If you're like me, then you know there's nothing like a finding a cool chunk of stone!

As a kid, I used to rockhound in numerous spots around my neighborhood near the base of Badger Mountain Road and find a wealth of different specimens, from sparkling pyrite to jet black obsidian with smears of bloody crimson.

As an adult, I still love rocks, minerals, and gemstones, and possess many of them, although nearly all of the ones I have now were purchased after someone else found them.

Yeah, sadly the environs surrounding my childhood home today are much better suited to looking for a house or a condominium to buy or rent and not the interesting rocks which used to cover its landscape.

But the good news for rock lovers like me is that we live in a very geologically rich part of the world for digging up, or even just stumbling across some incredible offerings from the bones of Mother Earth...

...and so I present you with a dozen great spots to hound for stones to put in your own collection that are right here in North Central Washington!

Now when you're out there, just remember to ask for permission if you want to go sniffing on private property or just stick to public lands.

attachment-jadeite
loading...

BRIDGEPORT AREA EXPOSURE

Approximate GPS - 48.000249, -119.679779
What You'll Find - Jadeite

attachment-PlacerGold
loading...

 

 

NESPELEM TO COULEE DAM, COLUMBIA RIVER SANDS

Approximate GPS - 48.039464, -118.982388
What You'll Find - Gold (placer)

attachment-OpalizedWood
loading...

GRAND COULEE AREA LAVA OUTCROP DEBRIS

Approximate GPS - 47.929658, -119.007152
What You'll Find - Opalized Wood

attachment-OpalRaw
loading...

WATERVILLE AREA EXCAVATIONS, GRAVELS & DIGGINGS

Approximate GPS - 47.647389, -120.071503
What You'll Find - Opal (Common)

Placer Gold
loading...

CHELAN FALLS AREA, COLUMBIA RIVER SANDS

Approximate GPS - 47.869542, -119.912176
What You'll Find - Gold (placer)

attachment-OpalizedWood2
loading...

MOSES COULEE AREA LAVA OUTCROPS

Approximate GPS - 47.452081, -119.810409
What You'll Find - Opalized Wood

attachment-BlueAgate
loading...

RED TOP MOUNTAIN & TEANAWAY RIDGE

Approximate GPS - 47.329481, -120.745627
What You'll Find - Geodes (Blue Agate)

attachment-Chalcedony
loading...

LIBERTY AREA

Approximate GPS - 47.272687, -120.633654
What You'll Find - Agate, Chalcedony

attachment-BlueChalcedony
loading...

ELLENSBURG LAVA FLOWS

Approximate GPS - 47.089262, -120.517846
What You'll Find - Geodes (Blue Chalcedony)

attachment-PetrifiedWood
loading...

VANTAGE -GINKO PETRIFIED FOREST STATE PARK OUTER BOUNDARIES

Approximate GPS - 46.960226, -119.988429
What You'll Find - Opalized & Petrified Wood

attachment-OpalizedLog
loading...

MATTAWA AREA & SADDLE MOUNTAINS

Approximate GPS - 46.774743, -119.848864
What You'll Find - Opalized Logs

attachment-Stibnite
loading...

METHOW VICINITY

Approximate GPS - 48.264913, -120.056646
What You'll Find - Stibnite, Chalcopyrite

Get our free mobile app

More From Talk 106.7