Where To Dig For Gems In Montana?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In general, the best places to find crystals and gemstones in Montana are mines that are open to the public such as the

Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine, Crystal Park, and Crystal Mountain Mine

. They can also be found in many pegmatites, stream gravels, and old mines throughout the state.

Where can you go rockhounding in Montana?

  • Crystal Park. …
  • Calvert Hill Mine. …
  • Gallatin National Forest. …
  • Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine. …
  • Anaconda, Montana. …
  • Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine & Gold Fever Rock Shop.

What gems can be found in Montana?

These include:

jasper, garnet, varieties of quartz, rhodonite, serpentine, staurolite, topaz, tourmaline, and wonderstone

. A few diamonds, diamond indicator minerals, and kimberlites have been found in the state.

Where have diamonds been found in Montana?

Though rare, diamonds aren't unheard of in Montana. Prospectors have plucked the gems from stream beds and glacial valleys for years – most notably the 14-carat Lewis and Clark diamond found at

the base of a steep slope near Craig

in 1990.

Where can I find opals in Montana?

Madison Co. Lower Hot Springs Mining District (Norris Mining District) i Red Bluff USGS Bull 574 Missoula Co. i Patte Canyon University of Adelaide – Tate Museum collection # 22842. Ex. O.W Florke Collection Ravalli Co. i Cathedral Rock pluton WC van Laer, 2009

How do you find gems in creeks?

To find gemstones in creeks and along riverbeds, one should

carefully search near eroded stream banks, in shallow, flowing water, and old, dried creek beds

. Alluvial gemstones can usually be found a few days after heavy rainfall. At night, use a black light to search for fluorescent gemstones.

Where can I dig for amethyst in Montana?


Crystal Park, located at 7,800 feet in the Pioneer Mountains near Polaris, Montana

, is a popular spot for digging up quartz and amethyst. The decomposed granite found there makes for a bevy of prisms that are more commonly found by bodies of water.

Where are rubies found in Montana?

Rubies are found in the

western and southern portions of Montana

, and this is often found alongside Montana sapphires. Some of the best places to find rubies in Montana include the Rock Creek, Granite county, Red Rock Mine, or the Missouri River.

Where can you find gems?

  1. Jade Cove Trail, Big Sur, California. …
  2. Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine, Philipsburg, Montana. …
  3. Emerald Hollow Mine, Hiddenite, North California. …
  4. Oceanview Mine, San Diego County, California. …
  5. Fairy Stone State Park, Stuart, Virginia. …
  6. Royal Peacock Opal Mine, Denio, Nevada.

Where can I find emeralds in Montana?

In Montana, found in the

western Middle Rockies forested region of the state

. The preferred habitat of the Mountain Emerald includes ponds, marshes, fens, bogs and swamps, as well as wet meadows associated with small streams.

What is Montana Crystal?

It is

a powerful grounding stone that enhances our connection to Earth and balances the masculine and feminine energies of the Sacral Chakra

. Montana Agate dispels fear, anger, jealousy and resentment as it brings stability and grounding to the emotional body.

Where can I find garnets in Montana?

MONTANA GARNET:

HELENA AND RUBY RESERVOIR LOCATIONS

We see bright red and orange red, usually from the alluvial deposits of the El Dorado sapphire bar. The other location is near the Ruby Reservoir in southern Montana. Here the almandite-pyrope garnets exhibit a very violet red color.

Where can I find topaz in Montana?

  • Delmoe Lake area, Boulder Batholith, Jefferson Co., Montana, USA.
  • Butte Mining District, Silver Bow County, Montana, USA.
  • Delmoe Lake area, Boulder Batholith, Jefferson Co., Montana, USA.
  • Delmoe Lake area, Boulder Batholith, Jefferson Co., Montana, USA.

How do you find geodes in creeks?

To find geodes,

look in riverbeds, limestone areas, and volcanic ash beds in countries where geodes are often found

, like the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Madagascar. When you're searching for geodes, look for rocks that are round or egg-shaped with a bumpy texture.

What is the easiest gem to find?


Quartz is one of the easiest materials to find

. Amethyst, agate, carnelian, and citrine are some gemstone varieties of quartz. Pure quartz is colourless, and impurities in the quartz are what can give it the vibrant colours you find in gemstones.

Where can I find precious stones in my yard?

Where can I find turquoise in Montana?

  • Berkeley Pit, Butte Mining District, Silver Bow County, Montana, USA.
  • Berkeley Pit, Butte Mining District, Silver Bow County, Montana, USA.
  • Berkeley Pit, Butte Mining District, Silver Bow County, Montana, USA.

Where can I find rocks in Montana?

One of Montana's most popular rockhounding locations is also one of its most scenic.

Crystal Park, located on the Pioneer Scenic Byway south of Wise River

, is an inspiring public dig site where you'll find amethyst as well as smoky and brilliant clear quartz scepters in a variety of forms.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.