Where to Find Gypsum in Utah
Utah gypsum is widespread in the Paradox basin and the Carmel and Arapien formations of central and southern Utah. The San Rafael Swell exposes selenite blades and rosette clusters in the Carmel Formation outcrops along the swell's eastern flank, and the Arapien Shale near Salina in Sevier County produces clear, water-grade selenite up to 30 centimeters. The shoreline of the Great Salt Lake yields hopper-style selenite crystals in muddy salt flats, and the Kanab area in Kane County turns out massive alabaster and satin-spar veins in the Moenkopi Formation. Selenite is soft (Mohs 2) and scratches easily, so transport in padded boxes.
Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.
Every gypsum spot we track in Utah
Best spotFriscoBeaver County, UtahPublic access · Azurite, Barite, Calamine +12- Best spotGold HillTooele County, UtahPublic access · Azurite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite +11
- Best spotGreat Salt LakeTooele County, UtahPublic access · Aragonite, Bloedite, Gypsum +3
Monticello mining districtSan Juan County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Carnotite, Gypsum +9- Promontory MountainsBox Elder County, UtahPublic access · Cerussite, Bornite, Calamine +6
Salt ValleyGrand County, UtahPermission required · Azurite, Carnallite, Gold +6- San Rafael RiverEmery County, UtahPublic access · Agate, Anhydrite, Carnotite +5
- Thompson SpringsGrand County, UtahPublic access · Agate, Agatized Clam, Anhydrite +5
- Cedar Mountain areaEmery County, UtahPublic access · Agate, Anhydrite, Carnotite +4
- Great Salt LakeSalt Lake County, UtahPublic access · Aragonite, Bloedite, Gypsum +3
- Moab ValleySan Juan County, UtahPermission required · Anhydrite, Carnallite, Gypsum +3
- OrdervilleKane County, UtahPublic access · Septarian Nodule, Agate, Anhydrite +3
- San Juan RiverSan Juan County, UtahPermission required · Anhydrite, Chalcopyrite, Copper +3
- GlenwoodSevier County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Geode, Gypsum +2
- Uteland Knoll mining districtUintah County, UtahPermission required · Azurite, Chalcocite, Gypsum +2
- Cedar CanyonIron County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Carnotite, Gypsum +1
- FillmoreMillard County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Gypsite, Gypsum +1
- Gold MountainPiute County, UtahPublic access · Alunite, Barite, Garnet +1
- Sevier CanyonSevier County, UtahPublic access · Alunite, Anhydrite, Gypsum +1
- SigurdSevier County, UtahPermission required · Anhydrite, Gypsum, Halite +1
- GunnisonSanpete County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Gypsum, Halite
- Kanab CreekKane County, UtahPublic access · Silicified Wood, Anhydrite, Gypsum
- KanarravilleIron County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Autunite, Gypsum
- MayfieldSanpete County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Gypsum, Halite
- CannonvilleGarfield County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Gypsum
- GlendaleKane County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Gypsum
- Gypsum CreekSan Juan County, UtahPermission required · Anhydrite, Gypsum
- KanoshMillard County, UtahPublic access · Anhydrite, Gypsum
- Kimball ValleyKane County, UtahPermission required · Anhydrite, Gypsum
Standout gypsum spots in Utah
Hand-picked from the full list above, with the reason each one earns a trip.
Frisco
Beaver County
Frisco combines a major historic silver-lead camp with a long mineral list that includes copper carbonates, galena, sphalerite, pyrite, opal, and wulfenite.
Gold Hill
Tooele County
Gold Hill is one of Utah's most mineralogically varied old districts, with arsenic, gold, copper, lead, silver, tungsten, and zinc production tied to skarn, vein, and replacement deposits.
Great Salt Lake
Tooele County
The Tooele side of Great Salt Lake offers an unusual sediment specimen rather than a hard-rock target: oolitic sand made of calcium-carbonate coats around tiny nuclei in shallow, wave-agitated brine.
Best counties for gypsum in Utah
Ranked by the number of mapped gypsum spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.
Before you go
Read the gypsum identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Gypsum in the encyclopedia.
Gypsum in Utah FAQ
Where can you find gypsum in Utah?+
How many gypsum spots are mapped in Utah?+
Is it legal to collect gypsum in Utah?+
Where else to find gypsum
More minerals to hunt in Utah
Hunt gypsum in Utah with the map in your pocket
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