UTAH
State Rock: Coal (1991)
State Gemstone: Topaz (1969)
State Mineral: Copper (1994)
State Fossil: Allosaurus (1988)
Utah is virtually unmatched in the variety of gemstones and number of rockhounding locations.
Much of Utah is public lands and a good deal of that property remains available for recreational rockhounders
Topaz is a hard, semiprecious gem. Topaz occurs in Beaver, Juab, and Tooele counties. At Topaz Mountain, in the Thomas Mountain Range in Juab County, Utah, topaz occurs as crystals and also as small stubby ‘sharpened pencil’ style crystals along with other minerals in cavities within the gray rhyolite. The Topaz Mountain topaz crystals naturally are amber, golden, or light brown in color, but they will turn colorless when exposed to sunlight for a while.
The best places to rockhound in Utah are the gravels of streams, washes, and draws, as well as old mining dumps and rocky outcrops. The most popular rockhounding sites in Utah are the Dugway Geode Beds and Topaz Mountain in particular.
These are a few of the things you may want to take along with you on your dig:
A small, handheld garden rake
A handheld trowel
Knee pads or an old cushion to kneel/sit on
A bucket, for holding your finds
Newspaper or grocery bags to wrap and protect your crystals
While digging crystals you will probably be outside for a long time. You may want to bring:
Water
Snacks
A wide hat
Sunscreen
Bug spray, and a small first aid kit (Quartz can be sharp!)
PRIVATE FLUORESCENT HYALITE OPAL CLAIM
The Crystal Collector teams up with Bigfoot Crystals in Utah!
(Jonathan’s private claim)
MINE INFORMATON
Topaz Mountain Adventures has acquired three mining operations in the Thomas Range of Juab County, Utah.
The first operation is Topaz Dome It produces large, exquisitely colored, museum quality Topaz crystals. Garnet, Bixbyite and Red Beryl have also been found in the area.
The second operation is known for producing clusters of Topaz crystals in a Rhyolite matrix.
The third operation produces primarily Bixbyite crystals, also in a Rhyolite matrix.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Hand tool kits are provided for specific digs
Hand tools are available to rent as well
Tool Kit Rental – $5.00
Tool kit includes, small sledge hammer, rock chisel, brush, small pick, screwdriver, safety glasses, UV zip lock bag.
There are several different Tours and Passes that you can purchase. Click on “hours” or “prices” to view them.
HOURS
CLICK HERE
PRICES
CLICK HERE
GREAT SALT LAKE!
Near the Spiral Jetty in Utah
(If you dig there, make sure you fill in your holes)
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
SNOWFLAKE OBSIDIAN BEDS
MINE INFORMATON
At this location operated under the Bureau of land management, the public is invited to go out and collect. Just be sure you stay off any marked claims.
Watch out for NO TRESPASSING Signs!!
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Medium size pry bar
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
OBSIDIAN and HYALITE OPAL
MINE INFORMATON
This spot will leave you speechless after seeing the size of these obsidian boulders that are found! Later in the day the search continued down the road to a claim owned by Big John! At his location the most crazy green fluorescent hyalite opal is found. At night it looks like your on another planet! If you’re a crystal collector, you need to check out this video! I was lucky enough to find two amazing items in one day – and I think you’ll love them as much as I do. Hyalite opal is one of the most beautiful stones on the market, and this obsidian crystal is absolutely amazing! Don’t miss this crazy find!
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Gloves
- Long Wave UV Light
- Long Sleeve Shirt
- Dust Mask
- Pick Axe
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
OBSIDIAN NUGGETS
Watch video for location/directions
Marker 4:27 on the video
MINE INFORMATON
At this location they are all over the ground, so many that you can fill your pockets in a matter of minutes! This location is open to the public and is a free spot to collect.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
AN OLD COPPER MINE NEAR MOAB, UTAH
MINE INFORMATON
This location produces gem quality azurite and malachite specimens. Even more so, the azurite and malachite both form up in these rounded balls often referred to as “blueberrys” as you can see why! This location is open to the public.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Medium size pry bar
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
MINE INFORMATON
OPEN TO PUBLIC LOCATION!!!
Come on out and dig your own 500 million year old trilobite bug fossils! This location is in Utah, and its such a blast digging these fossils.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Medium size pry bar
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
MINE INFORMATON
Every customer gets a high-end dig at U-Dig Fossils.
U-Dig Fossils is a private quarry located one hour west of Delta, Utah, that contains one of the world’s richest deposits of trilobites.
The best part is that you get to keep what you find!
No reservation required. Book online or pay at U-Dig Fossils quarry when you arrive.
They also ship shale all year long. Check out their website.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Medium size pry bar
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
OPEN DATES – CLICK HERE
HOURS & PRICES
There is no charge for children ages 6 and younger who are accompanied by a paying adult.
Youth 16 and under cannot enter the quarry without one paying adult accompanying them.
Only paying customers can enter the quarry. A shaded area is provided for non-paying customers.
– A 15% discount can be applied for groups of 15 people or more
– A 15% discount is available for Utah residents with a valid Utah Drivers license, Active Military, Veterans and Seniors (70+). (Discounts cannot be combined.)
– Public school rates and scout rates are available. Contact us for more information.
We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards.
Sales tax is not included in the prices listed here. Prices are subject to change without notice.
CREAMSICLE CLAIM
Private Location
MINE INFORMATON
This is an exclusive dig site that is currently not open to the public. Join The Crystal Collector on FaceBook and become a supporter for opportunities to dig with him on certain exclusive digs and so much more. Only .99 a month https://www.facebook.com/Thecrystalcollector
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Garden Trowel
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Medium size pry bar
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
MINE INFORMATON
Dugway geode beds is an amazing place for these awesome Crystal Geodes to be found! It’s open to the public but the drive can be treacherous and it’s not recommended unless you have a 4 x 4 vehicle.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- 3 prong hand cultivator
- 1 or 2 buckets
- Knee pads or something to kneel on
- Food/drinks
Disclaimer
Please note that rock collecting locations are always changing so be sure to check with the site owner for the most current information before going.
We’ve listed several locations here but there may be many more that are not listed.
Dig safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect rocks.