Gemstone Guide
GEMSTONE OR ROCK NAME
COUNTY
LOCATION
AGATES - NODULES
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
CUSTER
• Lime Creek 12 miles south of Challis along US 93A
• Iris along Willow Creek Road off US 93A south of Challis
OWYHEE
• Squaw Creek
AGATES - PLUME
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
OWYHEE
• Graveyard Point southwest of Homedale (private mine) west of US 95 near Idaho-Oregon border
AGATES - GREEN & GREEN MOSS
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
BLAINE
• 9 miles north of Muldoon, south of Cary, along Little Wood River
LEMHI
• Parker Mountain near Salmon
AGATES - BANDED & SCENIC
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
LEMHI
• South of Meyers Cove
AGATES - LIGHT BLUE
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
GEM
• Near Emmett
AGATES - RED
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
CUSTER
• 3 miles west of Challis
AGATES - RED & GREEN
Cryptocrystalline Quartz
OWYHEE
• Eastern fringe of Succor Creek
AGATIZED WOOD
CUSTER
• 12 miles south of Challis along US 93A
WASHINGTON
• Hog Creek 8-10 miles northwest of Weiser
AMETHYST
BLAINE
• Pole Creek
CUSTER
• Lost River
OWYHEE
• War Eagle Mountain near Silver City
• "Indian Bathtub" area
VALLEY
• Paddy Flat and Big Creek area near Cascade
ANALCITE
isometric zeolite mineral; last zeolite to be deposited.
BLAINE
• Golden Bell Mine in head of gulch containing Minnie Moore Mine near Bellevue
CUSTER
• South of Challis
APATITE
Calcium phosphate
CUSTER
• Blackbird Mining District
AQUAMARINE
ELMORE
• Above Atlanta
AZURITE
Copper carbonate
ADAMS
• Seven Devils Mining District
CUSTER
• Alder Creek and Bayhorse Mining Districts
LATAH
• Hoodoo Mining District
SHOSHONE
• Little North Fork area near Kellogg and Mullan
OWYHEE
• South Mountain area
BERYL - GREEN
LATAH
• In pegmatites of the Levi Anderson, Muscovite and other mica mines near Avon
BERYL - DARK BLUE
ELMORE
• In primitive area near Atlanta
CALCITE - FLUORESCENT
Calcium carbonate
CUSTER
• Alder Creek, Bayhorse and Yankee Fork Mining Districts
CALCITE - RHOMBOHEDRONS
Calcium Carbonate
ADAMS
• White Mountain Mine, Seven Devils Mining District
BLAINE
• Hailey (Mineral Hill) Mining District
CALCITE - MASSIVE / GRANULAR
Calcium Carbonate
SHOSHONE
• Sunshine, Bunker Hill, Hypotheek, Hecla, Standard-Mammoth and Hercules Mines, Coeur d'Alene Mining District
CASSITERITE
Tin Oxide
LEMHI
• Silver Creek
• Panther Creek near junction of Moyer Creek, Cobalt area
OWYHEE
• Along Jordan Creek near Silver City
CEYLONITE
Spinel
BLAINE
• Wild Horse Canyon east side of Hyndman Peak
ADAMS
• Rocky Flat area near New Meadows and Seven Devils Mining District
CHABAZITE
Form of Zeolite
ADAMS
• Blue Jacket Mine, Seven Devils Mining District
BOISE
• Warm Springs Creek area east of Boise
ELMORE
• 5 miles below Glenns Ferry
CHALCEDONY - FLUORESCENT
TWIN FALLS
• Rabbit Springs on Idaho-Nevada border US 93
CHALCEDONY - VARIETIES
CUSTER
• Willow Creek Road south of Challis off US 93A
• Mahogany Creek in Pahsimeroi Valley and near North Fork of Lost River
OWYHEE
• War Eagle and Florida Mountain areas near Silver City
BLAINE
• Pole Creek Summit near Galena and south of Carey along Little Wood River
LATAH
• Potato Hill
LEMHI
• Parker Mountain Mining District
VALLEY
• Yellow Pine Mining District
