Rockhounding in ouray, colorado
Good stewardship of the land requires proper rockhound ettiquette. Depending on your location and the land ownership, additional permits may be required from State and/ or local agencies. Respect private property rights, and do not trespass.
*This page’s information is from the United States Forest Service and United States Department of Agriculture.
Information before you
pick away
Rockhounding must not be confused with commercial mineral activities that are governed by mining and mineral laws. No mechanical equipment may be used, and any collection must not conflict with existing mineral permits, leases, claims, or sales. Causing significant ground disturbance or collecting for commercial gain without a permit is punishable by fines and potential restoration costs.
Rockhound etiquette
• Check in with your local ranger district for rules regarding rockhounding and prospecting on National Forest System lands east of the Mississippi River
• Respect all public and private property
• Learn the laws, rules, and regulations governing collecting on public lands
• Do not use blasting materials and/or firearms in collecting areas
• Fill all excavation holes and leave the land with minimal signs of surface disturbance
• Only remove small reasonable amounts of material for personal use
• Do not destroy or cause willful damage to collecting sites
• Leave all collecting areas free of litter, regardless of how you found them
• Notify the nearest Forest Service administrative unit of any mineral resources found on public lands that should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations
• Avoid areas marked as archaeological sites, American Indian or Alaska Native sacred sites, or areas with historic or prehistoric artifacts. However, not all sacred sites are marked. If an area is marked as a sacred site or if artifacts are present on the ground surface, do not collect any rocks or minerals from that area
Requirements
Free Use Permits
Free Use Permit Limited quantities
No Permit Required
Collecting Not Allowed
Special Use Permit Required
Lapidary Materials: [36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 228, Subpart C] Agates, jaspers, obsidian, chert, chalcedony, geodes and thundereggs, quartz crystals, and common igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
Mineral Specimens: [36 CFR 228, Subparts A & C] Specimens collected for hobby and personal use may not be bartered or sold.
Petrified Wood: [36 CFR 228.62 (e)] Hobby specimens may only be collected for personal use and cannot be bartered or sold. (Specific rules may be in effect for designated collection areas, check with local ranger district office for information.)
Metal Detecting: [36 CFR 228, Subpart A] Metal detecting for precious metals is considered prospecting and is not allowed on mining claims without the claimant’s permission. No historical artifacts may be removed from Federal lands.
Artifacts: [36 CFR 261.9 (h)] Prehistoric, historic, and archaeological resources may not be disturbed or removed from Federal lands.
Meteorites: Considered objects of scientific interest, meteorites are not available for collecting and are subject to the Antiquities Act.
Treasure Trove: Treasure trove activities are non-mineral-related activities and include the search for and recovery of valuable quantities of money, unmounted gems, or precious worked metal in the form of coins, plate, or bullion of unknown ownership and purposely hidden.
Fossils: Casual collection of common and abundant invertebrate and plant fossils for personal use may be allowed without a permit providing certain conditions are met, as specified by regulation in 36 CFR 291 (See Paleontology brochure, FS-1058).
Level of Activity and Plan of Operations
Plan of Operations generally not required
Plan of Operations may be required
Plan of Operations required
Low-impact activity with little surface disturbance (e.g., gold panning, hand collection of gems, minerals, and rocks. Metal Detecting.
Use of small sluice box or rocker box with a shovel. Use of suction dredge (up to 4 inches) and/or high-banker.
Use of power sluice or dredging operation with an intake nozzle over 4-inches in diameter.
Use of motorized earth-moving equipment.
Rules and Regulations
Prospecting, rockhounding, and semi-precious stone and mineral hunting are among the many outdoor activities visitors enjoy on our national forests and grasslands.
Generally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, provides for the collecting of rocks and minerals for personal use from our national forests and grasslands through a free use permit. Depending on the significance of surface resource disturbance, prospecting activities may need Forest Service authorization through an approved Plan of Operations.
Forest Service policy allows rockhounding that includes the collecting of rocks, semi-precious stones, and minerals from national forest and grasslands for personal, hobby, and noncommercial use.
Most national forest lands are open for rock and mineral collecting, metal detecting, gold panning, and prospecting.
Low-level surface disturbance and collection of small samples generally does not require a plan of operations.
In national monuments, wilderness areas, and other special or protected areas, collecting may or may not be allowed. Check with the local ranger district for information.
Thank you United States Forest Service
Thank you United States Forest Service
Looking for more information? contact united states forest service
USDA Forest Service
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-1126