Granite Mountain: Actinolite & Albite Rockhounding in Iron County, Utah

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Iron County

State

Utah

Nearest road

Iron Springs Road

Coordinates

37.73399, -113.23504

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.

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 Granite Mountain

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: February to November. Typical highs run 90°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CEDAR CITY AP station (8 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Granite Mountain

This spot sits on ground mapped as Carmel and Temple Cap Formations, undivided that formed roughly 200 to 145 million years ago. Quartz crystals typically weather out of veins and pockets and end up in nearby soils and creek beds.

Mapped unit

Carmel and Temple Cap Formations, undivided

Age

200–145 Ma (Jurassic)

Elevation

5,770 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