CHRYSOCOLLA
BENEWAH
• Alder Creek
ADAMS
• Arkansas Mine, et al., Seven Devils Mining District
LATAH
• Hoodoo Mining District
SHOSHONE
• Coeur d'Alene Mining District
CINNABAR
CUSTER
• Alder Creek Mining District
VALLEY
• Yellow Pine Mining District
WASHINGTON
• Near Weiser
CRYSTALS - COBALT
LEMHI
• Blackbird Mining District
OWYHEE
• Silver City area
CRYSTALS - QUARTZ
CUSTER
• Near Bayhorse and in Yankee Fork Mining District
BENEWAH
• Crystal Peak northeast of Fernwood
IDAHO
• McKinley Gulch in Slate Creek and Ruby Meadows
OWYHEE
• Long Gulch south of Silver City
VALLEY
• Northwest of Donnelly
CORUNDUM
OWYHEE
• Near Silver City
CLEARWATER
• Along Rhodes and Orofino Creeks near Pierce
VALLEY
• Along Gold Fork Creek northeast of Donnelly
ADAMS
• Rock Flat gold placers near New Meadows
IDAHO
• Near (Resort) Burgdorf
DIAMONDS
ADAMS
• Little Goose Creek area near New Meadows
DOGTOOTH SPAR
Calcite Crystals
IDAHO
• Adjacent to US 95 midway between Riggins and Lucile
EPIDOTE
ADAMS
• Peacock, Queen, Copper Boy and other mines, Seven Devils Mining District
CLEARWATER
• Pierce area
CUSTER
• Near Park Creek
LEMHI
• Mackinaw and Carmen Creek Mining Districts
OWYHEE
• Near Silver City
VALLEY
• North of Paddy Flat Road northeast of Donnelly
• Deep Creek north of McCall
FELDSPAR - MOONSTONE
CAMAS
• Near Fairfield
FELDSPAR - PALE YELLOW
BOISE
• Shafer Creek
FELDSPAR - CLEAR
FREMONT
• Crystal Butte 18 miles north of St. Anthony
FELDSPAR - VARIETIES
LEMHI
• Blackbird Mining District
OWYHEE
• Silver City area
FLUORITE - PURPLE
CUSTER
• Empire Mine, Alder Creek Mining District
LEHMI
• South of Meyers Cove
VALLEY
• Stibnite
FOSSILS - SEE ZOISITE
GARNET - STAR
BENEWAH
• Purdue Creek, vicinity of Bovill and Clarkia and along East Fork of Emerald Creek (US Forest Service fee)
GARNET - LIME SILICATE
ADAMS
• Seven Devils Mining District
BEAR LAKE
• Lanes Creek (NW 1/4, Section 9, Township 8 S, Range 43 E, BM)
CUSTER
• Phi Kappa Canyon near head of Big Lost River
• Copper Basin at head of East Fork of Big Lost River
• Alder Creek Mining District near Mackay
GARNET - ROSE-RED
BROWN-RED
CLEARWATER
• Rhodes Creek, Orofino area, near Clearwater River
• Pierce area
NEZ PERCE
• Clearwater River near Lewiston
GARNET - RED
SHOSHONE
• Canyon Creek
• Purdue Creek
GARNET - PURPLE-RED
OWYHEE
• Silver City area
GARNET - YELLOW-GREEN
WASHINGTON
• Iron Mountain northeast of Weiser
GARNET - RED-PINK
ADAMS
• White Monument, Peacock and Copper Key mines near Kinney Point
IDAHO
• On main Salmon River 10 miles above Riggins
HEDENBERGITE & ILVAITE
OWYHEE
• South Mountain Mining District
HEMATITE - PEBBLES
BANNOCK
• Lane's Creek gravel bars
BOISE
• Boise Basin placers
HEMATITE
ADAMS
• Rock Flat on Goose Creek
CUSTER
• In dumps of copper mines, Alder Creek Mining District
LATAH
• Iron Mountain 20 miles north of Moscow
WASHINGTON
• Iron Mountain
JADE
FREMONT
• Bitch Creek north of Tetonia
JASPER - RED WITH GREEN MALACHITE
BEAR LAKE
• Hummingbird Mine area in Paris Canyon near Montpelier
JASPER - BRUNEAU
OWYHEE
• 50 road miles south of Bruneau in Bruneau River Canyon
JASPER - VARIETIES
BLAINE
• South of Carey along Little Wood River
CUSTER
• Crane Creek Reservoir area, 12 miles south of Challis along US 93A
• Alder Creek Mining District near Mackay
OWYHEE
• West of US 95 south of Homedale near Idaho-Oregon border
