rockhounding - Southwest Montana

Augusta
287
[
287
200
ROCKHOUNDING
Ovando
Craig
200
Lincoln
B l a c kf
15
G
141
T
E
Ò
Spokane Bar
GOLD WEST COUNTRY IS
M
Drummond
i
our
NG
EL
RA
90
B
ET
ss
Mi
RN
BI
GA
Riv
o ot
Wolf
Creek
er
CONSIDERED A TREASURE
Rive
r
12
Li
r
R iv e
Boulder
Bo
u
Toll Mountain
ve
r
41
is
on
CC
41
Sheridan
Indian Creek
Ò
287
Polaris
ss
p
Dillon
RU
ek
BY
AN
E
G Ruby
River
Reservoir
Ò
River of Gold
RANGE
C re
R
AI
NG
KT
L
RA
Clark
Canyon
Reservoir
AC
E
287
BL
M
GE
CR
R
AN
OW
ck
ND
NS
Ro
AI
NT
ES
U
T
O
Re d
TE
e
Riv
r
UN
OY
MO
15
SN
AD
ho
HE
278
r
Ennis
SON
ER
Gra
AV
pe
ÒVirginia City
MADI
BE
Nevada
City
Ruby Reservoir
.
T MTNS
Ò
Twin Bridges
ROO
Ò
Crystal Park
278
287
O
Crystal Butte
r
NS.
BA
MT
43
R iv e
W
Three
Forks
Whitehall
69
TO
ER
2
Ri
Wise River
NE
90
Je
ffe
rs
PIO
15
e
le
Ho
g
R.
AC
Bi
Ò
Ò
ve
287
69
Radar Creek
r
43
Ri
AN
Butte
on
Cre
Fli
nt
D
O
N
RA
er
Riv
90
E
NG
Missou
ri
r
lde
Anaconda
A
GEMS, MINERALS AND FOSSILS.
Townsend
1
Georgetown
Lake
BECAUSE OF ITS SOIL RICH IN
Mad
is
ek
E
I NS
HIR
NTA
S APP
MO U
Lake
15
Ò
Georgetown
CHEST FOR ROCK COLLECTORS
ry
Fer
12
Cable Mtn.
38
Gem Mtn.
287
Deer
Lodge
Philipsburg
Ò
Helena
NS
Elliston
AI
r
12
River
T C
RE
EK
RAN
GE
ot
on
ny
Ca
ve
Ri
FLIN
Philipsburg
Blac
k fo
NT
ttle
Fork
U
k
O
Clar
1
MO
TA I
Lima
UN
AV
EL
LY
Lower
Red Rock L.
TA
NS
Lima
Reservoir
GR
IN
S
Monida
Upper Red Rock L.
© 2005 Gold West Country and Tempest Technologies, LLC
WWW.GOLDWEST.VISITMT.COM
1-800-879-1159
Anaconda Area
Old tailings of scheelite and epidote at Cable Mountain, northeast of Georgetown Lake.
Argillite and quartzite can be found west of Georgetown. For information, call 406-563-7020
Boulder River Barite
Nice cubic crystals of barite can be found about five miles west of the Whitehouse campground along the Boulder River. Take the Bernice exit off I-15 between Basin and Butte. It is
about five miles to the campground. For information, call Montana Tech at 406-496-4395
Butte Area
Smokey quartz and amethyst can be found in the porphyry deposits in the Delmoe Lake
area. Take the Delmoe Lake exit off of I-90 on Homestake Pass east of Butte. For information,
call Montana Tech at 406-496-4395
ROCKHOUNDING
Calvert Hill Mine
The Calvert Hill area west of Wise River is noted for epidote, aquamarine and garnets. The
area is reached by driving about six miles west of Wise River on Highway 43 to the campground on the south side of the Dickey Bridge. From there it is about eight miles on a gravel
road to the mine area. The minerals can be found in the country rock and mine dump. For
information, call Montana Tech at 406-496-4395
Crystal Park
Crystal Park is a unique recreation area at 7,800 feet in the Pioneer Mountains. Open to the
public, you are welcome to dig for quartz crystal here if you follow the posted rules. There is
a $5 per vehicle fee charged to help maintain the facilities. Brilliant amethyst and smokey
quartz crystals can be found in the normal form as well as scepter, double terminated and
Japanese Law Twin forms. Open from May 15 through October 15 weather conditions permitting. From the town of Wise River take the Pioneer Scenic Byway and drive 17 miles to
the site. For information, call the Forest Service at 406-683-3900
GOLD WEST COUNTRY IS
CONSIDERED A TREASURE
CHEST FOR ROCK COLLECTORS
BECAUSE OF ITS SOIL RICH IN
GEMS, MINERALS AND FOSSILS.
Helena Area
The Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop is the place to mine for beautiful
Montana Sapphires. Located near the Missouri River, the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine allows
digging for a fee and will rent the proper equipment to you if you don't have your own. For
information, call 406-227-8989
Philipsburg Area
Search the dumps and tailings of old mining sites for tiny crystals of manganese minerals.
Beautiful Montana sapphires can be “mined” year-round indoors at the Sapphire Gallery on
Philipsburg’s main street and during the summer months at Gem Mountain off Highway 38.
For information, call 406-859-3388 • 800-525-0169
Ruby Reservoir
Calcite, opalite, and garnets are found south of Alder. Some people find gem quality almandine garnets by screening the gravel along the shores of the reservoir. For information, call
406-843-5555
Sheridan Area
The area near Indian Creek offers white and banded masses of calcite. For information, call
the Forest Service at 406-684-3972
Virginia City Area
Flecks of gold still sparkle in tailings between Virginia City and Alder. Pan for gold at the
River of Gold and visit Alder Gulch Mining Museum. For information, call 406-843-5555 •
800-829-2969
WWW.GOLDWEST.VISITMT.COM
1-800-879-1159