Many of the locations have been written about before, while some of them are being published in this field guide for the very first time. Whether youre looking for fossils in utah, or looking for rocks and minerals in utah, the state offers a lot of options for both. This article goes into depth explaining the most popular rocks and minerals and fossils that are found in utah. Sample page from the rockhound barstow field guide lead mountain, just a couple miles from highway 15, a great place to visit and collect colorful crystals. Utah frequently requested mapsthe blm manages nearly 22. Times, dates, and addresses of meetings may change without notice. The area around hanksville a tiny town right in the middle of utah s southeast quadrant that got electricity only in 1960contains a lot of stuff i hadnt seen yet, so we operated. Tour the bull creek pass backcountry byway for sights of geologic wonders and perhaps a glimpse of some of the last freeranging buffalo in the country. There were predictions for rain in the area we were scheduled to camp. Please click on a location for a link to the post about that area these are not approximations. The vast lands of southern utah are intricately carved into the red and white sandstone limestone layers of the colorado plateau, leaving behind wellknown monuments in locations like canyonlands and zion national parks. This rock hounding destination offers a wide variety of rock and mineral specimens, including oyster shells and other mesozoic sedimentary rocks. Where to find rocks, minerals and gemstones in utah.
Utah rockhound, gem, and mineral clubs utah geological. Where to find utah gemstone and lapidary materials hubpages. I have made every effort to mark these points as close to the actual areas as possible usually within a few feet. I should check in more, had i known you had a trip planned to utah i could have gave you directions to the nephi palm and wood, you drove past the turn off if you were going as far south as bryce and 30 miles more west there is banded opal, 3 types of obisdian, topaz, picasso marble etc. Utah rockhound, gem, and mineral clubs closeup of wonderstone exposed in the vernon hills pit wall. Utah rockhounding introduction is a short slideshow narrated with information on rockhounding in utah. A guide to the states best rockhounding sites rockhounding series kappele, william a. His other books include rockhounding nevada and rockhounding colorado. A field guide to some of the states best rockhounding sites. The club has also incorporated a junior rockhounding program. Top pictographpetroglyph sites in utah photographers guide. Jul 17, 2016 please click on a location for a link to the post about that area these are not approximations. I have been in utah since 1980 and i would say i average at least 2 camping trips to the west desert and 1 somewhere else in utah per year if not more. Each description includes consise information on the material to be found there, the tools to bring, the best season to visit, the vehicle to drive, or when a remote find suggests its time to lace up the hiking boots.
Rockhound barstow collect agates, onyx, dioptase, celestite and more in this mojave desert town. The san rafael swell is a fairly vast area in central utah and split by interstate 70. Back of beyond books specializes in regional and natural history titles of the colorado plateau and beyond. You could build up an entire library out of the numerous books and magazines about rockhounding in utah and rockhounding in general.
As we headed west the skys got darker and it started to rain. Back of beyond books specializes in regional and natural history titles. Popular finds include trilobites, gem quality topaz, red beryl, geodes and sun stones. I was with a group that was in a hurry, so i didnt get a chance to talk with anyone inside. Although rock collecting is permitted on most public lands for personal use. The town is just south of the confluence of the fremont river and muddy creek, which together form the dirty devil. Lonesome beaver campground hanksville, utah free camping. Utah is a dream location for rock collectors of all types. Mindat mineral collecting minerals mineral show mineral shows new mexico new york pennsylvania petrified wood quartz radioactives rockhound rockhounding rockhounds rock shop serpentine show report texas. Rockhounding utah top results of your surfing rockhounding utah start download portable document format pdf and ebooks electronic books free online rating news 20162017 is books that can provide inspiration, insight, knowledge to the reader.
Ebook rockhounding utah as pdf download portable document. Caineville region caineville is the town between capitol reef and hanksville. The area around hanksvillea tiny town right in the middle of utahs southeast quadrant that got electricity only in 1960contains a lot of stuff i hadnt seen yet, so we operated out of a motel there. Below are a list of some of my favorite lapidary and gemstone materials you can find in the state of utah. While its known most for its amazing geologic display, it was also home to the archaic and fremont indians. Red jasper and celestite geode specimens found near hanksville utah. He has been climbing, exploring and teaching throughout north america for 25 years, and has an ms in geotechnical engineering. In this three volume series, rockhound, well explore what it means to collect minerals in the skarns and pegmatites of the canadian shield. Utah is an excellent destination for rock hounding.
I would now like to take my grandchildren there but do no remember where we. Dinosaur and fossil books 12 geology books 37 mineral books 10 identification field guides 10 rockhounding books prospecting books mining books 8 navigation, first aid and knots. Rockhounding books utah department of natural resources map. Hanksville is a small town in wayne county, utah, united states, at the junction of state routes 24 and 95. I have a lot of books on rockhounding in utah and other parts of the intermountain west. It shows where you can find agate, jasper,petrified. A guide to the states best rockhounding sites by william a. Visit the places where experienced rock and mineral collectors have found success.
A guide to the states best rockhounding sites buy on amazon while the internet is a fantastic resource to access information on rockhounding sites in utah and network with fellow enthusiasts, its hard to beat the convenience, reliability, and knowledge associated with an in depth guide book. This book provides detailed descriptions to 86 sites. Sep 18, 2016 red and yellow jasper with a bubbly rind, found near interstate 70 in central utah. I am in green rive the last week and not finding very much, have cocvered from price to gr back to buckhorn and up into castel dale, then down into moore and back to grthe rock shops really didnt help, i know what it looks like all polished up but am likely walking by all kinds of stuff that i cant recognize in its raw natural form.
