Rockhounding Glenwood/Sigurd, Utah

A Break in the Winter Weather

On February 1st, 2020, we experienced a temporary reprieve from the harsh winter conditions. The snow had largely melted at lower altitudes; however, a significant storm was anticipated the following week. This presented an ideal opportunity for a brief rockhounding excursion before the return of cold weather and snowfall. Consequently, we embarked on a short trip to investigate the regions situated between Glenwood, Utah, and Sigurd, Utah.

An example of what we believe is silicated red gypsum.

Past Excursions

This is what we believe to be red gypsum. Gypsum is common in the Sigurd, Utah area, and it’s home to the United States Gypsum Company.

An example of what we believe to be another form of red Gypsum. This specimen exhibits a different texture and composition compared to the previously identified samples, suggesting a variation within the red gypsum found in the area.

We have read reports of beautiful plume agate from the Glenwood, Utah area, but in the past, we have always come up empty-handed. At most, we’ve seen lots of igneous rock.

Around Sigurd, Utah, we’ve found lots of selenite, white gypsum, green gypsum, and what we believe to be red gypsum. The red gypsum is found in somewhat fluffy, lightweight pieces that can be as large as a bowling ball. There are also some specimens that seem to be more sedimentary and come in thin, hard layers. They are usually around 1/4″ inch thick and smaller than a quarter.

We’ve tried cutting cabochons with the material, and it is relatively hard and takes a nice polish.

Todays Rockhounding Trip

This time, we decided to explore a new location that seemed promising. While we didn’t unearth any major treasures, we did discover some encouraging minerals.

Initially, we found the usual small pieces of red gypsum and abundant selenite. However, the red gypsum at this location was thicker than what we’ve typically found. There was also a significant amount of igneous rock in the area.

After only a few minutes of walking, we started to notice signs of dull-colored agate and some jasper. As we continued our search, we found some promising minerals. Although most of the minerals we found today were quite small, we will definitely be back again this spring.

Here are some examples of what we found on our short trip.