Although rock collecting is permitted on most public lands for personal use, you need to research the area you plan to collect in. Be sure that a permit is not required and check for mining claims. Do not collect on mining claims without the proper permission from the claim owner. Below you will find detailed information on the most popular rocks and fossils collected in Utah. It is located about 52 miles west of Delta, Utah. The most common trilobite fossils found at this location are Elrathia Kingi, Asaphiscus Wheeleri, Peronopsis Interstricta Agnostus , and the Brachipod.
There are less common trilobites to be found as well. Read More! The very name conjures up images from "B" science-fiction movies of bug-eyed, wiggly-legged, insect-like creatures that eat New York. Two questions we commonly receive are "what are trilobites and where are they found in Utah?
Located approximately 83 miles from Salt Lake City is a location that one can collect ancient shells and clams. The area is loaded with thousands of shells all in one location. This is a great activity for the kids and adults alike. While digging through the shell rock you never know what ancient treasure you will discover.
What is even more interesting is knowing that at one point this area was part of a ancient lake. If collecting in the summer be sure to bring lots of water and protection from the sun. Approximately 6 to 8 million years ago Miocene epoch , volcanic activity occurred in western Utah and deposited an extrusive igneous rock called rhyolite.
The hues of the gem range from light pink to dark shades of red and are present among other minerals in the white and grey igneous rocks. The mining operation of the production of the gem is currently at a small scale. Within the Topaz Mountains, the site where the red beryl is found is at the area called as The Cove. The gem is found attached to other minerals such as garnet, hematite and topaz.
Red beryl is also found near Wildhorse Springs located towards the northwestern section of the Thomas Range. The crystals found here are large and of gemstone quality which can be used for making jewelry. Here you can dig for large geodes that most often contain clear quartz, amethyst, or rose quartz crystals.
These geodes formed when hot gasses bubbled up and were trapped inside a bubble, creating beautiful crystal formations. Sometimes the contents of Dugway geodes are solid quartz, and other times they are hollow with small crystalline formations. Pieces of broken geodes can be found on the surface in many areas at the geode beds, but the best specimens will be found by digging.
Look for areas where previous digging has occurred. The name of the stone has been derived from the similarity of the colors and designs it shares with the local American Indian fabrics of this region.
The colors usually found are shades of black, gold, beige, brown, purple and red. The Indian Blanket Jasper is still mined here though in limited quantities. Close to this is a hill named by some rock hounding enthusiasts as the Butterscotch Hill. On this hill one can find a dug up hollow with jasper pebbles.
The pebbles are brown and tan in color and appear like butterscotch chips. Peridot The portion of the Colorado Plateau that lies in southern Utah is composed of ultramafic Moses Rock formation. This rock formation is covered with berccia with a small amount of peridot nodules. The town of Kamas which is west of Salt Lake City has a dense peridot deposit. The fault zones on the north side of the Uinta Mountains that lie in the northeastern Utah are also known for olivine concentration.
The road to Dugway follows the Pony Express trail, making for a great opportunity to learn a little history along the way. Because of their great diversity and often-perfect preservation, trilobites are one of the most popular fossils among collectors.
A family-run private quarry, U-Dig is located near Delta and is open to the public March through October. The staff does its best to make the entrance fee worth every penny, exposing fresh layers of rock on a regular basis, helping visitors find and identify trilobites, and even providing tools, instructions and toilet facilities. Groups like the Utah Treasure Association offer a forum for hunters of antique coins, bottles and other forgotten items to talk about their adventures and share experiences and finds.
They also arrange for speakers to visit the club and they go out together on club outings. It could be worthless or it could be priceless.
Before you pile the kids in the car and drive to the middle of nowhere in search of lost riches, do your homework. There are clear laws for prospecting and collecting in Utah, and there are serious penalties for violations.
Beyond the laws, there are common-sense issues. Preparing safety gear, bringing the right tools and knowing when and where to get permits are all things to consider. But for those who are willing to study the geology, research the land-usage rights, brave the elements and trade hours of utter boredom for one moment of heart-stopping excitement will find an abundance of treasures just below the ground cover, waiting to be discovered.
More Summer Guide ».
0コメント