 50 for 5.5 miles, 6. Turn left (South) on Highway 257 toward Milford for 65.0 miles and then take a left (East), 7. This is a chance for anyone reading this to help me out though ha ha ha! Also, thank you for the clarifications on the directions. Agate, chert, and jasper are varieties of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz (quartz having crystals that are too small to be detected with a hand lens) that have either a waxy or a dull luster. Took me a few tries, but I found it! Funny story! Thank you for your comment. Hematite, Limonite, Pyrolusite, Magnetite, Thorium, Fluorite, Apatite, Albite, Calcite, Chalcedony, Diopside, Epidote, Garnet, Galena, Quartz, Rutile, etc. Petrified wood is more difficult to find, probably because the larger specimens have already been collected. Utah; Wyoming; Breadcrumb. Agate, Beryle, Chalcedony, Fluorite, Garnet, Opal, Quartz, Topaz, etc. Ive heard they are very helpful in explaining the history behind the geodes and in finding the best and largest specimens to make sure people go home happy. I missed the turnoff from hwy 89, but at intersection of 89 and 12, went west on hwy 12 a little bit and saw a sign for Casto Canyon Road. You can imagine at this point that we were frantically digging with berserk-like fury for anything and everything that resembled what we were looking for, knowing that it might be weeks or even months before we would be able to return. Each cottage has a sitting room, kitchenette, private bath and bedrooms with king sized Select Comfort beds, HDTV/DVD, Air Conditioned. Needless to say, Ive frequented this area quite a bit , From the intersection of 800 North and I-15 in Orem, Utah, 1. Augite, Azurite, Cerussite, Fluorite, Galena, Malachite. From the Weiss Road, drive north along the east side of the mountain for about 2.5 miles and look for the coves. Love Brian Head yearround. Travel about 43 miles, passing the Graymont lime plant, to the sign saying Kanosh 26 (miles.) We searched the hillsides around this claim and found chips and small pieces of the red horn coral, agate, jasper, and various fossils. 83). If you get bored searching the hill itself, I would highly recommend meandering around the washes surrounding the hill, especially to the East when you start getting into the red sand. If you are looking to collect rusty old horseshoes, railroad spikes/nails, and other random bits of metal, this would also be your place. For those of you looking to pan for gold, the San Juan River and Colorado River (as well as their tributaries) are worthwhile destinations for their placer sand deposits. This article will dive deeper into the many great rockhounding sites across the state (along with maps), but Id like to highlight a few standouts here. 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. Agate from Utah, USA Tooele County Dugway Range Dugway Mountains Mining District UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah Gold Hill Mining District (Clifton Mining District) UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah Johnson Pass UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah Contents1 Where can I [] The mountains, washes, and draws in the area are known to contain many interesting mineral species including beryl, calcite, hematite, garnet, limonite, and azurite. We are working to try and get our claims back but for the time being it is now free for all public to go get as many geodes as you want. I cant wait to go back, we want to try to find some malachite/azurite next time! I used google earth to look at the terrain. Topaz Dome Quarry is another famous locality that is a must-visit for any rockhound in the area. FGFTRebUNLVMinM-AM-AO-TAPFPTSIwuakor324-41-21-4139Gilbert336-122-41-35214Harkless121-50-02-4142Rodriguez364-120-01-6228Webster150-10-00-0020McCabe316-100-00 . to S, Tintic Mountains, many area mines and claims, Cricket Mountains, in Prospect Mt. Good catch! Use this resource as a guide to get you started. These hard-shelled prehistoric animals lived on the sea floors and reefs for millions of years. How to get there: From Nephi, Utah, travel 33 miles southwest on State Highway 132 to Lynndyl. I didnt see any on the other side of the road. Corvusite, Uraninite, Autunite, Azurite, Malachite, Chalcocite, etc. ON AGATE HILL. Most of it has a golden tan background with black chicken scratches There was also f few red background jasper with chicken scratches In 2 hours I found one stone with a pink background and chicken scratches. Follow the dirt road for 1.4 miles to its end. Way more than i could ever carry or use. The effort is mostly centered on old claims in theAmasa Valley, southwest of Marjum Canyon. Oxide patterns color these rocks to make them look like plant fossils. Hi Misti! Garnet, Azurite, Biotite, Chlorite, Chrysocolla, Epidote, Limonite, Manetite, Malachite, Quartz, Sulfur, Ziosite, etc. A 360 degree view of my camp near Green River, Utah. Fossils include fusulinacea (fossil shells which can have either one or multiple chambers, some quite elaborate) and stromatoporoids (fossilized sponges). 