For more accessible and generalized rockhounding there are many wide areas such as Horse Mountain, Beechgrove, and Cookeville where any collector can comb through stream gravels and rocky outcrops with the expectation of finding quartz-family gemstones like agate, jasper, and chalcedony. Asheville, NC 28801
However, visitors are not permitted to take more than a few rocks with them, thus needing nothing more than a 12-inch rock hammer. Topaz, Utah's state gem, is a semi-precious gemstone that occurs as very hard, transparent crystals in a variety of colors. Turn south on U.S. Highway 6 and drive for approximately five miles. The spur road leads into a wash that defines the north edge of the mountain. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. stux. The list of rock, mineral, and fossil collecting sites is growing! Rock Hounding The state's diverse terrain is home to numerous varieties of rare rocks, gemstones, and fossils. Fossil hunting near Lava Butte on BLM land. Box 1113 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. Access to the quarry is free and collecting invertebrate fossils is also free. Permits are required for removal of mineral materials for scientific and research purposes. on official, secure websites. Turn right onto the Black Spring dirt road and park in the open area by the watering trough. Follow that road 17 miles to the Denderite site. Fillmore: Follow I-15 south to Exit 146 south to Kanosh. Turn right onto the Black Spring dirt road and park in the open area by the watering trough. Rockhounding Spots Proceed 1.5 miles on Skyline Drive. In the alluvial river plains of western Tennessee it is fairly common to find quartz-family mineral specimens like agate, jasper, and petrified wood. The best places to find gemstones in Tennessee are: Geodes are some of the most sought-after rocks regardless of location, and Tennessee is no exception. N in outcrops and mine dumps, Townsend, area road cuts and stream gravels. Delta, Utah 84624 The rockhound community certainly has force of numbers and a passion for its values. connected to the .gov website. A Paleozoic Era fossil found around Lava Butte. If you have camel packs ($18-60), then fill them up with ice water in the summer. Turn west on the Brush Wellman road and travel 38 miles until you reach the Topaz Mountain sign. The locations and information contained in this article are primarily derived from academic papers, online resources, and other outside sources. Stony Fork (FS 63): Will Remain closed due to storm damage. WebFrenchman Mountain is the broad, prominent peak forming the eastern boundary of the Las Vegas Valley. Obsidian can be found all around that area. 2. Anglesite, Chalcopyrite, Cerussite, Hematite, Galena, Sphalerite. The most famous and desirable type of agate collected in Tennessee is Paint Rock Agate which is usually shades of red, orange, and yellow and often displays fortification banding. (From Delta go west on US Hwy 6/50 for about 32 miles to the signed road leading to U-Dig. Tennessee Rockhounding Location Guide & Map Rockhounding This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. Apache tears can be found off the south west side ofTopaz Mountain. 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. ), Life in General, Off-topic Chit-Chat Area. Chert (gem-quality), Agatized fossils, Flint, Quartz crystals, etc. How to get there: From Nephi, Utah, travel 33 miles southwest on State Highway 132 to Lynndyl. 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. If youre collecting in the area you should try to get your hands on some unakite which is fairly unique to the region. There are gold nuggets out there as well. Follow the dirt road for 1.4 miles to its end. Through quite a bit of research and cross-referencing of available literature, I have compiled this list of some prospective locations in Tennessee which I would recommend to people looking to do some rockhounding. Drive Hwy 257 south from Deseret for about 43 miles, until you come to a sign identifying a road that heads east. I'm Mike Rhea, and I'm a professional Geologist with a passion for rocks, minerals, and everything related to Geology. Commercial removal of minerals requires a prospecting permit from the Bureau of Land Management. When you have gone 31 miles youll come to a road that heads southwest. Topaz Mountain Nearly 1,000 feet of the Tunnel Spring Tuff is visible many miles away as its startling white color varies from that of the surrounding landscape. Tennessee also presents a relatively rare opportunity to find freshwater pearls in the Tennessee River and its tributaries. Agate is scattered over the top of the large hill to the west. For the general location, see ourrockhounding map. The southern end of the Appalachian Mountains and the large National Forests combine to offer a great region for prospective rockhounding sites. Rockhounding