Hurricane Mesa Petrified Wood // Rockhounding on the Edge of a Cliff

This was such a wonderful location and weather to do some petrified wood rockhounding. With so much to offer, I'm sure we will return to the area in the future.
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[@Kirkwiillams]

After watching this video I couldn’t wait to make the long drive to Utah from Oklahoma. Your directions were spot on. My wife wouldn’t let me explore the steep side of the mesa, but it didn’t matter because we found plenty of petrified wood on top the mesa including a large stump that we dug up. We also followed your directions to Brian Head and scored some beautiful agates. Thanks for sharing

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Sounds like you had a really good time! :)

[@kellyharper367]

Old disabled house bound dusty rusty rockhound here: What an adventure! The variety of rocks and minerals..the colors...the petrified wood and the scenery. Getting to be a part of it helps me transcend my current situation to a level of rockhounding bliss! Bless you!

[@RufotrisRootedRockhound]

🤘🤘🤘that’s why my Utah rockhounding video had so many marine fossils in land just like this. That inland sea was massive!! Thanks for this adventure. I miss Utah. Okay must keep watching now…

[@treasuresunderfoot7876]

It stretched all the way over to Iowa. It was massive. We do have some good fossils here: Devonian, Pennsylvanian, Mississippian etc.

[@RufotrisRootedRockhound]

@@treasuresunderfoot7876 ya I have some maps of where it was known to stretch! Crazy! I recently moved from out west to New York. Very different. I do miss Utah. I lived there for 24 years before moving around the west for a while and now out east. I did some rockhounding in central Utah earlier this year and did a couple little vids on it. Fun time and some great finds! 🤘

[@treasuresunderfoot7876]

@@RufotrisRootedRockhound I hope you can find some great rockhounding spots in NY. It is the granite state, so there should be some nice mineral finds associated with it. If you're close enough to Pennsylvania there are some very nice fossils there.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I can't wait to get back to Utah.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Hows the rockhounding in NY?

[@shyPandemonium]

I really loved Ryan’s explanation of the geology. I was totally geeking out! Beautiful spot you brought us along to.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

He was an amazing wealth of information.

[@Mike-br8vb]

Awesome video, beautiful specimens, and a great view! Also, thank you for throwing that rock off the edge! 😆

[@jenniferbarnes4647]

I lived in Hurricane and now I live in Ivins. Such a beautiful place to live!! Love to watch you guys, your awesome!!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Southern Utah sure is a nice place to live, I could see myself there after this trip for sure.

[@RagnarRocks]

Very interesting geology there! This must be a super popular spot because several people have sent me petrified wood from this location!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I don't think its Hansen Creek popular but its well known.

[@patriciamckean4186]

Super nice pet wood 🪵!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@brutusb1858]

hey i live by sand hollow state park! Welcome to Hurricane. this whole area has tons of cool stuff. rockhound paradise

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I know, it has so many places to explore. We will for sure be coming back next summer.

[@SassSafras]

Wow what a cool place!! Definitely on my to do list now, just to see it. Wow

[@eatcommies1375]

Just did some camping in that area, wish weather was better, found some really cool rocks👍

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you found some cool stuff!

[@joniangelsrreal6262]

🍺 🥾🥾 thanks for the adventure

[@reginaromsey]

Love your videos because you look at the big picture as well as the rocks.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

The story a rock has to tell is just as good, if not better than the actual rock.

[@tott3457]

Very beautiful example of petrified wood ❣️

[@sandmaker]

We like the hurricane area and glad you got to experience it. It is a beautiful area. The pet wood is everywhere. Sara did good again. Be happy, safe and stay healthy 😷⚒

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That area of southern Utah has so much to offer. We really only scratched the surface.

[@jimlancaster6120]

Boy you really have had a nice trip to Utah. Found lots of neat things.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

We barely scratched the surface of what the state has to offer.

[@johnmorgan4921]

Could that yellow mineral be a sulphate or arsenic? Those jumped into my head anyway. Great spot, beautiful place to share with us! Thanks!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

As of right now I'm still unsure as to what it is.

[@Rock_K9]

Oh my Goodness, I’d go insane!!! I’m drooling and envious and mad. Mad that I’m not there. Awesome finds guys

[@bobs-rocks]

Nice area, it would be so tempting to fill the bed of my truck. Thanks for bringing us along.!!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Less is more for us, when you go rockhounding all the time over collecting just mean you will have annoying piles of rocks at home.

