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Utah
| TREASURE HUNTING IN UTAH Add what you know about this area to create a handy guide for other treasure hunters. |
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| What this area is known for: 1. Fossils 2. Sunstone 3. Topaz 4. Obsidian 5. Wonder-stone 6. Gold | Biggest finds in this area: 1. rare trilobite named Olenoides Nevadensis worth well over $2,000.00. 2. Red beryl worth $400-$20,000 per carat. It is worth 1,000 times more than gold http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/gladasked/gladberyl.htm 3. |
| Local appraisers: 1. Name, contact info/website 2. 3. 4. | Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs: 1. Club name, contact info 2. 3. 4. |
| Best time of year to go: April through October. Utah is one of the most spectacularly beautiful states. Come see for yourself. There is great snow skiing in the winter | Other helpful resources: 1. http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/rock.html 2. Utah Geological Survet http://geology.utah.gov/index.htm 3.A collector's guide to rock, mineral, & fossil localities of Utah by J.R. Wilson. |
| Have a question about treasure hunting or geocaching in this region? | |
| THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT Regions can have multiple good spots to go — add details to build a complete guide. |
| Location #1: Obsidian General description: The Black Springs area of the Black Rock desert was covered with volcanic eruption of rhyolite, pumice, and obsidiam during the Tertary Period. Obsidian is not a mineral but is glass created in volcanoes. Various varieties of obsidian can be found at this site: snowflake, black obsidian with and others. | How to get there: From the west edge of Delta, Utah, travel west on U.S. Highway 6/50 about 4.3 miles to the State Highway 257 junction. Turn south on highway 257 and travel approximately 43 miles to a BLM sign displaying "Kanosh 26" and a dirt road heading east. Turn east onto the dirt road and travel about 6 miles to the sign for Black Spring. Turn right onto the Black Spring dirt road and park in the open area across from the watering trough. Courtesy of: http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/obsidian.html |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer 2. Safety glasses 3. Buckets | Helpful notes to newcomers: Show respect for the land and carry all thrash out. Bring plenty of water and be careful when breaking obsidian with a hammer. |
| Location #2: U-Dig Fossils General description: Tribobites are and extinct species of marine animal related to horse shoe crabs, and pill bugs. The fossils are found in a shaley limestone and are found by splitting the sheets with a rock hammer. | How to get there: Once in Delta, first travel 32 miles west on Highway 6/50. At the Long Ridge Reservoir sign between mile markers 56-57, turn right. There is a U-DIG Fossils sign at this intersection. Then travel 20 miles down a well-maintained gravel road to reach the U-DIG Fossils trilobite quarry. Any type of vehicle can travel this gravel road. For a map, click here. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer or use a borrowed hammer at the site 2. Hat 3. Sunscreen 4. Gloves 5. Safety glasses 6. Water | Helpful notes to newcomers: You will find fossils. For additional information check out the following link: ://www.u-digfossils.com/ |
| Location #3: Sunstone Knoll General description: Sunstones can be found on the flats and around the knoll/ Sunstones are a transparent yellow feldspar mineral. Typical stones are 1/3" to 1" in size. Sunstone Knoll is formed of volcanic vents that erupted during the early Pleistocene (1.6 million years to about 750,000 years ago). http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/sunstones.html | How to get there: From the west edge of the town of Delta (railroad overpass), travel west on U.S. Highway 6/50 about 4.3 miles to the State Highway 257 junction. Turn south on highway 257 and travel approximately 13.4 miles (just before mile-marker 56). A sign on the west side of the road marks the entrance to Sunstone Knoll on the east. Turn east onto the dirt road, cross the railroad tracks (watch for trains), and circle around the knoll to the east side. Please sign the register at the entrance. A private claim is on part of this site, but individuals are generously allowed to collect. Information Utah Geological Survey |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Hammer 2. Safety glasses 3. Plenty of water 4. Hat | Helpful notes to newcomers: Children can easily collect on the flats. |
| Location #4: Vernon Hills General description: The Vernon Hills wonderstone is a welded-vitric tuff (vitric means glassy) of rhyolitic composition. It is a volcanic rock composed predominantly of volcanic glass particles which have been welded or stuck together by heat and compacted by the weight of overlying material. Alteration of the rock by circulating ground water produced the colorful banding. The maroon and yellow-brown colors are due to the presence of iron oxides | How to get there: From the southern edge of Tooele, travel south on State Highway 36 about 31 miles to the town of Vernon. Continue on highway 36 an additional 4 1/2 miles until you reach a dirt road adjacent to and west of the railroad tracks. Turn north (left) onto the dirt road and travel next to the railroad tracks for 1.7 miles until the road curves to the northwest. From the curve, travel 0.4 miles to the end of the road. Utah Geological Survey http://geology.utah.gov/utahgeo/rockmineral/collecting |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer 2. Buckets 3. Plenty of water 4. Hat | Helpful notes to newcomers: A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. Road can be muddy depending on weather conditions. Do not collect on any marked claims or rock piles showing signs of recent mining activity. Bring a rock hammer and protective eye wear if you intend to break pieces of rock. A hat and water are recommended. Please carry out your trash. Have fun collecting |
| Location #5: State of Utah Geological Survey General description: By far the best geological and mineral collecting information provided by a state agency. Utah is rockhound friendly place to visit. Rather than restricting the tourist Utah welcomes the collectors and provides a world of information. I hope other states would follow Utah's lead. | How to get there: http://geology.utah.gov/index.htm |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Printer with fresh ink 2. 3. | Helpful notes to newcomers: There is a entire section for teacher's resources. |
| Location #6: (Local beach, park, etc) General description: | How to get there: |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. 2. 3. | Helpful notes to newcomers: |
| VIDEO FROM THIS AREA Upload a YouTube or Google video of geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
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| PHOTOS FROM THIS AREA Upload pictures of your geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
 About this photo: U-Dig Fossil Quarry Photo submitted by: bucfanpaka |  About this photo: Trilobites from the U-Dig Fossil Quarry Photo submitted by: bucfanpaka |
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Latest page update: made by bucfanpaka
, Jul 2 2008, 11:21 PM EDT
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