Finding the good stuff can be hard, it depends largely on the area that youre hunting in. Apparently, the highest chance of finding rubies in Idaho is in Adams County, after reviewing any sites. Unfortunately, this is now considered a wilderness area which makes mineral collection illegal. Love Idaho? For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. This website also participates in Google Adsense. Here is a perfect place to find yellow, red, green, and mossy jasper specimens. Will you attempt to dig for opals in Idaho this year? The number of rock and mineral varieties that can be found here is almost limitless, as are the number of potential collecting sites spread throughout the landscape. They were formed as silica from nearby geysers mixed with ground water which formed a silica gel that collected and hardened in underground cavities and fissures. Specifically, almandine garnet is considered the best abrasive for the majority of waterjet cutting where its used to create clean cuts in a variety of materials. That said, they make for stunning display gems sold to museums and rock shops for collectors and home decor. The Willow Creek area contains opalized and agatized wood of great quality and enormous opals. Instead, palm wood is a fibrous material found in localized plants. The best examples shine with brilliant color when exposed to the light, and it occurs in fairly large formations compared to many gemstones. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. This means that Louisiana opal is exceedingly rare and elusive. Many people know garnet as an inexpensive dull red mineral. In Owyhee County, geodes appear to be smaller and can be found in the Succor Creek area. Opals are among the most beautiful gemstones you can find in nature. You will find everything about rocks, minerals, and crystals here. Here, beautiful soft blue opals surface. If you go to Washington County, you can find some beautiful specimens from Mann Creek just northwest of Weiser. The official state gemstone is the star garnet since 1967. In Blaine County, you can find amethyst specimens near Hailey, and if you are there, you will surely stumble upon copper, silver, lead, and zinc minerals. Both of these areas yield impressive specimens of petrified wood and are open to the public. Hiding in Spencer, Idaho is an opal mine where visitors can come and try their luck at finding some precious stones as they dig for opals. Gemstones are some of the most enjoyable specimens that rockhounds can find, but its not always easy to know where to look. The area has been shut down for actual mining due to concerns about the environment in the area. Its one of the most common materials found in the Earths crust, but its not always in a clear, crystalline form. In Moscow, Nevada, search in the basalts on the state border for precious opal specimens. Red garnet can be found in the county of Shoshone, in the Canyon Creek and the Purdue Creek areas. This, coupled with the beautiful forests and streams, makes Idaho the place where the rock collector's dreams come true. Find Out in this Guide! TIP: For a complete rockhounding guide in Washington, check out this article. Rather than decomposing, silica preserves the wood tissues, transforming them into opalized wood fossils.