[@bobs-rocks]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Like I said in my post It "would be tempting" Of course If you watched my latest video you would know this is not what I practice, But of course I know you dont have the time .

[@GeodeCrackerCollector]

Wow!! What an amazing place! That petrified wood is crazy

[@GeodeCrackerCollector]

Thanks for sharing this adventure! And the knowledge from Ryan is awesome. Fantastic video as always!

[@shirleyrichards2514]

Sweet ❤

[@w2male320]

Awesome video as usual glowy rocks always catch my eye!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@brigittewalden9226]

I was there in April on a 7 day rockhounding trip through Nevada and Utah. The drive up was crazy but amazing. I found lots but only took a gallon ziplock back full. I did find some agate as well. I want to go back for sure and camp out there if I could as the view is spectacular.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's a lovely area.

[@mikedodge3910]

Holy cow, that cliff had me sweating. Haha. That is some very cool petrified wood!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Yeah its a steep place to run around.

[@davidstapleton1490]

We moved to the Hurricane area from the Midwest over ten years ago. The area is amazing!!! I remember my first find of petrified wood; so excited. We used to pick up everything. Now we are very selective and just looking for certain things. We have even taken back piles of petrified wood back to the wilderness from our early days of hunting! Crazy I know. You never know what you are going to find. When I watched this video, I was hoping that you would pause for a moment so everyone could hear the silence. Up there or also in other higher places in the area, you can hear the wind and no other sounds. Just closing your eyes and listening to the earth without any other human noise will give you an inner peace that you will remember long after your visit. One word of advice. Sit down before you close your eyes because you will get dizzy after a moment. Also, be careful on the edges not only because of the rocks but sometimes a crazy gust of wind will come out of nowhere. Happy hunting!!!

[@jannettaktibbs7268]

Fantastic vlog!! So interesting. I have many pieces of petrified wood, some are 2' long by 6" round. Big pieces, a few are opalized. Some have many crystals embedded, much druzy. I truly enjoyed the Geologist's information. Very cool. Thank you, this place is now added to my rock hounding dream list.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you and you would be well served if you visited this location.

[@cliffmiller1021]

What a fun trip. I wonder how much of the wood in the last pile was one tree. I would have been stuck on the round trying to count rings. Does it matter which direction you grind and polish the wood with the grain or do the crystals compress the material enough it's irrelevant? Awesome finds, knowledgeable people, spacious beauty. Stay safe, and keep living the life.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That's a very good question about the grain, I'm not really sure.

[@jose59080]

Awesome, I wish I was there!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It was a fun trip.

[@MontanaRockMom]

Very impressive petrified LOG! Goodness those pieces are so gorgeous. The waterfall...wow. What a great video!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! It's an impressive area to visit for sure.

[@themacz1671]

😎👍awesome vid thank you for sharing the adventure

[@houndofrock]

Beautiful location. I would need to explore for a few days. Love the random sheep! 🐑

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's amazing down there, we will be going back again next year.

[@paigelee6321]

Awesome place cool finds, interesting learning about that area , awesome trip thank you for sharing 😊💙

[@1sec2midnight]

Those views are just spectacular. Obviously you did your homework before setting out on this adventure. I just read an article in the July 1961 issue of Gems and Minerals called, Petrified Wood in the Chinle by Mary Frances Berkholz. She describes the formation in a similar way that Ryan does. It makes rockhounding a whole lot more interesting knowing the history and geology of a place you visit. I'm surprised you didn't see any traces of dinosaurs. Thanks for sharing.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Sara put a ton of time into this trip planning. Rocks are cool, the story they can tell is even cooler.

[@graemero5532]

Wow, stunning landscape, and so very different from my country.

[@zioncardman18]

I was born and raised in hurricane. Still live here! You went to the tourist spots. Hit me up next time and I'll take you to better places! I drove jeep tours across smith's Mesa from Zion.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

This was really just a trip to feel out the area, we do plan on coming back next summer.

[@mitchgillilan]

When I was mountain biking on gooseberry Mesa I camped in that area and found petrified wood everywhere! I figured it was a sea because I also found shell fossils too! Its beautiful out there, I really love the sandstone formations too!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I can't wait to go back and check that place out.