We, at the lodge at red river ranch, have compiled a short list of the top places people go rock hounding in southern utah. Utahs public lands feature some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, from the snowcapped peaks. Recently retired, gary has more time to pursue his passions, traveling and rockhounding throughout utah. Rock hounding can be a fun activity to share with family and friends. Geodes near hanksville, ut hanksville forum tripadvisor. Located mostly in western and southeastern utah, these lands are varied, ranging from rolling uplands to sprawling desert lowlands. Yellow cat and cisco, utah field trip october 7 9, 2006 by dale gann. Let us give you a tour of the popular spots in hanksville, ut and surrounding areas, including swing arm city, lake powell, and the henry mountains. All around the caineville, utah, area between capitol reef national park and hanksville, utah on highway 24 information. Topaz and other minerals found at topaz mountain, juab county. A complete guide to finding, collecting, and preparing the states gems and minerals. It is best known for its specimens of petrified wood, agate, and jasper. The population was 219 at the 2010 census the town is just south of the confluence of the fremont river and muddy creek, which together form the dirty devil river, which then flows southeast to the colorado river.
Jan 11, 2017 sample page from the rockhound barstow field guide lead mountain, just a couple miles from highway 15, a great place to visit and collect colorful crystals. Yellow cat and cisco, utah field trip peak to peak. When i wrote my book outdoor navigation with gps i used the photo of the solo hiker below as a chapter header in the section about. The area around hanksvillea tiny town right in the middle of utahs southeast quadrant that got electricity only in 1960contains a lot of stuff i hadnt seen yet, so we operated. Location county stateprovince directions,notes age formation fossils comments reference latlong. Little egypt geologic site hanksville 2020 all you need. Well written, well illustrated, and detailed enough directions to some great sites. This completely updated and revised, fullcolor edition of rockhounding utah reveals the grandeur of the states exposed formations, its canyon walls etched with fossils, and the spires and arches of the needles district in canyonlands national park. Hanksville tours and motor sports rentals is here to quench your thirst for adventure.
If you ever have any trouble locating any of the places on the map please continue reading locations. Last weekend sarah had a work trip so the boys and i spent a few days in the desert. You may find it surprising that utah has so many highly collectible rocks, minerals and gemstones. Utah rockhound, gem, and mineral clubs utah geological survey. In fact many of the most popular lapidary and gemstone materials found in the united states come from utah. Tour the bull creek pass backcountry byway for sights of geologic wonders and perhaps. I do not under stand it people always say they have seen rattlesnakes all over the place. Nov 18, 2019 you may find it surprising that utah has so many highly collectible rocks, minerals and gemstones. Closeup of wonderstone exposed in the vernon hills pit wall. Utah rockhounding locations rock hounding utah, rock. Little egypt is a very small place with a few of the goblin rock formations that youll find in goblin valley. Kappele and gary warren guide you to the best sites in utah for finding the rocks, gems, and minerals you wantfrom exposed formations and canyon walls etched with fossils, to the spires and arches of the needles district in canyonlands national park. Rockhounding books utah department of natural resources.
Red jasper and celestite geode specimens found near. Finding petrified wood in southeastern utah fossil. Blm utah and the utah department of natural resources dnr have entered into a new fiveyear financial cooperative agreement supporting the wri. Well visit forgotten settlements and ghost towns and ill show you the famous mining camps of cobalt, eldorado and gowganda. Although there are laws regulating rockhounding, most of our public land is open and rocks can be collected freely by the public. The blm is a proud contributor and supporter of utahs watershed restoration initiative wri, which uses locallydriven projects to improve watershed health, biological diversity, and water quality. A guide to the states best rockhounding sites by lars johnson, gem trails of oregon by garret romain. Destinations throughout central utah provide the most diverse and unique rock hounding sites in the state.
The states diverse terrain is home to numerous varieties of rare rocks, gemstones, and fossils. Rockhound barstow collect agates, onyx, dioptase, celestite. If you have the time and know how to survive utahs brutal desert conditions, this is one place that if you spend enough time you will likely find. The book gem trails of utah show a few places to rockhound around the hanksville area. Jan 25, 2009 i do not under stand it people always say they have seen rattlesnakes all over the place. By sagebrush steve, december, 2016 in fossil hunting trips. This book is a 6 x 9 paperback with 180 pages, descriptions, maps and photos. Rockhounding 101 how to really find minerals and rocks. Utah is known by some as the rock hounding capital of the united states. When i was a small boy i used to go to hanksville to hunt geodes. Oct 23, 2012 last weekend sarah had a work trip so the boys and i spent a few days in the desert. May 18, 2018 utah rockhounding introduction is a short slideshow narrated with information on rockhounding in utah.
A guide to the states best rockhounding sites buy on amazon while the internet is a fantastic resource to access information on rockhounding sites in utah and network with fellow enthusiasts, its hard to beat the convenience, reliability, and knowledge associated with an. Little egypt geologic site hanksville 2020 all you. The utah department of natural resources map and bookstore is operated by the utah geological survey. On march 6 i drove through hanksville, home of the hollow mountain gas station. This is the first one of this series i have purchased but i will be getting the guides for other states i travel to. A guide to the states best rockhounding sites rockhounding series. Navigation books 8 first aid books 11 knots books 8 history. I would now like to take my grandchildren there but do no remember where we found these wonderful geodes. There are several areas to collect jasper, as you can see on this map, the two main areas are directly south of i70, both accessible with a standard passenger vehicle. Christopher hagedorn is a professional outdoor educator, wilderness guide and leadership expert based out of woodinville, washington and hanksville, utah. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new. When i find a mineral or fossil in the field, why doesnt it look similar to specimens in. This is not a complete list of rock, gem, and mineral clubs. Utah rockhounding is a group put together by one dude who loves to share his passions of locating and finding local gems and minerals with you.
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