Collecting Places

Antero

The Highest

Antero summit

Mt. Antero Is the highest gem collecting area in North America (known). It is a place of severe weather and terrain. The collecting areas are almost entirely above 13,000 ft and it makes it difficult for anyone who is not acclimated. Many wonderful Minerals are found on its slopes and its adjacent peaks. Mt White, Jones Peak, Carbonate Mountain, and even Mt Princeton have all had reports of Minerals. You can find Microcline, Smokey Quartz, Flourite, and Phenakite, just to name A few but the real prize is its Aquamarine. Many excellent specimens have been found since the initial discovery in 1881 by Nelson Wanamaker and because of the difficulty in Collecting here there is still plenty left to find. Mt. Antero still provides many World Class Mineral Specimens every year because of A few Brave, Hardworking individuals.

Lake George Colorado

The Burn

Coming back to life

Since the Hayman Fire the areas through much of the South Platte Colorado have taken on an erie dead appearance. Years now since the fire things are starting to look up. Aspens and raspberry bushes are numerous. The wild flowers are often amazing. (and I know living in the San Juans. ((world famous for their wildflowers))). The Mineral Collecting is some of the best in the world for Pegmatite Minerals. There are hundreds of different species that can be found here but is best known for its Smokey Quartz-Amazonite combinations.

Pikes Peak

Colorado's most popular Mountain

Looking off the summit

Pikes Peak is one of the most ascended mountains in the world. It is also Colorado's largest mountain by mass and base to summit elevation gain. It has A Wide graded road and a Swiss Cog train that delivers thousands of tourists to its summit every year. But do not get the wrong idea,,,, This Colorado 14,000 ft Mountain is far from tamed. Its cirques and chutes are real deal Mountaineering challenges that often require rope work and acclimation. As another high Colorado mountain the weather can be severe. Often more severe than other places in Colorado due to its proximity to the Plains and the fact that it stands alone with no other high mountains around it to buffer incoming storms. Many wonderful Minerals can be found on its slopes and cliffs. As with all Pikes Peak Granite you will find Amazonite, Smokey Quartz, Flourite, and Topaz to name A few. Smoky Quartz Crystals to 3 ft have been reported as well as super rare minerals to this region such as Wulfenite. The Pikes peak Collecting areas are too numerous to list but generally They begin all the way down in Canyon City Colorado and extend North all the way to the Lake George area. (technically the same host rock).

San Juan Mountains Colorado

Unlimited Possibilities

Endless potential

The San Juans of South West Colorado is Colorado's largest mountain range. It stretches from the Colorado-New Mexico border in the South, to Highway 50 in the North. and from the great San Luis Valley in the East nearly to Utah in the West. It is littered with Mining operations in its entirety which probably began with the Spanish in the 1700's. In the late 1800,s mineral entry was obtained through the Brunot Treaty and "white" prospectors began to mine the many Mineralized Loads. There is simply way too much Mineral history to list in this area, To give you some scope of the extensive operations that took place in this area, let me just say there are thousands and thousands of miles of underground workings here. It would be difficult for any man or woman to explore all of it in three lifetimes let alone one. Some of the well known mining districts are as follows... Pandora-Telluride, Ouray, Red mountain #1, 2, and 3,, Idarado, Sunnyside, Creed and Lake City districts, and of Course Rico where remains of A crude Spanish Smelter were found. The Geology of the area is equally extensive but the main mineralized areas are primarily Hydrothermal Zones and Veins. A few of the Minerals that can readily be found are Museum quality Quartz, Rhodochrocite, Schelite, Pyrite, Baryte, Calcite, Sphalerite, Galena, Flourite, and Wolframite. The area is best know for its metals and billions of dollars in Gold, Silver, Lead, Platinum, Zinc, and more have been extracted. The San Juans is also a major Summer tourist destination with Hiking, Jeep Trails, Climbing, being the most popular activities. The San Juans are also well known for their Hot Springs, Wildflowers, and you wont find a place in the lower 48 with more waterfalls.

Sawtooth Mountains Idaho

Wow! what a place.

