RockWoofSketch map
Woof’s favorite find
Sunrise Mine
We picked it because its USGS record mentions 2 gem or collectible minerals (Quartz, Agate) and 3 of our card minerals overall. No other named site here scores as high on both counts. USGS lists it as past producer for Iron. Minerals mentioned: Quartz, Agate, Magnetite. Approx. location 42.334, -104.703. USGS record.
Ask first: a USGS record doesn’t mean you can visit. Find out who owns the land and get permission before collecting.
Field cards: what kind of sites?
The mineral was noted here, without development.
Explored or test-dug, with no recorded production.
Was producing when the record was made.
Produced ore or material at some point in the past.
Status terms come from USGS MRDS records.
Mineral cards
Quartz
Mohs 7. Six-sided points; smoky quartz is NH’s state gem. Mindat
3 sites
Copper
Mohs 2.5–3. Native copper is soft and turns green as it weathers. Mindat
3 sites
Gold
Mohs 2.5–3. Soft, heavy and bright yellow; it doesn’t tarnish. Mindat
2 sites
Magnetite
Mohs 5.5–6.5. Black and strongly magnetic. Mindat
2 sites
Mica
Mohs 2–3. Peels into thin, flexible, shiny sheets. Mindat
1 site
Agate
Mohs 6.5–7. Banded, translucent chalcedony. Mindat
1 site
Silver
Mohs 2.5–3. Native silver tarnishes black. Mindat
1 site
Counts are sites whose USGS record mentions the mineral or commodity. Hardness from Mindat.
Minerals recorded here
Hematite 4Malachite 1Magnetite 1Goethite 1Limonite 1Commodities
Iron 6Vermiculite 5Silica 3Graphite 3Gold 2Dolomite 2Copper 2Mica 1Uranium 1Calcium 1Sites
| Site | Commodity | Minerals recorded | Status | Approx. location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unidentified Prospect | Iron | Hematite | Occurrence | 42.265, -104.660 |
| Chicago Mine | Iron | Hematite | Past Producer | 42.345, -104.682 |
| Sunrise Mine | Iron | Hematite, Magnetite, Goethite, Limonite | Past Producer | 42.334, -104.703 |
| Jehosephat Prospect | Iron | Hematite, Malachite | Occurrence | 42.328, -104.723 |
| Wilde & Deer Corne Mines | Silica | — | Past Producer | 42.281, -104.766 |
| Coony Hill Prospect | Gold | — | Occurrence | 41.951, -105.147 |
| Romsa Dolomite Deposit | Dolomite | — | Prospect | 41.905, -105.257 |
| Roff Deposit | Vermiculite | — | Producer | 42.980, -105.126 |
| Collins & Groves Deposit | Mica | — | Producer | 41.986, -105.263 |
| Whippoorwill Claim | Gold | — | Prospect | 41.949, -105.150 |
| Rabbit Creek | — | — | Occurrence | 42.211, -105.223 |
| Good Fortune Iron Mine | Iron | — | Past Producer | 42.326, -104.695 |
| Lt Sisson Dolomite Deposit | Dolomite | — | Prospect | 42.314, -104.782 |
| Jehosophat Prospect | Copper | — | Prospect | 42.329, -104.725 |
| Jbc Deposit | Vermiculite | — | Producer | 42.980, -105.126 |
| George Creek | Graphite | — | Prospect | 41.970, -105.265 |
| Big Mac Claim | Uranium | — | Occurrence | 41.951, -105.167 |
| Cassa Area | Silica | — | Occurrence | 42.444, -104.978 |
| Emerald Group | Calcium | — | Occurrence | 41.985, -105.264 |
| Texan Lode | Graphite | — | Prospect | 41.985, -105.100 |
| Rabbit Creek Area | Graphite | — | Producer | 42.210, -105.232 |
| Lucky Gus Prospect | Iron | — | Occurrence | 42.052, -105.245 |
| Palmer Canyon Deposit | Vermiculite | — | Producer | 42.065, -105.264 |
| Plaga-Judd Deposit | Nickel | — | Occurrence | 41.984, -105.260 |
| Friday #2 Prospect | Silica | — | Prospect | 41.994, -105.166 |
| Vaughn-Hyslop Deposit | Gemstone | — | Occurrence | 42.109, -104.773 |
| Green Mtn Boy | Copper | — | Past Producer | 42.275, -104.723 |
| Mcdougal Deposit | Vermiculite | — | Producer | 42.980, -105.147 |
| Dixie Queen Claim | Vermiculite | — | Producer | 42.139, -105.271 |
| Collins Deposit | Talc-Soapstone | — | Occurrence | 42.312, -105.231 |
Fossil collections
The Paleobiology Database lists 4 fossil collection records in Platte County. These are research records, not public dig sites.
Nearby counties
Goshen County · Converse County · Niobrara County · Albany County · Laramie County
Wyoming mineral guides
- Tourmaline in Wyoming
- Quartz in Wyoming
- Garnet in Wyoming
- Gold in Wyoming
- Mica in Wyoming
- Feldspar in Wyoming
Back to all Wyoming counties.
How we built this page: we counted named sites in the USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) for this area, left out sand, gravel, crushed stone, clay pits and unnamed sites, grouped them by Census county, and linked every site to its USGS record. We did not visit these sites, and MRDS does not tell you who owns the land or whether collecting is allowed.
Source: USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS). USGS ceased systematic updates to MRDS around 2011, so status and details may be out of date. Each site links to its USGS record.
Updated