topaz crystals from Topaz Mountain, Utah

[utah hunter]

Just got back from a quick trip down. Topaz mountain is a mountain of volcanic flow rhyolite in which literally millions of crystals formed. I go a lot in the spring and fall, but this summer has been to unbearably hot to go. My 2 oldest boys (15 and 13) talked me into it so I braved the heat. Pictured are part the mountain from our campsite, local wildlife(antelope), my tools of the trade, and a picture of the best crystals found. I usually find a lot more keepers than that, and discard hundreds of other crystals that are of lower quality for others to find and collect. I easily pay for my gas and then some with the crystals I find each time. The mountain is about 2 hours from my home, and as you can see is in some of the most inhospitable terrain in the United States.

Topaz mountain has been protected by the State of Utah from new claims for the last several decades, so it is a collectors dream.

Most people just screen, but I break rock to get the best colors. 2 weeks in the sun and the crystals will be colorless! Here is the geology information link:
http://geology.utah.gov/utahgeo/rockmineral/collecting/topaz.htm

 

[Baggins]

Great digs! Looks like an awesome place!
Baggins

 

[Burdie]

Very cool site inspite the heat.
Burdie

 

[CarolinaDigs]

Great pics !

 

[piggman1]

Cooool finds!

 

[Rob66]

Great dig, looks like fun!!!

 

[ashleen]

Utah Hunter,
Thanks for the post. I'm actually planning on taking a road trip to Utah next month...........and......Topaz Mt is on my list! Hopefully, jury duty won't mess up our plans We're planning on being gone 6 weeks....two weeks traveling and a month there. Gotta see sooooooo many places there!
You camped right there? cool!
HH

 

[utah hunter]

You can camp right there, but there are no facilities, ie water, outhouse. Let me know when you are coming, I would love to meet you there if possible and show you the ropes. I go down at least once every 2 weeks when the weather permits. My 5 kids all love it, but my wife hasn't been there yet. City girl....

 

[ashleen]

Let me know when you are coming

Most Definately!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully, it will be early Oct.
I'm on the petit juror list for July/August......
So far all I've done is call in every other Monday, and they say "no juror selection tomorrow, call back 2 weeks from today." If this continues, we'd like to leave the second or third week in Sept.
Will definately let you know!

Do you find different colors?
No matter.......I love 'em all
:P :P :P :P