Wednesday, December 31, 2008

OTHER GEMS

Blue barite from the Mine Hills near Shirley Basin, Wyoming
While conducting field research over 3 decades while at the Wyoming Geological Survey at the University of Wyoming, we were able to document hundreds of mineral deposits, occurrences and anomalies. We were able to do so by using scientific methods by keeping in mind the geology, tectonics, and geological history. Sure, we found a lot of stuff, but I guarantee you, if you apply similar scientific methods, you will also find a many more mineral deposits in Wyoming - the geology along with mineral anomalies we identified, prove that there are many other deposits including several ruby and sapphire deposits, more iolite deposits, many diamond deposits, dozens of gold deposits, many massive sulfide deposits, etc. 

While conducting reconnaissance, jasper cobbles and boulders were found in several old prospects at Tin Cup, in an outcrop near the south edge of the Rattlesnake Hills, and (jasperoid) at Quaking Asp Mountain. Some of the Tin Cup jasper is extraordinary and found in masses weighing several hundred pounds. The jasper in the Rattlesnake Hills contained some fossil leaf imprints.

Nearly everywhere we explored, we followed trends and examined geology which lead to other mineral deposits. I was curious enough to find out what some of the unusual minerals were that I picked up, and as a result, identified more than a dozen minerals that had never been reported in Wyoming.

1 comment:

  1. I'll be in SE and central Wyoming for a week in May (2011). I did a little initial exploring in the Rattlesnake hills several months ago, but it was unresearched, unfocused, on the fly, and only for a few hours.

    I planned this return trip in part to scoop up some more grape opal jasper from one good site I found while there. Now I have just discovered YOU and all your incredible info. Any chance that I can pick your brain for up to date suggestions about where best to explore?

    I live on the east coast, so my trips out there aren't numerous and need to be fruitful enough that my husband lets me go once again. :)

    thanks for any help.

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