[@mitchgillilan]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Im so glad you went out there! That was a great video! If you ever go deeper into the southwest you should go to Arizona. The copper minerals, pet wood, and fire agates would keep you busy for a while! I think you would really love it there if you've never been. It's as good as central/eastern oregon!

[@treasuresunderfoot7876]

I've really been digging your videos from Utah. I appreciate that you, like me, are into knowing everything you can about the material, the composition, what led to its formation & any associated knowledge that comes from it. I wish that there were Star Trek teleporters available for your shows, because I would love to be there checking it out too. Do you ever carry a jeweler's loupe with you? And do you ever have a run in with Rattlesnakes?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! It was a great trip! Often I think the story behind the rock is cooler than the actual rock. We do often have it in the truck but it doesn't get used much on trips, most of the time I just use it at home. We have never see a Rattlesnake.

[@utahrockhoundingcouple]

Isn't the view amazing?! We've been to Hurricane Mesa many times and found small to bigger pieces, plus a huge buried tree log. So fun to see that you went there while in Utah and to hear the geological background!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It is some an amazing location!

[@Lisa.Sparkman]

Wow do doesn't even cover it 🙂 I absolutely love petrified wood. What a cool location complete with your own geologist to explain everything. Just doesn't get better than that. At what level on the geiger counter is considered radioactive?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It really was fun. The questions about the Geiger Counter is a hard one. I personally look what is the normal background and then anything higher than background which will vary.

[@mwilson14]

Ah nice! The carnotite containing specimens of petrified wood or other fossils are really fascinating. I've looked into why this phenomenon occurs, but I've not really found any info to explain why this happens, but I haven't spent too much time researching it.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

There still many areas of research like this that its kind of a blank slate or just really really hard to dig up.

[@aaronsidman4674]

Love your videos. It would be cool to see you hunt for something out of this world. I have a passion for Meteorites and have found a few small ones. If you ever get back out to Utah you should hunt the upheavel dome meteor crater area near Moab. Great finds Man! Stay safe out there.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I would love to do that in the future!

[@PrinceofWalesisland]

You were in the Chinle, or the Monekopi formation I think. They are early Triassic and mid Triassic

[@jamesh5460]

I love rockhounding and your videos are inspiring me to get out and do more. Keep it up!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@jmsdvs5]

Why does Uranium make great radio DJs? Because it is radioactive. Love your videos.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Ha!

[@brucevanderzanden9638]

Very nice finds there Jared and Sara! I have this spot added to my “want to go to” list!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

You should pretty much just circle all of southern Utah as a spot to visit!

[@bjurney85]

Very cool,pace, I was out there in June when it was 102 so I didn’t get to spend a lot of time there, but the views are spectacular up there.

[@cindyheimdahl227]

So different from Saddle Mt. Pet wood. It was so plentiful, I would be liaded down & in trouble. Awesome video Jared!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

The material really has excellent cellular replacement.

[@RockandRoadRockhounding]

Awesome video, it's crazy how big some of those chunks are just sitting on the surface! I spent two summers working/living out in southern Utah and this video makes me miss it so much...it also makes me regret not spending more of that time rockhounding lol.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you, it really is an amazing area.

[@OneRockAtATime]

This is absolutely incredible.🤯 Awesome video😎⚒🔥

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's a killer location.

[@dollybelfiore7628]

LMOL... "I love radioactive material" ...what do ho have to lose? Not your hair. Seriously though...Luv U man! Great video...keep 'em coming. *** bald really IS beautiful ***

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Ha!

[@dustinfindsrocks]

🤔I think that weird yellow mineral is either a concretion of various mudstone or some type of limonite pseudomorph 🤷🏻‍♂️ I could be way off but that’s what my sedimentary rock experience in Missouri has me thinking. Beautiful location LOADED with cool petrified wood 👍🏼 another awesome video Jared. Thanks for what you do. Yep don’t touch cactus’s 😂

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

But cactus's look so soft! :D

[@KatyDidRocks]

I definitely plan a trip to Utah sometime. Does that petwood tumble or polish well, do you know?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

You will love Utah! I have not cut any of it yet.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. www.patreon.com/currentlyrockhounding

[@DanFarrar]

What a cool area! Amazing finds. Nice vid bud ❤

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's a lovely location.

[@GREEKEXPLORERS]

Awesome place my friend!! Nice video!!

