Sinker Creek

Petrified Wood

Also found at:

• Fort Wayne Maumee River Gravels
• Oglala National Grassland Rockhounding
• PaleoAdventures Dinosaur Dig

Petrified Palm Root

Also found at:

• No other locations listed yet

Agates

Banded chalcedony prized for their colors and patterns. Lake Superior agates, Fairburn agates, and Montana moss agates are especially famous.

Also found at:

• Black Warrior River Sites
• Piedmont Gem Panning
• Prairie Creek (Lamproite Diatreme)

Jasper

Opaque, fine-grained chalcedony prized for its rich earthy colors and patterns. Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alabama produce exceptional jasper varieties.

Also found at:

• Black Warrior River Sites
• Lyman Orchards Gem Mining
• Cape Henlopen State Park

Geodes

Hollow rocks lined with crystals. Iowa's Keokuk region is the Geode Capital of the World.

Also found at:

• Quartzsite Gem Show
• Boggy Creek Fossil & Gem Mine
• Lost Mines of Atlantis

Quartz Crystals

Clear, smoky, and rose quartz crystals are among the most common and rewarding rockhounding finds. Arkansas produces world-class quartz.

Also found at:

• Alabama Gold Camp
• Horseshoe Mine
• Lake Martin Rockhounding Area

Fossils

From shark teeth in Florida to dinosaurs in Montana, the US offers world-class fossil hunting for all skill levels.

Also found at:

• Alaska Fossil Beds (Point Hope)
• Alabama Gold Camp
• Black Warrior River Sites

Bruneau River Canyon

Bruneau, Idaho · BLM Land

Famous for Bruneau jasper — one of the most beautiful and sought-after jaspers in the world. Deep canyon country requiring 4WD.

Crystal Gold Mine

Kellogg, Idaho · Fee Dig

Authentic historic hard rock gold mine in Kellogg's Silver Valley. Offers guided underground mine tours (well-lit concrete walkways, no crawling), gol...

Emerald Creek Garnet Area

Clarkia, Idaho · USFS

The only place in the world (outside India) where star garnets are found. USFS-designated garnet collecting area. Stunning four-ray star garnets.

Homedale / Owyhee Jasper

Homedale, Idaho · BLM Land

The Owyhee region produces some of the world's finest jasper including Morrisonite, Willow Creek, and Bruneau jasper. World-class lapidary material.

Spencer Opal Mine

Spencer, Idaho · Fee Dig

The only opal mine in the US open for public digging. Dig through volcanic rhyolite to find fire opals with brilliant red, orange, and green play-of-c...

Squaw Butte Fire Opal Area

Emmett, Idaho · Public Land

Lava beds of Squaw Butte near Emmett in Gem County. Known for fire opals in salmon pink and cherry red colors, plus agates. Public land rockhounding a...