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Since Wyoming is the 10th largest U.S. state, it makes sense that there are treasure troves of rocks, minerals, and gems hidden in its landscape. Explore the rockhounding world of Wyoming in this informative post.
As you explore the Equality State, keep a lookout for these common rocks and minerals:
- agate,
- jade,
- jasper,
- petrified wood,
- opal,
- tourmaline,
- barite,
- azurite,
- malachite,
- and copper.
In a state as large as Wyoming, it’s helpful to have some direction as you go on your rockhounding adventures. Use the information in this post to guide you towards the many natural treasures of the Equality State.
If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding tools you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link).
What Rocks Are Found in Wyoming
You can collect all sorts of unique and colorful rocks from Wyoming, such as:
Agate
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Big Horn River | 44.120509, -107.971602 |
| Sweetwater | 41.482621, -109.258069 |
| Warm Springs | 43.559577, -108.821725 |
| Blacks Fork Creek | 41.293833, -109.536169 |
| Moss Agate Hill | 42.639795, -105.684848 |
| Kemmerer | 41.781230, -110.559031 |
If there’s one rock that you are sure to find in Wyoming, it’s agate. This rock exists almost everywhere in the state, and there are a few different types.
Some agates that rockhounds often collect in this state include dry head agates, moss agates, banded agates, Sweetwater agates, and Turritella agates. Fortunately, all these types of agates are plentiful in the Equality State, so there’s a high chance that you’ll be able to find one or more.
Wherever you go in Wyoming, it’s best to always look out for agates, but some areas where they are particularly plentiful are the Big Horn River, Sweetwater, and Warm Springs.
Jade
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Carbon County | 41.417578, -107.110105 |
| Atlantic City | 42.483620, -108.722115 |
| Sublett County | 42.710982, -109.899621 |
| Seminoe Reservoir | 41.982321, -106.824609 |
| Warm Springs | 43.559577, -108.821725 |
| Fremont County | 43.559950, -108.821854 |
Did you know that nephrite jade is the official state gemstone of Wyoming? When jade was first discovered in Wyoming during the 1930s, it sparked a jade rush that lasted for decades. High-quality jade is surprisingly plentiful throughout Wyoming, and it’s one of the reasons why many rockhounds visit this state.
Carbon County, Fremont County, and Sublett County are three hot spots for jade in Wyoming. Warm Springs and the Seminoe Reservoir are also top-notch areas for this rock.
TIP: Identifying real jade is challenging and requires professional gemologist help and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment in the case of expensive stones. Find out more in the article below:
Identifying Real Jade Mineral (Step-by-Step Guide)
Jasper
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Laramie Mountains | 41.633232, -105.665744 |
| Sage Hen Creek | 42.568580, -107.609858 |
| Blacks Fork Creek | 41.293447, -109.536727 |
| Green River | 41.526052, -109.483470 |
| Warm Springs | 43.559391, -108.821467 |
| Atlantic City | 42.479315, -108.721428 |
As you explore Wyoming, you’ll likely see red and yellow jaspers sitting along creek beds and other waterways. Jaspers and agates go hand in hand in this state, so if you spot one, you’re highly likely to see the other.
To collect Wyoming jaspers, visit the Laramie Mountains, Sage Hen Creek, and the Blacks Fork Creek.
Petrified Wood
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Steamboat Mountain | 41.966457, -108.967128 |
| Blacks Fork Creek | 41.293382, -109.536340 |
| Buffalo | 44.340681, -106.719351 |
| Atlantic City | 42.485139, -108.720055 |
| Thorofare Wilderness | 44.035120, -109.889303 |
| Warm Springs | 43.559391, -108.821467 |
Did you know that Wyoming has multiple types of petrified wood? In addition to regular petrified wood, there’s also silicified wood and opalized wood, which are two unique forms of petrified wood. There’s a decent amount of petrified wood all over the state, especially in the western regions.
For petrified wood, stop by Steamboat Mountain or Blacks Fork Creek. For opalized and silicified wood, the Thorofare Wilderness and Warm Springs are the places to be.
