Some of the best places to find rubies in Montana include Rock Creek, Granite county, Red Rock Mine, and the Missouri River. Rubies are found in the western and southern portions of Montana, and this gemstone is often found alongside Montana sapphires. The Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine, Montana Blue Jewel Mine, Madison CountyĬrystal Park, Jefferson County, Delmoe Lakeīutte Mining District, Berkeley Pit, Silver Bow Rock Creek, Granite County, Red Rock Mine In the table below, you can see where to find some of the most popular gemstones in Montana, and further down, we will get even into more details concerning these specimens: Gemstone There are many types of gemstones to be found in Montana, such as amethyst, the smoky version of it, rubies, sapphires, or turquoise, but there are far more out there! Brick Hammer: Explained Usage for Rockhounding What Gemstones Are Found in Montana? TIP: What kind of hammer do you use for rockhounding? Classic rock hammer or do you prefer a brick hammer? Find out the main differences between these two hammers in the article below: Some popular gold prospecting clubs that you can join in Montana include the Montana Blackfoot River Gold Prospecting Club, the Northwest Montana Gold Prospectors, and G.P.A.A Headwaters Chapter, Yellowstone Prospectors, or Central Montana Prospectors, among others. The western parts of the state are often the richest in gold in old mines and creeks. Thus, it is only natural that plenty of gold prospecting clubs in Montana were founded, where members search throughout old and new sites for the mineral. Montana has a rich history when it comes to gold, nicknamed the Treasure State due to its abundance and how often gold was struck in random locations.

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals (National Geographic Kids).Gemstone & Crystal Properties (Quick Study Home).Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals.Plenty of sapphire deposits have been discovered in this region of the state, making it a popular choice for gem hunters.īTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links): Here, you can head towards the Ruby River, where you can find almandite garnets that come in red, orange, or even pink colors. Madison County, located in the southwestern part of Montana, is among the best places to rockhound.

Most crystals and minerals popular in Montana can be found in the mines located here. Some mines, such as the Emma Mines, are popular locations where you can witness other minerals such as chalcopyrite, barite, calcite, bornite, and others.

The northern, southwestern, and western parts of this county are filled with rhodochrosite crystal veins. You have to pay a small fee to enter, but the sights are totally worth it! Butte Districtīutte County is located in the far south of the state, and it is the county seat of Silver Bow County. Here you can also find amethyst, even the smoky version, and other types of crystals.

Located in southwest Montana, in the Pioneer Mountains, Crystal Park offers visitors the chance to find various quartz crystals that come in different colors, such as gray, purple, white, and others. Though there are plenty of great places to rockhound in Montana, we can’t spoil all the fun and present all of them however, let’s talk about some of the best and most popular! Crystal Park Some of the best rock hunting sites include the Crystal Park, Calvert Hill Mine, Gallatin National Forest, Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine, Anaconda, Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine, Montana Blue Jewel Mine, Bald Mountain, Missouri River, Ruby River, and Emma Mines, among many others. The western parts of Montana are generally the best for rockhounds to find specimens. If you are interested in checking out the best rockhounding book about rockhounding in Montana you can find it by clicking here (Amazon link). Rockhounding in Montana: Where to Go and What Rocks and Minerals To Find?

Orange gems found in smoky mountains