Temple Mountain: Ankerite & Carnotite Rockhounding in Emery County, Utah

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Emery County

State

Utah

Nearest road

BLM 849

Coordinates

38.68867, -110.68159

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

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.

Access note: BLM records active mining claims in this area. Collecting from inside an active claim needs the claim holder's permission.

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.

Best time to visit Temple Mountain

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 90°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 12°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GOBLIN VALLEY SP station (8 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Temple Mountain

This spot sits on Chinle Shale and Shinarump Conglomerate Member, mapped as sandstone mudstone that formed roughly 235 to 200 million years ago. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit

Chinle Shale and Shinarump Conglomerate Member

Age

235–200 Ma (Late Triassic)

Rock types

sandstone mudstone

Elevation

6,370 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.

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 Utah, Rockhounding overview
• Utah Geological Survey, collecting guidelines
• SITLA, surface use rules
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules