Gemstone and Rock Information

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SPECIFIC GEMSTONE AND ROCK INFORMATION

AGATES (Cryptocrystalline Quartz)

  • Nodules: Lime Creek twelve miles south of Challis along US93A, Iris along Willow Creek Road off US93A south of Challis in Custer County. Squaw Creek in Owyhee County.
  • Plume: Graveyard Point southwest of Homedale (Private Mine) west of US95 in Owyhee County near Idaho-Oregon border.
  • Green & Green Moss: Nine miles north of Muldoon, south of Cary along Little Wood River in Blaine County. Parker Mountain near Salmon in Lemhi County.
  • Banded & Scenic: South of Meyers Cove in Lemhi County.
  • Light Blue: Near Emmett in Gem County.
  • Red: Three miles west of Challis in Custer County.
  • Red & Green: Eastern fringe of Succor Creek in Owyhee County.

AGATIZED WOOD
Twelve miles south of Challis along US93A in Custer County; Hog Creek 8-10 miles northwest of Weiser in Washington County.

AMETHYST
Pole Creek in Blaine County. Lost River in Custer County. Paddy Flat & Big Creek area near Cascade in Valley County. War Eagle Mountain near Silver City and "Indian Bathtub" area in Owyhee County.

ANALCITE (isometric zeolite mineral, last zeolite to be deposited)
Golden Bell Mine, in head of gulch which contains the Minnie Moore Mine, near Bellevue in Blaine County. South of Challis in Custer County.

APATITE (Calcium phosphate)
Blackbird Mining District in Custer County.

AQUAMARINE
Above Atlanta in Elmore County.

AZURITE (Copper carbonate)
Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County. Alder Creek and Bayhorse Mining Districts in Custer County. Hoodoo Mining District in Latah County. Little North Fork area near Kellogg and Mullan in Shoshone County. South Mountain area in Owyhee County.

BERYL

  • Green: In pegmatites of the Levi Anderson, Muscovite and other mica mines near Avon in Latah County.
  • Dark Blue: In primitive area near Atlanta in Elmore County.

CALCITE (Calcium Carbonate)

  • Fluorescent: Alder Creek, Bayhorse and Yankee Fork Mining Districts in Custer County.
  • Rhombohedrons: White Mountain Mine, Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County. Hailey (Mineral Hill) Mining District in Blaine County.
  • Massive/Granular: Sunshine, Bunker Hill, Hypotheek, Hecla, Standard-Mammoth and Hercules Mine(s), Coeur d'Alene Mining District in Shoshone County.

CASSITERITE (Tin Oxide)
Silver Creek, Lemhi County. Panther Creek near junction of Moyer Creek, Cobalt area in Lemhi County. Along Jordan Creek, near Silver City in Owyhee County.

CEYLONITE (Spinel)
Wild Horse Canyon east side of Hyndman Peak in Blaine County. Rocky Flat area near New Meadows and Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County.

CHABAZITE (form of zeolite)
Blue Jacket Mine, Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County. Warm Springs Creek area, east of Boise, in Boise County. Five miles below Glenns Ferry in Elmore County.

CHALCEDONY

  • Fluorescent: Rabbit Springs in Twin Falls County on Idaho-Nevada border, US 93.
  • Varieties: Willow Creek Road south of Challis off US93A in Custer County. War Eagle and Florida Mountain areas near Silver City in Owyhee County. Pole Creek Summit near Galena and South of Carey along Little Wood River in Blaine County. Mahogany Creek in Pahsimeroi Valley and near North Fort of Lost River in Custer County. Potato Hill in Latah County, Parker Mountain Mining District, Lemhi County and Yellow Pine Mining District in Valley County.

CHRYSOCOLLA
Alder Creek in Benewah County, Arkansas Mine et al in the Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County. Hoodoo Mining District in Latah County, Coeur d' Alene Mining District in Shoshone County.

CINNABAR
Alder Creek Mining District in Custer County. Yellow Pine Mining District in Valley County. Near Weiser in Washington County.

CRYSTALS

  • Quartz Crystals: Near Bayhorse and in the Yankee Fork Mining District, Custer County. Crystal Peak northeast of Fernwood in Benewah County. McKinley Gulch in Slate Creek, and Ruby Meadows, Idaho County. Long Gulch south of Silver City, Owyhee County. Northwest of Donnelly in Valley County.
  • Cobalt (Crystals): Blackbird Mining District, Lemhi County. Silver City area, Owyhee County.

CORUNDUM
Near Silver City in Owyhee County. Along Rhodes and Orofino Creeks near Pierce in Clearwater County. Along Gold Fork Creek northeast of Donnelly in Valley County. Rock Flat gold placers near New Meadows, Adams County. Near (Resort) Burgdorf in Idaho County.

DIAMONDS
Little Goose Creek area near New Meadows, Adams County.

DOGTOOTH SPAR (Calcite Crystals)
Adjacent to US 95 midway between Riggins and Lucile, Idaho County.

EPIDOTE
Peacock, Queen, Copper Boy and other mines, Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County. Pierce area of Clearwater County. Mackinaw and Carmen Creek Mining districts in Lemhi County. Near Park Creek in Custer County. North of Paddy Flat Road northeast of Donnelly, and Deep Creek north of McCall, Valley County. Near Silver City, Owyhee County.

FELDSPAR

  • Moonstone: Near Fairfield, Camas County.
  • Pale Yellow: Shafer Creek, Boise County.
  • Clear: Crystal Butte 18 miles north of St. Anthony in Fremont County.
  • Varieties: Blackbird Mining District, Lemhi County. Silver City area, Owyhee County

FLUORITE (Purple)
Empire Mine, Alder Creek Mining District, Custer County, South of Meyers Cove, Lemhi County. Stibnite in Valley County.

GARNET

  • Star Garnet: Purdue Creek, vicinity of Bovill and Clarkia and along the East Fork of Emerald Creek in Benewah County (Forest Service fee).
  • Lime Silicate Garnet: Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County. Lanes Creek (NW¼, Section 9, Township 8 S., Range 43 E., B. M.) in Bear Lake County. Phi Kappa Canyon, near the head of Big Lost River; Copper Basin at the head of the East Fork of Big Lost River; Alder Creek Mining District near Mackay in Custer County.
  • Rose-Red and Brown-Red: Rhodes Creek, Orofino area near Clearwater River, Pierce area, in Clearwater County. Clearwater River near Lewiston in Nez Perce County.
  • Red: Canyon Creek and Purdue Creek, Shoshone County.
  • Purple-Red: Silver City area, Owyhee County.
  • Yellow-Green: Iron Mountain northeast of Weiser in Washington County.
  • Red-Pink: On Main Salmon River 10 miles above Riggins in Idaho County. White Monument, Peacock and Copper Key mines near Kinney Point, Adams County.

HEDENBERGITE & ILVAITE
South Mountain Mining District in Owyhee County.

HEMATITE (Pebbles) Lane's Creek gravel bars in, Bannock County. Boise Basin placers in Boise County.

HEMATITE
In dumps of copper mines, Alder Creek Mining District in Custer County. Iron Mountain in Washington County. Iron Mountain 20 miles north of Moscow in Latah County. Rock Flat on Goose Creek in Adams County.

JADE
Bitch Creek north of Tetonia in Fremont County.

JASPER

  • Red Jasper with Green Malachite: Hummingbird Mine area in Paris Canyon near Montpelier in Bear Lake County.
  • Bruneau Jasper: Fifty road miles south of Bruneau in Bruneau River Canyon in Owyhee County.
  • Varieties: Crane Creek Reservoir area, twelve miles south of Challis along US93A in Custer County. West of US95 south of Homedale near Idaho-Oregon border, Owyhee County. South of Carey along Little Wood River, Blaine County. Signal Light 10 miles northwest of Weiser; Beacon Hill near Weiser in Washington County. Alder Creek Mining District near Mackay in Custer County.

KYANITE
Goat Mountain and Blackdome Peak area, Shoshone County.

MALACHITE
Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County. Hummingbird Mine in Paris Canyon in Bear Lake County. Alder Creek Mining District in Custer County. Skull Canyon area two miles east of Kaufman in Fremont County. Hoodoo District, Latah County. Coeur d'Alene and adjacent Mining districts, Shoshone County, Idaho.

MARCASITE
In association with silver mines near Silver City in Owyhee County. One mile south of Salmon in Lemhi County. In the Gold Hunter Mine, Coeur d'Alene Mining District in Shoshone County.

MORDENITE
Near Salmon in Lemhi County. Fifteen miles south of Challis in Custer County.

MYRMEKITE
Yellow Pine Mining District in Valley County.

NAUMANNITE
DeLamar Mine on Florida Mountain near Silver City in Owyhee County. Yankee Fork District, Custer County. Parker Mountain Mines, Gravel Range Mining District in Lemhi County.

OPAL

  • Fire: Lava beds of Squaw Butte, Emmett area and Black Canyon Dam in Gem County. Near Givens Hot Springs, Oreana, and on the west side of Squaw Creek in Owyhee County 5 miles south of Forney on Opal Creek in Latah County. Spencer Opal Mine in Clark County near Spencer. (private - fee charged).
  • Banded: Three miles west of Challis in Custer County. Squaw Creek in Owyhee County.
  • Hyalite: Near Lewiston area in Nez Perce County.
  • Colored: Red to salmon-pink to whites and pale blues along Willow Creek near Emmett in Gem County.
  • Varieties: Pahsimeroi Valley near May in Lemhi County.
  • Common: Seventeen miles south of Marsing; Castle Creek; Mule Springs, Owyhee County. Clearwater River Valley; Givens Hot Springs area; Panther Creek; Poison Creek, Custer County. Moscow Opal Mines in Latah County.

OPALIZED WOOD
Potlatch River Canyon, Kendrick area in Latah County. Clover Creek area in Gooding County. Owyhee County.

PROUSTITE
Pilgrim Mine near the head of Beaver Creek in Blaine County. Banner Mining District in Boise County. Hub Mine, Lava Creek Mining District in Butte County. War Eagle Mountain and Florida Mountain area near Silver City in Owyhee County. Big Creek area in Shoshone County.

PETRIFIED WOOD
Manns Creek and Sage Creek area near Weiser in Washington County. Crane Creek Reservoir area; Malm Gulch. Willow Creek Road south of Challis off US93A in Custer County. West of DeLamar off Jordan Valley road; middle reaches of East Fork of Bruneau River; nine miles south of Bruneau east of US51; Sands Basin, all in Owyhee County. Clover Creek, Lincoln County.

PETRIFIED WOOD, BLACK
Coal Mine Basin on US 85 south of Marsing; Middle reaches of East Fork of Bruneau River nine miles south of Bruneau on US51; Clover Creek area, in Owyhee County. Sage Creek northwest of Weiser in Washington County.

PYRITE
Hailey Gold Belt, Blaine County. Quartzburg area, Boise County. Coeur d'Alene Mine District, Shoshone County. Mackinaw Mining District, Lemhi County.

QUARTZ

  • Crystals: Pole Creek, a tributary of the Little Wood River in Blaine County. At mines near Silver City in Owyhee County. Near Warren in Idaho County. On O'Donnell Creek near Stocking Meadows in Shoshone County. Green Mountain area in Valley County.
  • Clusters: Gem, Burke, Murray and Delta areas of Shoshone County.
  • Smokey: Along Bandy Creek in Lemhi County. Dismal Swamp northwest of Rocky Bar in Elmore County. Paddy Flats, Big Creek near Cascade in Valley County.
  • Geodes: Upper Valley of Lost River in Custer County. DeLamar Silver Mine area in Owyhee County. Northwest of Weiser in Washington County.
  • Pseudomorphic: War Eagle and Florida Mountain areas near Silver City in Owyhee County. Lava Creek Mining District in Butte County.

