Rockhounding in Utah

Hey Everbody,
New to the area and wondering what kind of places around the Salt Lake Area have places for rockhounding. Mine Tailings, etc. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Joe,

How far do you want to travel? Many of the best sites are far from SLC. Most of the tailings near Salt Lake are on private land. Your best bet is to find someone with connections. Check out the local rockhounding clubs. They charge minimal fees for membership and know lots of people and places. Rock shops are good resources as well. There is a great place up the left hand fork in Cache county. I wrote about it over a year ago. It is called the Lucky Star. It requires a formidable hike, but the tailings have some good color to them.

The further out in the desert you go, the more you can find. There are some good websites out there covering the old mine towns. The more popular ones are picked pretty clean. The Iron mines outside of Cedar City have some neat crystals and lots of material to go through. I only found one area posted at that location.

Happy Hunting!

Mike

Mike,

I plan on traveling throughout the State, I was just checking for places in the immediate area for the time being. But I have been looking around the internet at different places they say has good stuff, I just figured I would probably have better luck getting suggestions through an actual messageboard though. I heard about a place called Ophir that I will probably make it out to, but dont have any actual destination there, ha ha, just the general vicinity. If you know of anywhere with really good finds that would be great! I also heard Big Cottonwood Canyon has quite a bit. And thanks a lot for the response Mike I appreciate it.

Joe

Joe,

Ophir, Mercur and Big Cottonwood have mines and tailings but lots of Private Ground. The land owners are very leary of outsiders. There has been too many destructive people tearing up the history. I have not been to the areas myself. But this is what I have heard from those who have been out there. Gold Rush Expeditions would be a good source for you. Corey goes out to all those places and has an in with many of the mine owners.

Two weekends ago I met with a guy in Alton, UT. He has a quarry in his back yard. His location is more about fossils and shells. There are also Septarian Nodules close by. I have an open invitation down there. I talked to him about making it into a pay site and putting some of his unemployed neighbors to work.

Topaz Mountain has great stuff to find. There are many mines and digs all around. The Black Boy mine is huge. I did not find too much interesting there but there are lots of areas in the area to explore. The Dugway range has hundreds of mines. Near Milford there are some mines. Watch out for active claims there.

Happy Hunting!
Mike

Posted awhile ago I realize but Mike do you have the contact info for the guy in Alton, UT. I'd be more than willing to pay a fee to enter the land and hound. I'm on Vacation in Springdale, UT for a few days and would love the opportunity. Thanks in advance for any help you can send my way.

Please PM me the request. I don't think he would want his phone number broadcast.

Thanks,
Mike