First Time Rockhounding In Grand Junction CO! Opal Hill

Finally got it done! After 3 weeks of illness, I finally finished my first rockhounding video after moving to Grand Junction. Not sure if I will be uploading another video before the end of the year, but at least you can enjoy this one!
GPS coordinates of where I parked: 39.141971, -108.748206
Quick update: I have confirmed that two of the specimens I found were dinosaur bone, so I did not keep them and I changed the thumbnail to be that of petrified wood. Also, only the east side of the hill is BLM, so keep your collecting to that side.
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#TheFinders #RockHounding #Gemhunting

[@daddyvet478]

This video is the best representation of my Optic neuritis I’ve ever seen,

[@largent45]

Awesome to see you out rockhounding in the new area You will find that colorado has treasure to offer everywhere too. Thanks for showing us new wonders!

[@theruggedrockhound]

Absolutely! And I can't wait to see what other treasures are around here

[@dixieschwab4422]

So cool man. Thanks. I go to Fruita often so now I will be sure to stop along the way. Happy Holidays

[@theruggedrockhound]

Happy holidays to you as well!

[@cassandrakeator4027]

Oh boy do I have questions for ya! I’ve lived here in Clifton for almost 4 years now, I live on half an acre of property near the Budweiser distribution factory and for the past 3 1/2+ years now I have been finding WICCCKED COOOL “rocks” allll over our property. I’ve been telling my in laws, the house is sitting on some kind of gold mine because I have found some cooooool stuff here, all of what you just got done showing. 😅👀🤞🏼

[@dustinfindsrocks]

Awesome to see you out rockhounding already in your new area. Hope your move went well. Looking forward to seeing more rockhounding in Colorado! I’m going to send you a package in a couple weeks. I got your address 👍🏽 now the process of deciding what to send… 😅always difficult!

[@theruggedrockhound]

Yes, when you have as many rocks as we have, it takes forever to go through it all! The move and new job was quite a bit of work, but now we are settled in and looking forward to the new adventures! Happy Holidays my friend!

[@m.ryanedvalson5293]

Nice. Can’t wait to see what else you discover in your new location my friend.

[@theruggedrockhound]

Thanks!

[@jeytex3161]

Good to see you posting and exploring again. Hope you are enjoying your new home.

[@theruggedrockhound]

Thank you!

[@willorocks]

You've got some real cool rock videos! Glad I found your channel, just subscribed. Those are some cool specimens you found! 😮

[@theruggedrockhound]

Awesome, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Serpents-Ridege-Lapidary]

Welcome to GJ! Check out the boarders of the different parks and nature areas on the colorado state line. Their are several locations in the books that have been put off limits. The McGinnis Nature Reserve being the newest. Some of the wood looks very similar to fragments of Dino Bone. Have fun out there.

[@theruggedrockhound]

I started to wonder if maybe I had some dinosaur bone... Thanks for the info on the parks. I did take a good look at the McGinnis reserve to map out the borders and see where I can go exploring.

[@RockHoundingAdventures]

Hey man, just a heads up Opal Hill is protected and is part of the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. I did a video there too when I moved here but took it down after talking with the local blm office. (Rockhounding is prohibited) There are a lot of cool minerals in the area. Welcome to Colorado bro. 🤘😁

[@theruggedrockhound]

Thanks for the tip. I have since taken a good look a the borders of the conservation area so there should be no more problems moving forward.

[@ColoRockCo]

Awesome videos, glad to have found you, and to have you in Colorado! Feel free to send a message if you ever have any questions or want to go out! I've been working on a Barite video for months that'll hopefully be finished soon, it probably won't be as good, but I'm not going to try to copy you! 🤣

[@theruggedrockhound]

Haha, not worried about that. Yeah, let me know when you would like to go out. I am usually rockhounding on saturdays, and because it is so close I am also going out some weekdays after work.

[@budershank]

That is a neat area. I don't do much rock hounding(I just pick up pretty rocks) but the hiking out there is great. :)

[@gregderksen1996]

Just curious, have put any of the red agate with calcite centres in an acid bath to see if anything interesting is hiding behind the calcite?

[@theruggedrockhound]

I have not yet, that is a good idea. I will have to try it

[@mpmp1121]

There used to be Native American Pictographs up there but it's worn away from touching

[@theruggedrockhound]

That's too bad, do like a good pictograph.

[@ericanderson7724]

just a warning i heard they recently ban collecting out there

[@theruggedrockhound]

Thanks for the info! Fortunately, I don't plan on going back there.

[@triciastuckenschneider5387]

Hi, we are rockhounders in Junction....would like to connect with you privately togive you some hints and helps. It is a lot different from Utah here. Wonderful in it'sown way. If you pick up a Colorado Gazeteer (sp) it will help...it shows public/private and conservation areas. We can hunt on BLM, National Forrest and State Parks areas. Kurt (Rockhounding Adventures) is a lot of help. He finds locations searching his map for washes/ creeks/river access. Hedoesn't give exact locations because people got mad at him for telling their favorite spots...lol. Then everyone knows Mica Mine and Nancy Hanks. We don't have the plethora that Utah had but the hunt is part of the rockhounding...weare old and we love it. Hint: there are places near opal hill that are legal and have great stuff. Opal hill has a lot on top...but people were taking too much. WElcome and have fun...wewill be watching.

[@theruggedrockhound]

Thank you so much! Yes, there is a lot for me to explore and learn here. I have seen a few of Kurt's videos and we have messaged each other, just need to get together sometime. I would love to get some hints and tips from you! Best way to contact is through my KZbin email: [e-mail]. If you would like to go out with me sometime, just let me know and we will try to work out a time!

[@johnnynephrite6147]

dude just go up in there with some dynamite and blow open some new holes. It will rain opal.

[@theruggedrockhound]

Haha to bad it's a protected area.

[@ericeckberg4106]

I see lots of folks have already warned you about the MCNCA being off limits to rock hounding, and that it's illegal to collect dino bone from Federal lands (even 1 piece can be considered a felony...). I was the geologist with the BLM field office until a couple years ago if you need more info on where you can go legally.

[@theruggedrockhound]

I do appreciate any advice! I am aware that collecting dinosaur bone is illegal, so I will be avoiding that.

[@JSnowPhotography]

That’s gem Dino bone, not palm wood!