Recommendation box: All tools and equipment you need for rockhounding and rock identification* (Amazon links):
1. Estwing Rock Hammer – Light, comfortable, and extremely durable hammer.
2. Estwing Geologist Pick – Classic and the most trusted paleo pick in the world.
3. Finder 12-inch Chisels – Heavy-duty chisels set with hand protection.
4. Mini Handle Shovel – This is a great tool for digging deep in the dirt.
5 Ironclad Utility Work Gloves – Breathable, but they also protect the areas requiring them most.
6. 3M Safety Glasses – Comfortable and efficient goggles for rockhounding.
7. Convoy 8+ UV Light – 365nm UV LED flashlight with a patented glass filter.
8. Wesley’s Jewelers Loupe – High magnification options (30X and 60X) with carrying case.
9. Mohs Hardness Kit – A specially designed kit for rockhounds
*All recommended products are personally tested and regularly used by experts from this website.
What Minerals Are Found in Wyoming
Wyoming has just as many interesting minerals as it does rocks, which you’ll see below:
Opal
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Carbon County | 41.578035, -107.049681 |
| Park County | 44.454783, -109.898097 |
| Rattlesnake Hills | 42.820357, -107.352308 |
| Absaroka Mountains | 43.961203, -109.330318 |
| Riverton | 43.030116, -108.411354 |
| Yellowstone | 44.427446, -110.588798 |
Did you know that one of the largest opal deposits in the world is in Wyoming? This deposit exists in Cedar Rim, south of Riverton, and the opals that are produced are typically white to light blue. In addition, rockhounds also find precious and fire opals in this state, though they do tend to be rarer.
After you search near Riverton for opals, you can also look near Carbon County and Park County for this desirable gem.
Tourmaline
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Atlantic City | 42.486405, -108.730698 |
| Albany County | 41.740283, -105.666599 |
| Fremont County | 42.842371, -108.492903 |
| Casper | 42.813587, -106.350171 |
| Goshen County | 42.020929, -104.486159 |
| Carbon County | 41.578035, -107.049681 |
Tourmalines come in many colors, but the ones from Wyoming tend to be black or pink. Tourmalines are exceptionally common in this state, and you’ll often spot them in the Precambrian pegmatites.
Sometimes this mineral appears on its own in Wyoming, and other times it comes with many other minerals, including quartz and muscovite.
There are a few counties that are known for their tourmalines, including Albany County, Fremont County, Carbon County, and Goshen County.
Barite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Mine Hills | 42.256545, -105.823148 |
| Medicine Bow Mountains | 41.890695, -106.202992 |
| Sierra Madre | 41.188418, -107.047402 |
| Albany County | 41.732085, -105.721531 |
| Carbon County | 41.623220, -107.088133 |
| Shoshone Canyon | 44.514059, -109.131259 |
There have been some interesting barites from Wyoming, including blue barites and specimens with crystals over an inch long. While these might be rare, barite itself is a common mineral in the Equality State, and it often comes from Wyoming’s limestones.
Mine Hills, Medicine Bow Mountains, and the Shoshone Canyon all have plenty of barites for rockhounds to add to their collections.
TIP: Rock tumbling can be an enjoyable process of transforming your hunt into something even more beautiful. Check out the best rock tumbling tips and tricks below:
13 Clever Tips & Tricks For Rock Tumbling You Should Know
Azurite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Warren Peak | 44.473499, -104.445362 |
| Rawhide Buttes | 42.572092, -104.499505 |
| Grand Encampment | 41.207332, -106.800990 |
| Kirwin Mine | 43.876563, -109.287679 |
| Green Hope Mine | 42.498700, -104.770238 |
| Goshen County | 42.049489, -104.442213 |
Because Wyoming has large copper deposits, it makes sense that it has plenty of azurite. Wyoming azurite is often discovered with malachite, but it can also be found with barite or galena. Most of the azurite from this state is in the eastern areas, but the western regions also have some great specimens.
Warren Peak, Rawhide Buttes, and Grand Encampment are the best areas to go for azurite in Wyoming. A few of the mines, such as Green Hope Mine and Kirwin Mine, also produce this mineral.
