Rockhounding in Alaska: where to find gems and minerals
Good news for rockhounds: Alaska has gems and minerals to find. We've mapped 61 places where gems and minerals have been recorded, all on public land open to prospecting. 51 of them have no active mining claim: grab your rock hammer and go, with hand tools you don't need anyone's permission. 10 are on someone's mining claim, so ask the claim holder before you dig at those.
See all 61 spots on the Alaska map
How to read the map
- Green: public land, no active claim. Go ahead with your rock hammer and hand tools, no permission needed.
- Yellow: public land with an active mining claim. Ask the claim holder before you dig.
Many recorded sites are old mines. Shafts, tunnels and bad air can kill: never go inside. Prospect in the creek and on the surface, and use common sense out there. See our terms.
What people find in Alaska
Fluorite (14 spots), Tourmaline (14 spots), Topaz (8 spots), Azurite (8 spots), Beryllium minerals (8 spots), Pegmatite (niobium) (7 spots), Gemstone (4 spots), Pegmatite (mica) (3 spots), Garnet (3 spots), Diamond (2 spots), Rhodochrosite (2 spots), Jasper (2 spots)
Questions we often get
Where can I go rockhounding in Alaska?
We haven't found a place in Alaska set up for visitors yet, but there's still plenty to explore on your own. In Alaska, stick to the public areas set aside for recreational rockhounding: almost everything outside them is somebody's claim.
Are the gem and mineral sites in Alaska under mining claims?
Some are. Every spot we map in Alaska is on public land open to prospecting, but 10 of the 61 fall inside an active mining claim. A claim means someone holds the mineral rights there, so you need their permission to dig. The other 51 have no active claim: those you can work with hand tools, no permission needed.
Are there rock and mineral clubs in Alaska?
We haven't listed one in Alaska yet. Check back soon: we're adding clubs state by state.