There are many locations in Idaho where you can look for rocks, minerals, fossils and gems.There are four fee mining sites in Idaho, where you can pay a small fee, look for gems or gold and keep what you find. There are two sites for gold, one for star garnet and one for opal.
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Where can I go rockhounding in Idaho?
The best places to hunt for them are Owyhee, Custer, Blaine, Gem, Latah, and Washington counties. The south and western parts of Idaho are generally where the best spots are located. Forests and streams are generally the best places to rockhound in Idaho, but there are certainly many other places.
Where can I geode hunt in Idaho?
The best places to find geodes in Idaho are in the southeastern part of the state, particularly in the Antelope Creek area, basalt exposures near Pole Creek, and the gravels of Big Lost River. Geodes can also be found in beds all along Highway 93 just north of the Idaho-Nevada border.
Is it legal to collect rocks in Idaho?
Collecting is not specifically prohibited or restricted. Your collecting activities result in no more than minor disturbance of the public lands. Equipment is limited to hand tools and metal detectors.
Can diamonds be found in Idaho?
Idaho is rich in industrial minerals.Agates, jade, opal, garnet (pink, green, and red), and diamonds-to name a few-have all been found in Idaho. It is believed the biggest diamond ever found in the United States – weighing nineteen and one-half carats – was found between McCall and New Meadows.
What kind of gems can you find in Idaho?
The most important gems produced to date have been garnet and opal. Notable amounts of jade, topaz, zircon, and tourmaline have also been found in Idaho. Agate, jasper, and petrified wood in many colors and patterns have been found and produced from small deposits in many parts of the state.
Can you rockhound on public land?
Collecting any rock materials including common invertebrate fossils and petrified wood from public lands for commercial use or barter is prohibited. A Federal law passed in 1962 provides for the removal of limited quantities of petrified wood by the general public from public lands administered by the BLM.
Where can I find amethyst in Idaho?
Amethyst in Idaho
Amethyst has been found at Pole Creek in Blaine County, Hog Creek in Washington County west of Weiser, along the North Fork of the Lost River, on the Yankee Fork near Stanley, and Challis Creek in near Custer.
Where can I find crystals in Idaho?
Look in volcanic ash beds, and also check gravel deposits and rock formations containing limestone. Geodes congregate in “beds,” and most will be found in the rocky, desert areas of Idaho. Search the ground for round, lumpy rocks. Distinguish them from other rocks by their shape and by weight.
Is there Opal in Idaho?
In Idaho, Opal is the second largest contributor to the total value of gem material produced. The varieties produced include precious (white and pink), yellow, blue, pink, and common. The Spencer Opal Mine, the largest privately owned gem stone producer in the State, is the major producer of Opal.
Can you take rocks from a creek?
It is legal to take rocks from public property, but illegal when taking them from private property.Taking rocks from a protected area would be similar to going to an archaeological site and taking things like fossils or old weapons.
Where can I find obsidian in Idaho?
Big Southern Butte, Idaho
What is this? There are many obsidian deposits across the southern part of Idaho, such as Jordan Creek, Kelly Canyon, and American Falls.
Can you take rocks from the side of the road?
As a general rule of thumb, any large rocks that are placed there by road crews as a means of erosion control or water control are 100% illegal to remove. They are there for a structural purpose and are private property.
Where can I pan for gold for free in Idaho?
If you are looking for places to go gold prospecting today, you can try the Coeur d’Alene river, the snake river, the salmon river, the Boise River and most of their major tributaries. One of these four rivers is within a short driving distance of just about every town or city in Idaho.
Is there still gold in Idaho?
The discovery of gold brought the original settlers to Idaho and prompted the establishment of the Idaho territory in 1863. According to the United States Bureau of Mines, Idaho has more gold than any other state – and much of it is still out there, awaiting discovery by today’s intrepid adventurers.
Where can I Mine in Idaho?
Idaho Mines By County
- Ada County Mines (42 Mines)
- Adams County Mines (138 Mines)
- Bannock County Mines (43 Mines)
- Bear Lake County Mines (36 Mines)
- Benewah County Mines (27 Mines)
- Bingham County Mines (10 Mines)
- Blaine County Mines (699 Mines)
- Boise County Mines (440 Mines)
Is chalcedony found in Idaho?
Idaho Gemstones. Although Idaho has a variety of gem mineral deposits including rock crystal and amethyst, jasper, chalcedony, agate, agatized wood, opal, garnet, aquamarine, topaz and zircon, only a few of the nationally-significant Idaho deposits are discussed in this module.
How do you go rockhounding?
Connect with Your Local Rock and Mineral Club(s)
There may be organized trips or activities that you can join, or you might be able to find an experienced club member who is willing to take you out rockhounding. Clubs are also very useful for accessing reference materials.
Where are garnets found in Idaho?
There are only two places in the world you can find Star Garnets – India and right here on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests! The garnets found here are called “star garnets” because of a unique property that causes some of them to display a reflection like a four or six pointed star.
Is it illegal to take rocks?
It’s illegal
Disturbance or removal of bushrock could result in a fine or prosecution. For instance, lifting or moving bushrock in a national park or other conservation reserves can incur fines of $300.
Can you rockhound in wilderness areas?
Forest Service policy allows rockhounding that includes the collecting of rocks, semi-precious stones, and minerals from national forest and grasslands for personal, hobby, and noncommercial use.In national monuments, wilderness areas, and other special or protected areas, collecting may or may not be allowed.
