Gems and minerals are abundant throughout Colorado. You can dig for gems in Colorado almost every part of Colorado and if you are lucky, you will be rewarded with a beautiful gemstone.
Where can you dig for gems in Colorado?
Colorado Gem & Mineral Locations
- Stoneham – Barite.
- State Line Diamond District.
- Red Feather Lakes – Amethyst.
- Devils Head – Smoky Quartz, Clear White Quartz, Citrine and Topaz.
- Wigham Creek – Topaz, Smoky Quartz, and Amazonite.
- Crystal Park – Topaz, Smoky Quartz, and Amazonite.
- Glen Cove – Topaz.
Can you go crystal hunting in Colorado?
The Fort Collins area has some very interesting rockhounding locations, particularly the areas of the aptly named Specimen and Crystal mountains. Specimens of calcite, agate, quartz, topaz, diamond, gold, and more can be found in the mountains and mining prospects surrounding Fort Collins.
Are there gemstones in Colorado?
Colorado has more than thirty varieties of gemstones including aquamarine, rhodochrosite, amazonite, topaz, and diamonds. The official state gemstone is aquamarine, a beautiful blue mineral mostly found around the 13,000-foot level on Mount Antero.
Can you collect rocks in Colorado?
Pikes Peak is one of the prime areas for rock collecting in Colorado, and one of the few that’s also famous outside of the state. There have been books written just on the unique geology of the area, and the many minerals that can be found in the mountains here.
Are there diamonds in Colorado?
The largest diamond ever found in Colorado was a 28.3-carat gem found in 1996, pictured here. The diamond was unearthed 43 miles northwest of Fort Collins at the Kelsey Lake Mine. This diamond was also the fifth largest found in the United States.
Can you find Opal in Colorado?
It’s rare in Colorado, but has been found on Table and Green Mountain in Jefferson county and also in the Vulcan District. It isn’t particularly good or very plentiful. It can also be found in volcanic rocks.
Can you find geodes in Colorado?
1. Wolf Creek Pass. Wolf Creek Pass is a series of rock cliffs right alongside highway 160 in Colorado. That makes it a little dangerous for kids and pets to rockhound in the area, but it’s a great spot for responsible adults to find nodules and geodes filled with crystals.
Are there emeralds in Colorado?
The dark green variant of beryl is known as emerald when it’s of gem quality. Aquamarines are some of the most beautiful crystals found in Colorado, and they are sought after by gem enthusiasts. There are abundant sources for this cool-hued gem in the state.
Where can I find turquoise in Colorado?
Turquoise Deposits in Colorado
Among them are Turquoise Chief Mine in Lake County, the Last Chance Mine at Creede in Mineral County, the King Turquoise Mine in Manassa, Conejos County, Villa Grove in Saguache County, and Cripple Creek in Teller County.
Where can I mine for amethyst in Colorado?
Home of the Humming Bird Amethyst Mine, located in the Nancy Hanks Gulch Historic Mining District, in Mesa County, Colorado. That puts it just outside of Grand Junction, if you are looking at a map.
Is amethyst found in Colorado?
Amethyst is just one quartz variety that is found in Colorado. Other types such as smoky quartz and rose quartz also occur within the state.
Where can I find amethyst in Colorado?
One of Colorado’s better known amethyst localities is the Crystal Hill mine near the small settlement of La Garita in Saguache County. La Garita is on a paved auto road just west of U.S. Route 285, midway between the towns of Saguache and Monte Vista.
Do you need a permit to rockhound in Colorado?
Any sale or commercial use of petrified wood found on lands administered by the Forest Service requires a permit. A free use permit is required for amateur collectors and scientists to take limited quantities for personal use.
What is the best state for rockhounding?
The Best Rockhounding Sites In The United States
- Emerald Hollow Mine, Hiddenite, North Carolina.
- Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro, Arkansas.
- Jade Cove Trail (Big Sur, California)
- Gold Prospecting Adventure, Jamestown, CA.
- Fossil Butte National Monument, Kemmerer, WY.
- Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine, Virgin Valley, Nevada.
Can you mine aquamarine in Colorado?
There, crystals of beryl ranging from water-clear goshenite to deep blue aquamarine can be found, along with a little yellow heliodor and pink morganite. The best aquamarine finds on Mount Antero have been vugs in granite pegmatite exposed on the eastern side of the mountain at elevations over 12,000 feet.
Can gold still be found in Colorado?
Although mining operations in Colorado have produced an estimated 45 million troy ounces of gold in the last 150 years, there is still plenty of ore to be found within the state, with many opportunities for the general public to find some for themselves.
Where can I mine for diamonds in Colorado?
Kelsey Lake
The “State Line Kimberlite District” along the Colorado-Wyoming border is home to the only operating diamond mine in the U.S., started at Kelsey Lake, Colorado, in June 1996. The largest diamond found so far is 28.3 carats, and about 25% of the 20,000-carat annual production is of gem quality.
Can I find diamonds in my backyard?
You can find diamonds in your backyard, especially if you live in certain areas of the United States where ancient volcanic activity occurred. It’s also possible to find diamonds in stream beds on your property.
Is there turquoise in Colorado?
Colorado does not have many Turquoise mines but the few that it has are good ones. One of the best Colorado Turquoise mining districts was the Leadville district. The Sugarloaf District located in Lake County includes several turquoise deposits that are generally sold using the name ofa Leadville.
Where is lapis lazuli found in Colorado?
High on North Italian Mountain in southwestern Colorado is the Blue Wrinkle Mine, a deposit of lapis lazuli that shaped the lives of prospector Carl Anderson and his mysterious son, Ande, a cruise ship accordionist. Assays have declared Blue Wrinkle ore among the best lapis lazuli the world has ever seen.
