environmentally friendly (not harming the
environment)
pursuing constructive solutions to prospecting issues in Montana with the
government
actively seeking information about minerals, gems, fossils, and
gold
applying ethical decisions in employing our Montana right to check our
underground resources
including all ages in the pursuit of Montana
resources
educating the public in regards to the recreational prospecting possibilities
in Montana
creating family prospecting opportunities in a safe
environment
promoting our Montana cultural heritage of recreational
prospecting
sharing news that affects the recreational
prospector
utilizing honesty in our recreational prospecting interactions and being
responsible in our pursuit of this leisure activity
committed to the path of getting the State of Montana to recognize
recreational prospecting separate from mining.
separating recreational prospecting from commercial mining with the
incorporations of as many viewpoints harmoniously as we can. The two things are way different.
Outings
George Martin from Helena, MT teamed up with Great Falls folks to prospect in Crystal Park, MT. The pick ax was used on the human gopher holes on the mountainside. Outings are our
specialty.
Gem Hunting
Blaze N'Gems offers digging for sapphires via buckets to take home but here is the day's take from his manufactured machine that processes truck loads of gravel. We offer opportunities for
you to get gravel buckets.
Equipment
One of the aspects of our group is learning how to use a variety of simple equipment on-site so you can get a hands on experience out in the field so you can duplicate this activity on
your own.
For the year of 2019 propspecting season, in the past we have gone from the middle of May until the end of September with outings each weekend.
This year we are switching it up again.
The season actually began April 1st and has been sporadic with a variety of events. We are no longer limiting
ourselves to the weekends as we have had opportunity to go out prospecting in the middle of the week, so we have choices as to when we strike out and get er done.
You will see here reports of the activities that you might find interesting with posts about places, experiences and what
you might find as you create your own adventures with rocks, fossils and mining in Montana mostly.
The state is so alive with energy of the mineral nature that you might stimulate the idea, "Oh, I never thought of
that!" while checking out our events or topics.
May you enjoy this free service as a gift to those who would like to enjoy Montana's outdoors and have an opportunity
to engage with it.
Beginning a month earlier than ever before might mean you have more selection to choose from to take your family and
friends to places on your many excursions around our great state of Montana.
You will find topics of all sorts such as some listed here:
Butte Mining Museum
Ancient Rock Formations Remote
Gazing at a sapphire collection
Gold Fox in Conrad
Antimony Mine in Thompson Falls
Sapphire Picking in York
Giant Crystals in stores near you
Rock Shopping in Missoula
Panning for Sapphires in Gem Mountain
Unearthing dogtooth calcite from its cave home
Gem and Mineral Shows Rule! Why?
Mountainside sluicing
Searching for garnets in the ranchers' haven
Washing gravel for garnets
Getting Brazilian gems by the roadside
Can you find flourite in Montana?
Do caves call to the rock hounder?
Seeing gold retrieval without water
Visiting a dinosaur museum
Gold Panning Sites and Success
The "Big Dig"
The National Gold Panning area in Libby
Checking out gold mining history
Garnets in Alder
Agates in White Earth
Crystal Searching Everywhere
Barite Hunting on a hillside, just off the highway
Ringing on the Rocks
Backyard Possibilities
Comparing Rock Shops to Mines of the same name
Prospector's Plans out of the state
Using a mini portable trommel in a moutain streambed
Getting shark teeth stew
Checking out rock sinks in Bynum
Learning about rock and dinosaur books
Crystal hunting techniques
Finding some educational videos
Learning from interviews with rock people
Does heat treating really work?
Does spending more give you more stones?
Do Montanans enjoy our outdoors more than out-of-staters?
Making equipment inspiration available?
Do roads to sites deter the seeker?
Can you use the same equipment in rock hounding as gold panning?
Government rhetoric can be a part of your rock experience
Schools can teach prospecting
What sites are teamwork experience for panning?
Is art a part of the rock experience?
Do mineral clubs have claims to serve members?
Are there prospecting inventions happening in Montana?
What does a statewide mining symposium have to offer?
And even a critique on the styles of the gold search...some not so productive in comparison
What popular activities can you see while heading to prospecting sites?