Sawtooth Range

The Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho are simply amazing. Steep Granite Cliffs, Remote lakes and hanging valleys, and World class Minerals make this place A truly magnificent place to visit. It is a true untouched wilderness with all the whistles and bells. The high peaks break just above 10,000 ft which makes it A bit easier to acclimate to than the high peaks of the Colorado Rockies. In this wilderness it is a good idea to carry A sidearm or bear spray as both Black and Brown Bear are common. Now mineral Collecting is prohibited by technicality (because of the designated Wilderness). But if you were to pick up A Crystal for the memory I am sure nobody would mind. In the Sawtooth Mountains you will find numerous natural Hot Springs to soak off A long days hike or climb. You will also encounter really sweet stream carved natural water slides. (make sure you check out the run before you just hop in).This has become one of my all time favorite places and although I have only been there one time I plan on making many more trips to this magical place. I regret to say I do not have many pictures of this beautiful local yet as my camera died as I was on my way last time. But stay tuned as I am planning another trip this year and will be prepared this time.

Thomas Range Utah

Dry and desolate

Planet Mars

The Thomas Range in Utah is World Famous for its minerals. Primarily its super gemmy Sherry Topaz. The Range is located in Western Utah and is Desolate Desert. Other than Rock collectors and a few four wheel drive enthusiasts you wont see too many folks out here. I think I spent 5 days straight, right in the main collecting area and did not see A single person once. I have made a half dozen trips to this area over the years and have no intentions of stopping anytime soon. It is fantastic here and very easy to find the famous Topaz. Although getting really nice pieces requires breaking up the tuff Rhyolite host rock. There are numerous other minerals to be found here too, one of which is native only to Western Utah and found no other place in the world over. Yes I am talking about the elusive Red Beryl. It has other names it goes by Bixbyite, after its discovery by Maynard Bixby. It is also known as Red Emerald. There are other valued minerals here and I would like to go into it but that would take days as the mineralization here is pretty complex but if you are interested you can always do your own research. (you obviously have computer access). Anyway enjoy the photos and expect more new ones every year.

West Slope Colorado and Eastern Utah

Best of both Worlds

Needle Rock

The West Slope of Colorado is A place of diversity. With High Mountains, Desert Canyons, Mesas, and plateaus. The minerals are equally diverse ranging from Granitic Pegmatite minerals to Hydrothermal Altered Sedimentary Bodies. From Mineral replacement of organics making Beautiful Agates and Jaspers to Uranium Deposits that helped to fuel the nuclear age. Fossils Fuels are common on the West Slope of Colorado and range from Coal to Oil Shales to Natural Gas. West Colorado is famous for its Dinosaur Fossils. Many new species of Dinosaur have been discovered here, and you still see plenty of pieces in the washes and hillsides in the right layers but don't touch, It is illegal to collect Dinosaur bone unless you can dig on private property. Many beautiful minerals are found on the West Slope of Colorado. I Personally have found Amethyst, Flourite, Calcite, Barite, and Siderite, Malachite, and Azurite.

Wigwam and Tarryall Colorado

Burn Zone Hayman Fire

Sheep Rock

When the Hayman Fire rolled through the South Platte area of Colorado It left a swath of destruction. The largest forest fire in Colorado's history it caused millions in damages and changed the landscape drastically. Nearly A decade later the underbrush has come back but the destruction is still very evident from the standing dead trees and lack of lichen on much of the gigantic Granite Domes and boulders. In the years after the fire there was much erosion which exposed many previously undiscovered mineral localities. The geology it that of the Pikes Peak Batholith Northern extent. The minerals Are basically the same as that of the Lake George and Pikes Peak areas except that this area is best know for its incredible Topaz. I have found hundreds of these Topaz crystals in at least a dozen or so areas. The mineral rich areas are vast and there is plenty of new prospecting opportunities for new discovery. The main (known) collecting areas are as follows. Topaz Mountain, Spruce Grove, Pilot Peak, and Wigwam. Make sure you find out about active mining claims as there are A lot and you will need permission to dig on these. If you go looking for bran new areas stay away from posts and existing digs. Claim holders are sensitive about their areas here as much of them are making a living from their claims. People have been prosecuted for jumping before and the fines are stiff with potential jail time so know where you are digging. As I said there are still plenty of new areas to check out here and I have found nice minerals all over this region so have fun, and good luck.