Stones found in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming

Sandstone ball-shaped concretions

 

 Non-sandstone ball-shaped stone

Banded Ironstone found by Owl Creek Mountains, Wyoming

Found in dry creek bed on west side of Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming

Found by creek east of the Bighorn Mountains - has some agate in it.

Orange lichen growing on this rock give it a flowery appearance

Love the feather-like crystaline pattern on the surface of this stone.

Rocks Found in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming

Rocks found by Ten Sleep, Wyoming by the Bighorn Mountains

This is the area I went rock hunting at last weekend.

This is near the town of Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

What did I find?

Agate.

And some purplish-blue-reddish chert.

You can't find this stuff anywhere on the eastern side of the Bighorn Mountains; thus I make the trip over the mountains to find it.

This stuff is absolutely gorgeous!

This stone is a mixture of agate, chert, etc.!  You can see crystalization on some areas.

The agate in this piece is cloudy.  The red on the exterior is from the red soil I found it at.

Many of these agate specimens appear to have geode qualities.

This is a piece I found in this same area a year ago.  I've been hand-polishing it.

This piece is about 9 inches in length.

This piece has crystalization on the top, with a bubbley interior.  Perhaps the rock was at one time liquid, and then cooled?

The color of the agate in these stones is almost a cornflower or periwinkle blue in color.

This is in my opinion the best specimen I have found in this area.  I found it last year, and it is a sheer delight to behold!

Here is another view of it.

Tomorrow I plan to explore and hope to find more things like this -- stay tuned!

Rocks

This is a grey agate specimen that measures about 5 in. x 6 in. and fits nicely in the palm of my hand, found south of Wind River Canyon in Wyoming.

There is something about the grey agate I find in that area that I find mesmerizing.  Although I'm crazy about the Aventurine and Fuchsite I find there, this agate is both compelling and soothing.

 

One day fishing I came across these interesting rock projects left behind on the beach, which most likely were made by children.  They are single leaves of common mullein - a useful herb that grows abundantly at the lake.  I remember playing with rocks and having a drawerful in my dresser as a child; we'd play for hours in the driveway in mudpuddles, making dams and rivers and all types of creations.  As a child I picked up rocks and put them in my pockets during recesses, and my mom would complain about all the rocks.

What is it about perfectly symmetrical rocks that draw one's attention?

Like this stone orb.  Perfect!

 Here is a rather large fattened orb, heavy as it has some iron in it.

Honeycomb Badlands, Wyoming

 Today went to the Honeycomb Badlands between Ten Sleep and Worland, Wyoming. 

 The Willwood Formation is exposed and brings lots of color to the landscape.

 These stately stone hoodoos are of the table-top type.

 A Mushroom Hoodoo

 I had the whole place to myself.  All I heard was a slight breeze and a few birds.