RHODOCHROSITE
Blackbird Mining District and Kitty Burton Mine in the Indian Creek District in Lemhi County. Conjecture Mine south of Lakeview in Kootenai County. (Remarks: Pink.)

RHODONITE
South of New Meadows in Adams County.

RUBIES
Clearwater Drainage near Pierce in Clearwater County. Placer deposits near New Meadows in Adams County and Valley County. DeLamar-Silver City area in Owyhee County.

SAPPHIRES
Rocky Flat area near New Meadows in Adams County. Rhodes & Orofino creeks near Pierce in Clearwater County. On the east slopes of Brundage Mountain in Valley County.

SILLIMANITE (Fibrolite)
Clearwater River Valley above Lewiston. Big Eddy of Clearwater River above Spaulding in Nez Perce County. Salmon River below Salmon in Lemhi County

STAUROLITE
Five miles up Carpenter Creek from its junction with the St. Maries River in Benewah County. In the St. Joe Basin and along the St. Joe-Clearwater Divide in Shoshone County.

STILBITE
Minnie Moore Mine near Bellevue in Blaine County. On the north side of Galena Summit in Custer County. Blue Jacket Claim, Seven Devils Mining District, Adams County.

THULITE (pink colored Zoisite)
Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County.

THUNDER EGGS

  • Amethyst Lined: Beacon Hill, Hog Creek, Weiser area - Washington County. Four miles south of US93 on White Cloud Road in Twin Falls County.
  • Quartz Lined: Rabbit Springs, US93 Idaho-Nevada border in Twin Falls County. Antelope Creek & Road Creek, Arco area, Butte County.

TOPAZ
Dismal Swamp nine and one-half miles northwest of Rocky Bar in Elmore County.

  • Yellow: Camas Creek in Clark County.
  • Blue: Along tributary of Paddy Creek in Paddy Flat area on Gold Fork Creek and Donnelly area, Valley County.

TOURMALINE
South flank of Hyndman Peak in Blaine County. Boise Basin area in Boise County. Pierce area in Clearwater County. Avon area in Latah County. Blackbird Mining District in Lemhi County.

VALENCIANITE (adularia)
Yankee Fork District in Custer County. War Eagle and Florida Mountain near Silver City in Owyhee County. Gravel Range and Parker Mountain District in Lemhi County.

WILLOWHITE
Longhair Mine north of Eagle, Ada County.

ZEOLITES An interesting group of hydrated aluminous silicates. Occurs as amygdular fillings in vesicles in basalt or amiosite flows; also as geode filling. Thought deposited by hot waters at time of cooling of magmas. Various locations in Owyhee and Custer County.

ZIRCON
Streams draining Idaho batholith, principally the American River near Elk City in Idaho County.

ZOISITE (Fossils)
Seven Devils Mining District in Adams County.

  • Cambrian: In limy rock along southeast side of Pend Orielle Lake, Bonner County. West rim of Snake River Canyon near Hagerman in Gooding County.
  • Marine: 9 miles south of Bruneau & to right of US 51, Owyhee County.
  • Tempskya: 13 miles northwest of Hermans on Willow Creek in Bonneville County.
  • Trilobite: South Fork of Gold Creek in Valley County.
  • Graptolites and Invertebrates: Shelves of Lost River Range in Custer County. Trail Creek east of Sun Valley in Blaine County. Bayhorse area north of Clayton in Custer County.
  • Mollusks: Bayhorse area in Custer County.
  • Fish: Lost River Range near Mackay in Custer County.
  • Mastodon & Mammoth: In sediments of Snake River Plain as far north as Palouse Hills in Latah County.

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