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Frying Pan Basin: Corundum & Opalized Wood Rockhounding in Beaverhead County, Montana

Updated June 2026

Frying Pan Basin is a mapped rockhounding spot in Beaverhead County, Montana. Reported finds include corundum, opalized wood, silicified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Map showing Frying Pan Basin in Beaverhead County, Montana

Quick details

Access
Public area
State
Montana

Geology at Frying Pan Basin

This spot sits on Bozeman Group and related valley-fill deposits, undivided, mapped as tuffaceous sandstone and siltstone that formed roughly 56 to 3 million years ago. Petrified wood typically comes from volcanic ash beds like the ones associated with this ground, where buried forests were slowly replaced by silica.

Mapped unit
Bozeman Group and related valley-fill deposits, undivided
Age
56–3 Ma (Eocene to Pliocene)
Rock types
tuffaceous sandstone and siltstone
Elevation
5,380 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Frying Pan Basin

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DILLON U OF MONTANA WESTERN station (7 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified:

Found at Frying Pan Basin

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Frying Pan Basin.

Across the state line from Frying Pan Basin

Frying Pan Basin is close enough to the Montana border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Frying Pan Basin FAQ

Where is Frying Pan Basin?+
Frying Pan Basin is in Beaverhead County, Montana, at 45.29330, -112.73359.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Frying Pan Basin?+
Frying Pan Basin is reported to produce Corundum, Opalized Wood, Silicified Wood.
Is collecting allowed at Frying Pan Basin?+
Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
What tools should I bring to Frying Pan Basin?+
A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.
When is the best time to visit Frying Pan Basin?+
The most comfortable months at Frying Pan Basin are March to October.
How do I get to Frying Pan Basin?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 45.29330, -112.73359 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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