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. http://www.utahcountyonli.asp?av_serial=611180001. Downtown Colorado Springs is just four miles away. If dealing in agate is your game, then you might want to consider doing some business just Northeast of Eureka. Left a message but havent heard anything back yet. $24.95. Thank you Jeremy! For more information on the private quarries, contact: U-Dig Fossils THROUGH GAMES OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18, 2023. When we got to the site there was jasper all over. Beryl, Calcite, Bixbyite, Carnelian, Carnotite, Chalcedony, Fluorite, Garnet, Hematite, Hyalite, Quartz, Specularite, Topaz, etc. Ive heard of some really cool fossils people have found in the area. Trilobite fossils are extremely popular with collectors. we teach about any where we can get people to listen. Some of them might even have the septarian-like turtle shell looking exterior. Take ramp on left onto US-189 N/E Provo Canyon Road, 3. We are doing an expedition to the Eureka Site this coming Saturday. It seemed like the agate was bedded up in the North bank of the creek and flowed right down into the water. Salt Lake City is even home to the worlds largest open-pit copper mine. E-mail:[emailprotected] People work old abandoned mining claims for placer gold, and people actually find small quantities. Azurite, Carnallite, Gold, Gypsum, Halite, Limonite, Malachite, Pyrolusite, Sylvite, etc. First off, let me mention that I have only been to this location once. Many specimens are broken nodules or pebbles. Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Petrified wood, Silicified wood, Petrified dinosaur bone, Agate, Monazite, Zircon, Agate, (common, moss), Chalcedony, Jasper, Petrified wood, Argentite, Gold, Limonite, Pyrite, Fluorite, Garnet, Quartz, Selenium. as the post says, pretty much any rock you pick up is agate. Agate Hill (GC2ZNRF) was created by caleb.osborn on 7/7/2011. Anyways just wondering if this is still open to public and any good advice how steep is the hike cause of my 2 kids safety first in my book want to make sure its something they can handle. Azurite, Barite, Chalcopyrite, Goethite, Limonite, Magnetite, Malachite, Pyrite, Quartz, Selenite, Siderite, Stilbite, Tourmaline, Wollastonite, etc. R.O.C.K. Turn west and travel 38 miles until you reach the Topaz Mountain sign. I suspect that if you go on the weekends youll have better luck. The most commonly found and collected minerals in Utah 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. I always use Google Maps (especially the satellite view or Google Earth) to get these locations down to as exact as I possibly can. (435) 864-3638 The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information on this page. The Rockhounder: Agate, chert, jasper, and petrified wood between Capitol Reef National Park and Caineville, Wayne County, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, Copyright - Utah Geological Survey - State of Utah. Follow the dirt road for 1.4 miles to its end. Follow that road 17 miles to the Denderite site. Ankerite, Carnotite, Dolomite, Galena, Pyrite, Tetrahedrite, Uraninite, etc. Mining the elusive pigeon blood agate! The Agate time zone is Mountain Daylight Time which is 7 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Turn left (South) on Highway 36 for .6 miles and then turn right (West) onto the Pony Express Road, 9. and also re-visited the agate location above. I havent been here yet, but look forward to going soon. 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. Its October and Im thinking Id like to go before the snow. Turned off there, pass a horseback riding stable for Rubys, pass the trailhead for Casto Canyon, passed most of the red dirt area and came to a rolling hill area, got out of the car, walked about 25 yards uphill and was surrounded by agate. P.O. Of course, you dont have to be limited to just agate in this area if you dont want to. Pumice is present in the formation. 