Salesville: Emery & Corundum Rockhounding in Gallatin County, Montana

Updated June 2026

Salesville is a mapped rockhounding spot in Gallatin County, Montana. Reported finds include emery, corundum. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Gallatin County
State: Montana
Nearest road: Gateway South Road
Coordinates: 45.58811, -111.20855

Geology at Salesville

This spot sits on Alluvium, mapped as gravel, sand, and silt that formed within roughly the last 2 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium
Age: 2 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: gravel, sand, and silt
Elevation: 4,930 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 Salesville

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 34°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 15°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BOZEMAN 6 W EXP FARM station (6 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: April 1, 2026

BLM Montana — Recreational mineral collecting
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Salesville

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 Salesville.

Salesville FAQ

Where is Salesville?+

Salesville is in Gallatin County, Montana, at 45.58811, -111.20855. Nearest road: Gateway South Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Salesville?+

Salesville is reported to produce Emery, Corundum.

Is collecting allowed at Salesville?+

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 Salesville?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Salesville?+

The most comfortable months at Salesville are March to October.

How do I get to Salesville?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.58811, -111.20855 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Gateway South Road.

More rockhounding in Montana

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Open Salesville on the map

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