WASHINGTON
• Signal Light 10 miles northwest of Weiser
• Beacon Hill near Weiser
KYANITE
SHOSHONE
• Goat Mountain and Blackdome Peak area
MALACHITE
ADAMS
• Seven Devils Mining District
BEAR LAKE
• Hummingbird Mine in Paris Canyon
CUSTER
• Alder Creek Mining District
FREMONT
• Skull Canyon area two miles east of Kaufman
LATAH
• Hoodoo District
SHOSHONE
• Coeur d'Alene and adjacent mining districts
MARCASITE
LEMHI
• 1 mile south of Salmon
OWYHEE
• Associated with silver mines near Silver City
SHOSHONE
• In the Gold Hunter Mine, Coeur d'Alene Mining District
MORDENITE
CUSTER
• 15 miles south of Challis
LEMHI
• Near Salmon
MYRMEKITE
VALLEY
• Yellow Pine Mining District
NAUMANNITE
CUSTER
• Yankee Fork District
LEMHI
• Parker Mountain Mines, Gravel Range Mining District
OWYHEE
• DeLamar Mine on Florida Mountain near Silver City
OPAL - FIRE
CLARK
• Spencer Opal Mine near Spencer (private - fee charged)
GEM
• Lava beds of Squaw Butte, Emmett area, and Black Canyon Dam
LATAH
• 5 miles south of Forney on Opal Creek
OWYHEE
• Near Givens Hot Springs, Oreana and on the west side of Squaw Creek
OPAL - BANDED
CUSTER
• 3 miles west of Challis
OWYHEE
• Squaw Creek
OPAL - HYALITE
NEZ PERCE
• Near Lewiston area
OPAL - COLORED
GEM
• Red to salmon-pink to whites and pale blues along Willow Creek near Emmett
OPAL - VARIETIES
LEMHI
• Pahsimeroi Valley near May
OPAL - COMMON
CUSTER
• Poison Creek
LATAH
• Moscow Opal Mines
LEMHI
• Panther Creek
• Pahsimeroi Valley near May
NEZ PERCE
• Clearwater River Valley
OWYHEE
• 17 miles south of Marsing
• Castle Creek
• Mule Springs
• Givens Hot Springs area
OPALIZED WOOD
GOODING
• Clover Creek area
LATAH
• Potlatch River Canyon, Kendrick area
OWYHEE
• Few miles southeast of Hwy 95 at Idaho-Oregon state line in Coal Mine Basin (black opalized wood found in sandstone formation)
PROUSTITE
BLAINE
• Pilgrim Mine near head of Beaver Creek
BOISE
• Banner Mining District
BUTTE
• Hub Mine, Lava Creek Mining District
OWYHEE
• War Eagle Mountain and Florida Mountain area near Silver City
SHOSHONE
• Big Creek area
PETRIFIED WOOD
CUSTER
• Willow Creek Road south of Challis off US 93A
• Malm Gulch area
LINCOLN
• Clover Creek
OWYHEE
• West of DeLamar off Jordan Valley Road
• Middle reaches East Fork of Bruneau River
• 9 miles south of Bruneau east of US 51
• Sands Basin
WASHINGTON
• Manns Creek area near Weiser
• Sage Creek near Weiser
• Crane Creek area
PETRIFIED WOOD - BLACK
OWYHEE
• Coal Mine Basin on US 85 south of Marsing
• Middle reaches East Fork Bruneau River 9 miles south of Coal Mine Basin on US 85 south of Marsing
• Clover Creek area
WASHINGTON
• Sage Creek northwest of Weiser
PYRITE
BLAINE
• Hailey Gold Belt
BOISE
• Quartzburg area
LEMHI
• Mackinaw Mining District
SHOSHONE
• Coeur d'Alene Mine District
QUARTZ - CRYSTALS
BLAINE
• Pole Creek tributary of Little Wood River
IDAHO
• Near Warren
OWYHEE
• At mines near Silver City
SHOSHONE
• On O'Donnell Creek near Stocking Meadows
VALLEY
• Green Mountain area
QUARTZ - CLUSTERS
SHOSHONE
• Gem, Burke, Murray and Delta areas
QUARTZ - SMOKEY
ELMORE
• Dismal swamp northwest of Rocky Bar
LEMHI
• Along Bandy Creek
VALLEY
• Paddy Flats, Big Creek near Cascade
QUARTZ - GEODES
CUSTER
• Upper Valley of Lost River
OWYHEE
• DeLamar Silver Mine area
WASHINGTON
• Northwest of Weiser
