Youre damn right we saved the best for last! Many areas near Las Vegas present huge opportunities for gem hunters to visit, find, and collect various specimens of minerals, rocks, crystals, and especially fossils. Sandstone is present everywhere, and you can find plenty of petrified wood, petrified plants as well, and dinosaur tracks. But youve got nothing to dig with, and then next thing you know, youre out there trying to use your shoe, or a hanger, or something even stupider. If you are on the outskirts of Southern Nevada, there is a place near Goldfield, called Gemfield. There are many mining districts in the surrounding area that have historically produced precious metals, but the best rockhounding locations lie elsewhere. Booyah, buddy. The Nevada Turquoise is the official state gemstone since 1987. . No one knows how many of these creatures were exhumed, carried off or destroyed in the process, because Nevada lacks the state regulations to protect such fossil treasures. Variscite is quite rare, and among all the states in the US, Nevada is among the only places where it can be found. This region of BLM land can be found off of Highway US-93 and it's more than worthy of a visit, especially for fossil enthusiasts. 2. Up in the the deliciously remote northwestern corner of Nevada, way above the storied Black Rock Desert near the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. Ever heard of it?! There are sections along the road where you can literally pull to the side of the road and walk ten feet into fossil filled slate. Impressive amethyst crystal specimens can be found in the Peterson Mountains, which is located in the county of Washoe. Who knows the truth to that, but I for one, WANT to believe that actual streets of silver at the silver mining mecca. Make Your Rocks Shiny! The mine was open to the public for a while, closed intermittently, and is now back in action. Nevada Rockhounding Location Guide & Map - Rockhound Resource And, just because you might not always run into a No Trespassing or Private Property sign, it doesnt mean thats not the case. Customer Service: 719 239-4285Free shipping on all us orders! These geodes form from minerals precipitating out of water seeping through the voids in volcanic flows. Very little is known about the crystals present in Nevada, however, being such a rich state, it is clear that it does have at least a couple of interesting specimens. And even though paleontologists had better luck making fossil finds, many thought Tule Springs could not compete with the Ice Age riches of the La Brea asphalt seeps just a few hours drive to the southwest. Opalized wood is a big deal, and how its made feels straight outta fantasyland, TBH. Phone +1 702-533-7819. TIP:And its rockhounding time now! The reason? If you are interested in checking out the best book about rockhounding in Nevada you can find it by clickinghere(Amazon link). If you park in that lot, the hills behind it are BLM land and there are a lot of mountain bike trails. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Agate, Chalcedony, Chert, Flint, Jasper, etc. The thing is, many of the now defunct mines in Virginia City still have this fabled silver goo oozing out of the walls. But boy were they wrong: theyre GARNETS, and they are plentiful just outside Ely at a place called Garnet Hill. It doesnt get better. The only way to do that was to read the rock in fine detail. TERRAIN TYPE: Lots of dirt road driving in these parts. This is where Garnet Mountain is also located. Even though Nevada has a place called the Ruby Mountains, it is not filled with rubies, but actually very beautiful garnets. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring or fall, right after its rained. Grab your rock pick and chip away! Rock and mineral collectors flock to the state in search of their own opal specimens, but even though it is (relatively) common in the state you need to know where to look. The most abundant of these places is the Dawley Canyon area, and its definitely worth a visit for more than just beryl! Liz with Scale Tree (Genus Lepidodendron) roots in the stone. Hello, I am John.As a little boy, I was fascinated by stones and liked to take them home. There are hundreds of mines in central Nevada that can make for great rockhounding destinations, but this part of the state also contains many sites that are more readily accessible.
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