Rock Collecting on State and Federal Lands

 Parks as a rule, the state and national do not normally allow visitors to dig into their parks, as it contributes to erosion and can spoil the natural beauty of the region. There are also regulations in place to protect the natural, cultural and archaeological. And then there are legal ramifications if taken without proper authorization or permit.

But there are a few exceptions to almost everything, as with the Crater of Diamonds State Park is located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. This park is encouraging visitors to get their hands dirty. For a small fee, currently $ 7 for adults and $ 4 for children over 6 years, visitors are allowed to dig for diamonds and other precious stones and can keep their finds. Some visitors have even found a few gems.

Rock collection in the national forests and state recreation areas
State recreation areas, and state and national forests may have a more relaxed, like Garnet Hill Recreation Area in White Pine County near Ely, Nevada. Rockhounds will be pleased to know that the government designated the area as a zone of rock prospecting for garnets.

Interested in finding more of garnets? Visit the St. Joe National west of clarkia, Idaho forest and try prospecting for "star garnets" in the area of ​​Emerald Creek Garnet. A permit for one day visitors can take up to 5 pounds of garnets. Visitors can purchase a maximum of six permits per year, limiting them to a grand annual total of 30 pounds of garnets.

In the Ouachita National Forest, located in Arkansas, rockhounds can search for quartz, two free to use quartz crystal areas to collect the "Crystal Vista" in the Womble Ranger District located near Mt. Ida, and "Crystal Mountain" in the area between Jessieville Ranger Jessieville and Perryville.

The rules for the collection of rocks in the Ouachita National Forest vary greatly from what rockhounds can expect commercial sites Quartz Mining. All crystals collection made in the Ouachita National Forest needs to be done by hand, without tools or digging, and can not be made in very limited quantities, less than 25 pounds per person.


Rockhounds can dig for amethyst crystal to 220 acres Crystal Park, located in the Pioneer Mountains of Montana only 70 miles from the city of Butte. This area is rich amethyst administered by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Service National and is open from May to September depending on road conditions.

Rockhounding and the Bureau of Land Management
California has several options for rockhounds with Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, which allows the collection of rock at Turtle Mountain, Chemehuevi Wash and Vidal Junction, all located near the Parker Dam. At these locations, rockhounders enjoy access to find desert jasper, Opalite, agate and opal.

In addition, Chambless near Amboy Crater is the National Landmark and the Marble Mountain Rock collecting area outside the historic route 66. Here collectors can hunt for rock epidote, dolomite, chrysocolla, chalcedony, serpentine, marble, garnet and specular hematite, iron and kenatite, crystals of chalcedony, geodes and gold.

In the Yellowstone area, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, prospectors can search for gold in the many creeks and streams. In fact, in the Kootenai National Forest near the town of Libby, Montana, an entire area has been set aside for gold panning, and even the South Pass area of ​​Wyoming near the town of Lander has almost become paradise gold prospecting.

With a little research, find a rockhound determined that there is no limit to the number of places open to the rock collection, like this: Best Places to dig for gems in the United States.

Read More

If you are enjoying reading this blog,Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Buzz or Reddit.

Dig Your Own Gems and Gold in Georgia

 The hills and mountains of northern Georgia are called solid gold. We just know where to look. Placer gold is gold that has traveled from its source of origin because of erosion and retreat of ice streams. Placer gold can be found in many streams and creeks that fallout from the mountain. You can find public access to some of these flows, but take care not to infringe or collect on private land.

For gold need not be high tech, and gold can be collected using a simple high-sided metal pan. It requires a little skill in the swirling water and gravel from the pan, keeping and allowing the gold dust to accumulate in the bottom of the pan without losing them. No one should expect to get rich quick search of gold, but it's a fun activity for young and old, especially if a gold nugget happens to turn into the bottom of the pan.

Gold prospecting in Georgia Locations
In northern Georgia, the City of Dahlonega was once the site of the gold rush first and still maintains a museum of history of gold out there today. Gold prospectors in the vicinity can try their skills or panoramic several gold mines nearby.