Malachite
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Rawhide Buttes | 42.572092, -104.499505 |
| Jay Em | 42.461101, -104.370660 |
| Copper Prince Mine | 44.482507, -104.493075 |
| Warren Peak | 44.473499, -104.445362 |
| Grand Encampment | 41.207848, -106.802707 |
| Kirwin Mine | 43.873934, -109.280383 |
As mentioned above, azurite typically comes with malachite in this state, but this doesn’t apply to malachite itself, which can come with many other minerals besides azurite. The areas with plenty of copper tend to have malachite, and eastern Wyoming has the majority of this colorful mineral.
Rockhounds look for malachite near Rawhide Buttes, Jay Em, and the copper mines of this state, such as Copper Prince Mine and Kirwin Mine.
Copper
| Location | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Thermopolis | 43.650659, -108.221844 |
| Sunrise | 42.329801, -104.705604 |
| Copper King Mine | 41.144226, -105.182963 |
| Converse County | 43.011320, -105.337950 |
| Sierra Madre | 41.188418, -107.047402 |
| Copper Prince Mine | 44.482507, -104.493075 |
As you might have guessed from the previous sections, Wyoming is rich in copper. There are many copper mines in this state, which are great areas for collecting copper and other minerals.
If you are in eastern Wyoming, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to gather this shiny mineral. While you might not be able to search the copper mines themselves, the surrounding areas are excellent sites for rockhounds.
Thermopolis, Sunrise, and Sierra Madre are famous for their copper deposits, along with the copper mines Copper Prince Mine and Copper King Mine.
TIP: Hidden treasures still await those willing to seek them out. Wyoming’s diverse terrain offers many opportunities for gold prospecting enthusiasts. Find out more below:
Gold Prospecting in Wyoming: 7 Best Locations & Laws
FAQ About Common Rocks & Minerals in Wyoming
Let’s dive deeper into the Wyoming rockhounding world with the following FAQs:
What Rare Rocks Can You Find in Wyoming
Wyoming has a great selection of rare rocks, including jade, agate, jasper, petrified wood, opalized wood, silicified wood, dinosaur bones, and fossils.
The large amount of agates in this state is truly astonishing, and there are multiple types, including moss, banded, and dry head. The other rock that this state is known for is petrified wood, which includes silicified wood and opalized wood as well.
If you can only visit one area in Wyoming for rare rocks, head on over to Warm Springs. You’ll notice that this area is listed for every one of the rocks in this article since it has an incredible number of rare rocks and minerals.
What Rare Minerals Can You Find in Wyoming
Even though precious gems and rare minerals aren’t abundant in Wyoming, this state does offer some collectible rare minerals, including opal, tourmaline, azurite, gold, sapphire, fluorite, moonstone, aquamarine, ruby, and labradorite.
Of these minerals, opals, tourmalines, and azurites are the most common, and ruby and sapphire are the rarest, which adds up since they are precious gems. Most rockhounds choose to look for opals in this state since its home to one of the largest opal deposits in the world.
The copper mines and mountains of this state are, without a doubt, the best places to search for rare minerals, gems, and metals. Take a look at the locations above to learn where to go for certain minerals.
BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links):
- Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals
- Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home)
- Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids)
What is the Most Famous Rock or Mineral Found in Wyoming
Even though Wyoming doesn’t have a state rock or mineral, it does use jade as its state gem. Surprisingly, Wyoming has some of the highest-quality nephrite jade, and it’s abundant throughout the state.
It’s easy to see why this alone would be a magnet for rockhounds or collectors, and there was even a short jade rush that occurred back in the 1930s.
Jade is found all throughout Wyoming, but if you want to visit a place that has multiple rare rocks, set your GPS for Warm Springs. You can also scroll up to see some more locations for jade in this state.
Conclusion
Wyoming, a land known for its scenic beauty and interesting history, possesses a unique assortment of rocks and minerals. Who would have guessed that you can collect jade, opal, gold, agate, tourmaline, and more from a single state!
Perhaps you’ll collect some nephrite jade or gem-quality precious opals during your Wyoming adventures. While you might not know exactly what you’ll find in this state, you can be certain that you’ll return home with some one-of-a-kind natural treasures!
TIP: The majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous minerals, rocks, gemstones, and fossils. Check out the complete rockhounding guide in the article below:
Where to Rockhound in Wyoming & What You Can Find