How to Find Sapphires in Montana
Montana is a state famous for its rugged countryside and multiple gold and mineral mines. The Treasure State is home to some of the largest sapphire deposits in the world, according to GemMountainMT.com. This region has produced millions of sapphires since the 19th century and although most large mining operations have lulled, sapphires can still be found. If you're looking to hunt for sapphires in Montana, you should consult with a few key resources first.
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Things You'll Need
- Panning tools (sifter and bucket)
- Topographic mineral map
- Mining claim map
Instructions
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Obtain detailed topographic mineral maps from the United States Geological Survey in Montana. These maps will give you known locations of mineral deposits, including sapphires.
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Obtain a mining claim map from local resources through the local Montana Bureau of Land Management office or the Department of Natural Resources. These maps will have mining-claim layouts on the map, keeping you from hunting for sapphires on already-staked claims.
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Search in known sapphire-bearing regions, away from private land or previously staked claims. These regions include gravel-bearing regions along the Missouri River and its smaller creeks and tributaries, in Lewis and Clark County, Rock Creek, Yogo Gulch, Beaverhead and Madison counties. Look for thick gravel deposits along shoals and bends in rivers and creeks. Water currents tend to deposit the stones in elbows, bends and coves along rivers and creeks.
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Pan for the sapphires in the daylight along the shoreline. Scoop up a small amount of dirt and gravel then dip your pan in the water if not already wet. This will help the sunlight to reflect off of the shiny surface of sapphires and wash away clumps of dirt.
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Look for small colored stones that protrude from or are partially covered by small gravel rocks. The colors will vary widely, but in Montana specifically you cane find sapphires that are green, blue, orange, yellow and pink. The most popular sapphires in the world are blue, so look out for these fine specimens.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider paying to pan for sapphires at one of Montana's numerous mines. Most mines operate continuously from May to September and charge a fee for buckets of gravel that you can sift through to look for sapphires. Gem Mountain Mine in Philipsburg, Montana, is a popular tourist attraction and offers these services. There are a few smaller mines along the Missouri River.
Do not attempt to collect sapphires on private or claimed land.
Do not attempt to enter current or abandoned mines. This is extremely dangerous and illegal.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sapphire necklace image by OMKAR A.V from Fotolia.com
