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Woodruff Creek: Phosphorite Rockhounding in Rich County, Utah

Updated June 2026

Woodruff Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Rich County, Utah. Reported finds include phosphorite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Map showing Woodruff Creek in Rich County, Utah

Quick details

Access
Public area
State
Utah

Geology at Woodruff Creek

This spot sits on Surficial deposits; stream alluvial and floodplain, mapped as moderately sorted, unconsolidated sand, silt, clay, and gravel; locally includes muddy, and organic overbank and oxbow lake deposits that formed within roughly the last 12,000 years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit
Surficial deposits; stream alluvial and floodplain
Age
< 1 Ma (Holocene)
Rock types
moderately sorted, unconsolidated sand, silt, clay, and gravel; locally includes muddy, and organic overbank and oxbow lake deposits
Elevation
6,900 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 Woodruff Creek

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 27°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 0°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WOODRUFF station (11 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 Woodruff Creek

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 Woodruff Creek.

Across the state line from Woodruff Creek

Woodruff Creek is close enough to the Utah border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Woodruff Creek FAQ

Where is Woodruff Creek?+
Woodruff Creek is in Rich County, Utah, at 41.46084, -111.35406.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Woodruff Creek?+
Woodruff Creek is reported to produce Phosphorite.
Is collecting allowed at Woodruff Creek?+
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 Woodruff Creek?+
A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.
When is the best time to visit Woodruff Creek?+
The most comfortable months at Woodruff Creek are April to October.
How do I get to Woodruff Creek?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 41.46084, -111.35406 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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