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. Any news since April 5th? Northeastern Utah is a great spot for rockhounding. Unfortunately for rockhounds, the law in most states prohibits them from publishing their names or contact information online. 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. Drive South on I-15 for 26.7 miles to Santaquin exit 244, 2. The locations and information contained in this article are primarily derived from academic papers, online resources, and other outside sources. I know we pulled out a couple that were a deep yellow, but I know the variety of colors here is quite extensive. Something about those black patterns on the yellow background just looks really cool. I am offering Field Trips to the public by Scheduled Appointment. It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. Ive found some nice botryoidal, mossy, and plume agate, but one of my favorites is the yellow dendritic agate. Obsidian can be found west ofBlack Rock. Theyve had heavy equipment in there tearing up all the lower vegetation trees, bushes, rocks everything. 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. Apatite, Biotite, Barite, Cerussite, Limonite, Rhodochrosite, Galena, Magnetite, Hornblende, Prehnite, Pyrite, Quartz, Sphene, Scheelite, Silver, Stilbite, Zircon, etc. Andesite, Augite, Biotite, Chlorite, Magnetite, Barite, Calcite, Chalcedony, Limonite, Pyrolusite. I hope to return to this location in the future, but Im hesitant with the knowledge that it is still most likely under claim. From here the trail turns sketchy and I would recommend a high clearance vehicle to navigate the roads through the beds. GPS coordinates to where we parked in the agate field are: 38.660416, -111.303527Affiliate links to the equipment I use. My name is Jerry, and I was looking at your website and was very impressed with your description of the Milford Opal mine that I have leased from the State. Hinckley UT, 84635 All 50 States Answered, amazing app that highlights roads that provide access to public lands, Utah Geological Survey: Rock & Mineral Collecting Sites. Anhydrite, Carnallite, Gypsum, Halite, Polyhalite, Sylvite, Anhydrite, Carnotite, Gypsum, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Azurite, Bornite, Limonite, Calcite. Turn left (East) onto UT-20 E and drive 20.5 miles to US-89, 3. I wonder if anyone knows what they are doing. Turn right (West) on East Main Street for 16.6 miles to Elberta Slant Road 3. There are so many rockhounding locations in Utah that it can be overwhelming. With great desolation comes great hidden riches. Pull-off at the top should have plenty of room to turn a trailer around. The number of different minerals and gems you can find in this area is astounding. Im guessing it is either that big deal some people have been talking about with Rio Tinto coming in and drilling for copper and gold or maybe it is still the Chief Consolidated Mining Company that was there before. Alunite, Jarosite, Limonite, Pyrite, Selenite, Azurite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Malachite, Sphalerite. Follow it north about 12.89 miles to a spur road that goes east. If you would be so kind as to clarifying the directions for me and include GPS coordinates if youve recorded them. 2, February 1997. As such, this truly is an agate-lovers paradise with multiple colors, multiple varieties, and an abundance of material. As far as agate goes in Southern Utah, I am familiar with the Summit location near Cedar City, but had heard of some other great locations nearby to hit up. Went out there today and all along the west side of the road are Private Property, No Trespassing signs. I did see some no trespassing signs off Elberta Slant Road. Let us know what you turn up! In the depression, one road goes east, the other goes north. Keg Mountain and Desert Mountain are composed chiefly of extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks of Tertiary age. We ended up going to several of the mine dumps in the mountains just East of town (really nice stuff!) Azurite, Chalcopyrite, Gold, Malachite, Pyrite. Turn east onto the dirt road and travel about 6 miles to the sign for Black Spring. There are many rockhounding clubs in Utah so you can choose one that works best for you. From the expansive sandstone mesas in the south to the rocky mountains and Salt Flats to the north, there is an almost limitless supply of rockhounding sites awaiting the casual rock and mineral collector.
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