The mountain's geological formations are rich with history and provide a unique experience for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Special skills are not required to take home a handful of gems, just a little sweat and a sharp eye. Even the children have fun, as the crystals can be found just about anywhere from the washes that run off the mountain to high on the cliffs themselves. Topaz Mountain, named after the gemstone that is found in the area, is located in the House Range in Utah's west desert. Loose crystals are mostly colorless and resemble small diamonds lying on the ground.
Sunlight can make the topaz shine brightly.
Bright moonlight also makes these jewels sparkle and, for those who stay overnight, a full moon is another great time to look in the washes around camp. Colored crystals can be found embedded in the rhyolite by finding soft pockets and carefully digging the crystals out. Colored crystals are highly prized treasures and can take a lot of work to locate and extract, but many fine specimens are found here each year. Of course, for the more serious rock hound, hammer and chisel are standard equipment, but thousands of crystals are scattered in the washes and along the ridges of the mountain just waiting to be picked up. Utah's west desert holds many other treasures and secrets for those brave and hardened souls that travel deep into this harsh playground each year.