Crisson Gold Mine, Dahlonega.
Gold n Gem Grubbing mine, Cleveland.
Consolidated Gold Mine, Dahlonega. Offers a tour of the cave and gold panning.
Loud Mine, located in Cleveland, is a camp or private property that allows exploration Lost Dutchman Mining Association (LDMA) and Gold Prospectors Association of America (CRM) members to prospect for gold. The gold found here is supposed to be closer to the source due to the size of the specimens found.

Gem Mining Georgia
Georgia also offers gems and minerals other than gold. A mine that allows rockhounds digging the mine is located in Lagrange Hogg. Star rose quartz, amethyst, tourmaline crystals, and crystals of beryl aquamarine can be found here. These specimens are beautiful. The mine operates by appointment only and offers the opportunity to other areas to dig. Carrefour close to Jackson was an amethyst mine that at last had been sold and is no longer in operation.

Savannah River Agate (chert) can be found along the River Road right of way outside of Girard. When searching for agates in this area, not to encroach on a private property lining both sides of the road. It is also imperative that all the holes can be dug in the extrication of agate be recharged quickly.

Georgia can still hold a few more places hidden gem. Rockhounds can seriously consider contacting local clubs pearl and mining in the region to see what the state may have to offer. Other places to explore are located in nearby North and South Carolina and offer opportunities jewel of numerous excavations to keep collectors busy rock.

Read More

If you are enjoying reading this blog,Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Buzz or Reddit.

Adventure Gold Prospecting for Fun and Profit

 Gold mining is still big business. If it is a major growth industry, there is still ample room for the general public to go out and "make a fortune."

It is the dream of almost every boy who sees the old movies like Treasure of the Sierra Madre, television shows, like gold fever, and documentaries on the Klondike. In fact, the Gold Prospectors Association of America, CRM and encourages further exploration active today both for individuals and families. They provide guidance for the fun and adventure for the whole family - and yes, maybe some profit as well.

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, there are still areas where we can explore, and if a discovery is made, we can stake a claim. Many areas are still without reservation. Many are on public lands administered by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or Forest Service. Public Land Records BLM State Office will show the correct status of the land and are available for public consultation, and sometimes to buy.


Prospecting for gold for fun and profit in the U.S. Top Ten
So where can potential prospectors try their luck? According to the article "Where to find gold in the United States," by fever gold prospecting (aka Motherlode Outfitters), Coarsegold, California, 2007, gold can be found:

In Alaska, many localities of gold contributed to a gold production while some 29,225,071 ounces. Now the sites are numerous, for example, near Gulkana, in the river and its tributaries Chitnis in the Slana River, etc.
In Arkansas, the gold can be found in the Ouachita Mountains.
In Georgia, the gold was found in the forests of West and East of Blairsville city, and streams and washes south of Gumlog Lumpkin County.
California has been named "The Golden State" because of the great "gold rush of 1849." Even now ranks third gold mine production in California and the State has produced more than 150 million ounces of gold. California has many sites in both North and South locations, including the Auburn State Recreation Area, South Yuba River State Park, Malakoff Diggins, Hangtown Gold Bug Park & ​​Mine, etc.
Colorado ranks second among states producing gold that produced over 40 million ounces of gold, with most mines being in the mountainous western half of the state.
In Washington, gold production has been increasing year by year. It has the third largest lode mine sites in the U.S. and found in almost all counties of Benton at Yakama.
In Wisconsin, the gold could be found almost everywhere where glaciers have experienced.
Arizona also has many mines, especially in the Turquoise district (east of Tombstone), with finely divided gold in the gravel slope.
Montana also has over 24 counties where gold was found, from Beaverhead County Toole.
New Mexico counties of gold include Colfax, Grant, Hildalgo, Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra and Taos.
Camps and guides available for assistance
There are many camps that are open to the public and help provide maps, shelter, food, fun, adventure, and guides to minimize problems and make prospecting a pleasant experience. They can be found in the yellow pages, calling the Chamber of Commerce, or by contacting the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA.)

With any luck, we can find enough flakes or nuggets to pay for their holidays, or maybe even make a handsome profit. For many, the prospect can be the adventure of a lifetime.

Read More

If you are enjoying reading this blog,Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Buzz or Reddit.