QUARTZ - PSEUDOMORPHIC
BUTTE
• Lava Creek Mining District
OWYHEE
• War Eagle and Florida Mountain areas near Silver City
RHODOCHROSITE
KOOTENAI
• Conjecture Mine south of Lakeview (REMARKS: PINK)
LEMHI
• Blackbird Mining District and Kitty Burton Mine in Indian Creek District
RHODONITE
ADAMS
• South of New Meadows
RUBIES
ADAMS
• Placer deposits near New Meadows in Adams and Valley counties
CLEARWATER
• Clearwater Drainage near Pierce
OWYHEE
• DeLamar - Silver City area
VALLEY
• Placer deposits near New Meadows in Adams and Valley counties
SAPPHIRES
ADAMS
• Rocky Flat area near New Meadows
CLEARWATER
• Rhodes Creek near Pierce
• Orofino Creek near Pierce
VALLEY
• East slope of Brundage Mountain
SILLIMANITE
Fibrolite
LEMHI
• Salmon River below Salmon
NEZ PERCE
• Clearwater River Valley above Lewiston
• Big Eddy of Clearwater River above Spaulding
STAUROLITE
BENEWAH
• 5 miles up Carpenter Creek from junction with St. Maries River
SHOSHONE
• St. Joe Basin and along St. Joe - Clearwater Divide
STILBITE
ADAMS
• Blue Jacket Claim, Seven Devils Mining District
BLAINE
• Minnie Moore Mine near Bellevue
CUSTER
• North side of Galena Summit
THULITE
Pink-colored Zoisite
ADAMS
• Seven Devils Mining District
THUNDER EGGS - AMETHYST LINED
WASHINGTON
• Beacon Hill, Hog Creek, Weiser area
THUNDER EGGS - QUARTZ LINED
BUTTE
• Antelope Creek, Arco area
• Road Creek, Arco area
TWIN FALLS
• Rabbit Springs, US 93 Idaho-Nevada border
TOPAZ
ELMORE
• Dismal Swamp 9 1/2 miles northwest of Rocky Bar
TOPAZ - BLUE
VALLEY
• Along tributary of Paddy Creek in Paddy Flat area on Gold Fork Creek
• Donnelly area
TOPAZ - YELLOW
CLARK
• Camas Creek
TOURMALINE
BLAINE
• South flank Hyndman Peak
BOISE
• Boise Basin area
CLEARWATER
• Pierce area
LATAH
• Avon area
LEMHI
• Blackbird Mining District
VALENCIANITE
Adularia
CUSTER
• Yankee Fork District
LEMHI
• Gravel Range and Parker Mountain District
OWYHEE
• War Eagle and Florida Mountain near Silver City
WILLOWHITE
ADA
• Longhair Mine north of Eagle
ZEOLITES
CUSTER
• Various locations
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 counties.
OWYHEE
• Various locations
ZIRCON
IDAHO
• Streams draining Idaho batholith, principally the American River near Elk City
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
ADAMS
• Seven Devils Mining District
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
CAMBRIAN
BONNER
• In limy rock along southeast side of Pend Oreille Lake
GOODING
• West rim of Snake River Canyon near Hagerman
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
MARINE
OWYHEE
• 9 miles south of Bruneau and to right of US 51
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
TEMPSKYA
BONNEVILLE
• 13 miles northwest of Hermans on Willow Creek
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
TRILOBITE
VALLEY
• South Fork of Gold Creek
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
GRAPTOLITES AND INVERTEBRATES
BLAINE
• Trail Creek east of Sun Valley
CUSTER
• Shelves of Lost River Range
• Bayhorse area north of Clayton
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
MOLLUSKS
CUSTER
• Bayhorse area
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
FISH
CUSTER
• Lost River Range near Mackay
ZOISITE (FOSSILS)
MASTODON & MAMMOTH
LATAH
• In sediments of Snake River Plain as far north as Palouse Hills