[@bobs-rocks]

Looks like sulfur on that one piece.

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

What an incredible spot visually and mineral-ly! Great views too. The petrified wood was really neat, did he know what kind it was (as in type or era?). The whole log was super cool and the copper inclusion or replacement is lovely. Thanks for bringing us along for that adventure!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Oh I have no idea what kind of wood this is and I don't think he did as well. Shoot me an email if you want some to identify.

[@RockhoundTreasurehunt]

Very cool location! I love all the different Geology. I'm always amazed to see petrified logs in a desert where there are just bushes and catus. Just makes me wonder how the area once looked when all the trees were standing millions of years ago. It was a wet climate several times in its past. It will be once again in earths future. Is the green on just the surface or will it take a polish? Im just wondering because green, purple and black are the rarest colors. Black being the rarest. Awesome Druzy as well!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Rocks and geology really are a look into the past.

[@traviscalton3615]

That stuff that was said to be aragonite looks like the calcite that would come out of the middle of a Is sepetarian nodule.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Aragonite and Calcite are so close to being the same thing.

[@kendallwarth8717]

I live about 10 miles from where you did your video. Have you checked out Whole Guacamole Trail? Look me up if you have any questions.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I have not, perhaps next year when we return I will be able to.

[@theruggedrockhound]

This is a location I tried to get out to last time I was in washington, but my family had other plans... maybe next time.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

This is in southern Utah.

[@theruggedrockhound]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Haha I was pretty tired when I wrote this. I should have recognized the Hurricane Mesa, I have been in that area before...

[@briangibson4405]

I would be interested to see how the baseline radiation at the collection area compares to the samples collected (and compared to your workshop i.e. testing location).

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I would love to do something like that in the future.

[@kennethchristie5167]

Imagine dragons (radioactive ☢ radioactive) must be your favorite 👍

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

:D

[@charleslupica]

I’m not entirely sure but, if the land is state trust land, I believe that you have to have a yearly permit to collect rocks and minerals. Many years ago, membership in the rock club in Cedar City included this permit. But, you were supposed to carry it like you would a fishing license. I’ve never heard of anyone being asked to show it.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

This was filmed on BLM land. The Utah State Trust lands do require a permit.

[@charleslupica]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding the only reason I mentioned it was, the area drawn on the map on your website includes state land. Would like to meet up sometime so I want you to know that I’m not trying to be a troll.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

@@charleslupica Are you perhaps in the Southern Utah Rock club?

[@charleslupica]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding I’m not currently in the rock club. I used to belong but I have been traveling and living out of the state for the past few years. We have a house in St. George but will probably be camp hosting in Bryce Canyon NP in September and October.

[@kaleyfantastic]

mammoth grip shirt appearance #232

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Hahahaha I have a lot of them still.

[@RGYT86]

perhaps you're using the wrong detector. You probably need an actual gm counter with a detection tube to pick up the alpha that uranium give off.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

All isotopes of uranium are radioactive. Both uranium and depleted uranium, and their immediate decay products, emit alpha and beta particles and a small amount of gamma radiation. So although my Geiger Counter does not detect Alpha particles it would and does detected beta which would be sufficient in the identification of Uranium. My detector is an actual Geiger Counter, with an actual Geiger Muller tube.

[@RGYT86]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding my mistake. Alot of the cheaper detectors pick up only beta and gamma.

[@gharames]

Does Ryan have a channel?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

He does not.

[@veronicamoore3777]

Why uranium?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

What do you mean "Why uranium?"?

[@veronicamoore3777]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Because I don’t understand!!! I’m not a chemist, geologist or scientist, just trying to learn!!! Didn’t mean to offend!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

@@veronicamoore3777 That's fine, I guess I don't understand your question. Are you asking why it would be here at this location?

[@veronicamoore3777]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Just wondering why the interest in uranium that’s all. I read up on it a little but I’ve had a stroke and can’t focus very long.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

@@veronicamoore3777 I guess I dont have a good answer for you. I have a collection going or radioactive and dangerous minerals and I'm always looking for more.

[@katecarpenter7366]

Your unimpressive piece lookes like an alien laying on it's stomach with an arm..sculpt it!

[@MadelineRose-ep7fj]

Could the yellow just be sulphur from the volcanoes? Do you need a pass or permit from BLM?😊

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I think that is unlikely here, being that it was exposed to the elements.