Other shades of opal are found there, including black, blue, and honey. Found mainly in the Cedar Ridge, Wyoming Fire Opal appears an orangey-yellow. Opal is another gemstone with Wyoming-specific variations. It ranges from utilitarian things, like wiring, cookware, fungicides, and medicine to aesthetics, like jewelry, decorative art, and pigmentation. There, copper will be found as various salts, such as carbonates, oxides, and sulfides.ĭescriptive in itself, copper appears burnt red in color. Now, copper prospectors can look to the Absaroka and Laramie Mountains. In fact, the Ferris-Haggarty Mine in the Sierra Madre Mountain range was ranked in the Top 30 international copper mines, when it was open. The 29th element and an extremely conductive mineral, copper is fairly abundant in Wyoming. It has a predominant double refraction, meaning the viewer will see two of an image when looking through it. As such, peridot has been found in relatively large quantities from fallen meteorites.Ĭhemically, peridot is a magnesium iron silicate with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 – 7.0. However, similar conditions occur when a meteorite enters space. There two large anthills of the gemstone were discovered in 1997.Īs an igneous gemstone, peridot is typically found following magma cooling. A group of researchers originally searched the Leucite Hills for diamonds, finding a huge cache of peridot instead. The rare, yellowish-green gemstone was found in Wyoming essentially by happenstance. They are also used as water conditioners and food additives. These compounds are then used to create glass, various chemicals, and detergents. This translates to its use preparing calcium and sodium carbonates. Technically, the mineral is a sodium sesquicarbonate. It is an evaporative mineral formed as sediment layers. Trona can be found within the Green River Formation in the southwest portion of the state. Recently, it was estimated that Wyoming contains about 127 billion tons of the mineral. In 2016, the state accounted for 38% of the global manufacturing of trona. TronaĪ mostly colorless carbonate mineral, trona is produced predominantly in Wyoming. A white tinge may be sometimes present due to chromium impurities. Primarily a calcium magnesium silicate, it gets its classic green hue from trace amounts of the reduced form of iron. With a Mohs hardness of 5.5 – 6.5 and a micro-felted aggregate structure, the gemstone is very durable. The composition of Nephrite Jade lends itself to creating such figurines, as well as stained glass windows. In many cases, it is the medium of choice to create sacred figurines, like Buddhas, rings, and goblets. Many cultures attribute various healing and spiritual properties to it. It has been reportedly found in several locations, including the Oligocene White River, Eocene Crooks Gap Conglomerate, and Battle Stone.īelieved to heal the kidneys, the prized green gemstone was named Nephrite Jade. The green gemstone, Nephrite Jade, is found in such relatively high quantity in the state that it became the official state gemstone of Wyoming in 1967. Also, Wyoming is one of the world’s top sources of gypsum. For instance, bentonite, a porous clay, was first found within the state. Wyoming, too, can serve as a significant producer of these minerals. It’s no wonder that those versions were later named after the state. Wyoming is home to some of the rarest gemstone variations in the world, such as Nephrite Jade, Agate, and Fire Opal. Moreover, the state’s geography is such that one has relatively easy access to rock formations as old as 3.2 billion years. The Cowboy State features all three of the major rock types, igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary, where prospectors may well begin their quest. ![]() The 10th largest state by land, Wyoming contains some of the best potential caches of gemstones and minerals in the world. Always respect private property! Wyoming Gemstones and Minerals It is also your responsibility to verify and gain permission to visit each collection site that is mentioned on this website. Remember! It is your responsibility to know the rockhounding laws and regulations for each site you visit.
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