Mineral Mountains   |  Rosie Serago

Rockhounding in Utah

Amateur and professional rock and fossil hunters in Utah enjoy some of the best rockhounding sites in the country. Topaz Mountain in Utah’s West Desert, for example, is part of Utah’s rich geological history that has left astounding deposits of rocks, minerals, fossils and gemstones across the state. BLM and National Forest lands cover a large percentage of the state and permit free rockhounding in many areas. Although free or at a low cost, all collections come with some restrictions. Be mindful of collecting rules. By treating Utah’s rockhounding sites with care, we can help preserve them for many future generations of rock enthusiasts.

Responsible Travel

Where to Rockhound in Utah

Rockhounding Sites in Utah

Rockhounding Rules & Permits

Rockhounding restrictions vary based on land designations. Federal lands, such as BLM and U.S. Forest Service lands, generally permit recreational rockhounding in reasonable quantities. However, collecting is NOT permitted in any national parks, national monuments, tribal lands, military reservations, dam sites or wildlife refuges. Collecting for commercial purposes is never allowed without a permit.

Read the Rules

Found Something You Can’t Identify?

Rockhounding is all about the thrill of discovery. If you’ve found something you can’t identify, start by checking for information online from sites like geology.utah.gov. If this doesn’t yield answers, a local gem store may have some insights. Still no luck? Schedule an appointment with your local museum or university to help identify your specimen. 

If you discover an artifact, do NOT touch or remove it. Take a photo, note the location and contact your local BLM office. (Read: How to Visit Rock Imagery Sites Like an Archaeologist)

Report an Artifact

Utah Rocks, Minerals & Fossils

  • Topaz

    Colors: Clear, Amber, Pale Blue
    Found in: Western Desert

    This transparent, semi-precious mineral was designated as Utah’s official state gemstone in the 1960s. Millions of years ago, volcanic activity at the site of current-day Topaz Mountain jump-started this mineral’s over-abundance in Utah’s western counties. Topaz is a silicate mineral that forms in the veins of cooling rhyolite. It’s extremely hard, outshined only slightly by diamond. Utah topaz is a rich amber color and eventually fades to clear in the sunlight.

  • Geodes

    Colors: Purple, Blue, White
    Found in: Western Desert

    Geodes, like topaz, are a result of volcanic activity. Pockets of gas are trapped inside cooling volcanic material, creating hollow spheres which eventually fill with mineral-rich groundwater and coat the inside with crystals. Utah’s geodes are often a few inches in diameter and the brownish-gray shell contains white, purple, blue and occasionally pink crystals. To crack open a geode, place the rock inside a cloth sack to avoid flying shards and hit it swiftly with a hammer or large rock.

  • Moqui Marbles

    Colors: Black, Brown
    Found in: Southwestern Utah

    These small, dense “marbles'' are a conglomeration of sandstone and iron which range in size from blueberry to grapefruit. Moqui Marbles formed underground as iron-rich groundwater slowly coated and compacted sandstone into spheres. Whole and split, as well as conjoined and misshapen, Moqui Marbles can be found embedded in Southern Utah’s sandstone walls or covering the ground and pooling in shallow divots. Note that Moqui Marbles are most commonly found in national parks and tribal lands where rock collecting is not allowed.

  • Petrified Wood

    Colors: Multi, Usually Brown & Gray
    Found in: Southern Utah

    These remnants of Utah’s ancient forests have gone through a process called permineralization, wherein minerals seep into a fallen tree and slowly convert it to stone. The result is a colorful, kaleidoscopic specimen that has become a highly sought-after rockhounding treasure. Escalante’s Petrified Forest is one of the greatest preserves of petrified wood in the world, although collecting here is strictly prohibited.

  • Trilobite Fossils

    Colors: Gray, Brown
    Found in: Western Desert

    Trilobites are small, prehistoric marine invertebrates that roamed the shallow sea which covered Utah millions of years ago. Layers of sediment preserved these arthropods as fossils which can now be found in layers of shale throughout the state. Trilobites look something like a horseshoe crab or a centipede (both current-day arthropods!) and can be identified by their distinct head, thorax and tail segments.

  • Wonderstone

    Colors: Multicolored
    Found in: Western Desert

    Wonderstone is a variety of jasper. It’s a glassy volcanic product with gorgeous multicolored bands running throughout. No two pieces of wonderstone are exactly alike. The specific color combination depends on which minerals are present. For example, yellow and maroon bands are caused by the iron oxides. Iron is a common mineral in Utah’s biome, so wonderstone found here often features these colors.

weaving-through-granite-mazes-in-the-mineral-mountains-of-beaver-county-01-jo-savage-photography

Weaving Through Granite Mazes in the Mineral Mountains of Beaver County

Written By Matcha

6 minute read

The Mineral Mountains, one of Utah’s most magnificent but least known natural wonders, offer superb hikes through a rugged granite wonderland of cliffs, domes and valleys. Backcountry trails beckon with the chance to discover precious gemstones, climbing routes and airy summits with expansive views across southwestern Utah.

Hiking, Southwestern, ATV and Off-road

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