Nevada, known for its rich landscapes, offers abundant opportunities to find jasper. This captivating mineral, with its unique patterns and colors, can be found in various locations across the state.

We’ve explored many spots and can confidently say that areas like Nye County, Gemfield, and Black Rock Desert are prime locations for jasper enthusiasts. These places are well-known among the rockhounding community for their potential yields.

With our guidance and tips, you’ll be well-equipped to embark on a fulfilling jasper hunting adventure in Nevada’s remarkable wilderness.

What Is Nevada Jasper Anyway?

Jasper is known for its beautiful colors and patterns. It can be found in various shades like red, yellow, brown, or green. Sometimes, it even has patterns that look like landscapes or pictures.

You can usually find jasper in places where volcanic activity happened a long time ago. It’s formed from volcanic ash and sediment, turning into this hard, colorful rock over millions of years.

It typically shows up in dry, desert areas and along riverbeds where these ancient volcanic materials were deposited. It’s also common in areas with a lot of sedimentary rocks.

Jasper has been used for thousands of years to make jewelry, tools, and decorations. Today, the price of jasper can vary. Some types are quite common, but others, especially those with unique patterns or colors, can be more valuable.

The Types Of Jasper Found In Nevada

These are the different types of jasper that you can expect to come across in Nevada:

• Picture jasper
• Mescalero jasper
• Dead camel jasper
• Dead ringer jasper
• Red falcon jasper
• Rainbow jasper

If you want to dig deeper into what the state has to offer, we’ve also put together a helpful guide to crystal mining in Nevada. It covers the best spots to find these gems and tips on how to identify them.

The Best Places To Find Jasper in Nevada

Without proper guidance, it can be tough to spot jasper hidden in Nevada’s deserts. But with our experience, we can point you in the right direction.

You can also use our gem mining guide to help you find the best spots and make the most of your explorations.

Disaster Peak

Disaster Peak is located in a remote, rugged region, surrounded by mountains and valleys. The terrain here is diverse, featuring steep hillsides, rocky outcrops, and sparse vegetation, typical of high desert environments.

The geology of Disaster Peak is notable for its volcanic history, evident in the basalt and andesite formations. The soil around Disaster Peak is often mixed with ash and pumice, which are remnants of ancient volcanic activity.

When planning a trip to collect rocks in this area, we always check with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) first. The BLM manages the land and sets guidelines on where and how much material we can collect.

Where we found jasper in Disaster Peak

The jasper here tends to be hidden among the volcanic rocks. Focus on the lower hill slopes and valley areas, where erosion has brought these stones closer to the surface.

The tools every crystal hunter will need

When you're out looking for crystals having the right tools for the job is very important. You don't need a lot for most trips but there are a handful that are critical and will make your life a lot easier.

We get asked a lot about the equipment we use. Over the years we've found a handful of tools that we recommend to both new and experienced crystal miners which we outline in great detail in our complete rockhounding tools guide. These are quality options that also happen to be relatively inexpensive.

Below are the basic tools that make your life so much easier and save you a ton of time. Check out the full guide to see everything we recommend bringing. One quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but we try very hard to only recommend gear we would use ourselves and often recommend brands you can't find on Amazon.

At a minimum you should have:

1 - Sturdy rock hammer: The Estwing Rock Pick is our standard

2 - Rugged chisels: Try Kendo' 3-piece Chisel Set

3 - Compact shovel: The Koleiya 28-inch shovel works well

4 - Rock screen pan: The Wazakura Soil Sieve Set fits the bill

5 - Eye protection: DeWalt Safety Glasses are cheap and comfortable

6 - Head protection: Malta's Safety Helmet has been our go-to

7 - Jewelers lens with at least 20x magnification: Jarlink's Jewelers Loop is perfect

The crystal-finding books that we use most

There are also a few books that have been extremely helpful in the search for gems. These books have great recommendations and tips:

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America 

Southwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide 

Earth Treasures: The Southwestern Quadrant 

We provide links to find these tools on Amazon but some can also be found at your local hardware stores. For more recommendations check out the link to our full tool guide above.

Gemfield is situated within a semi-arid region, featuring a landscape that varies from flat, open areas to rolling hills. This terrain is a mix of sagebrush and desert shrubs, typical of the high desert environment. 

The climate here is generally dry, with hot summers and cool winters, making it an ideal year-round destination for rock collectors.

Gemfield is part of a larger mineral-rich area, known for an abundance of gemstones and minerals. Here, we find a variety of rocks and minerals, including turquoise, obsidian, agates, and of course, jasper.

These minerals are spread across the area, often hidden among the rocks and dirt, waiting to be discovered.

Where we found jasper in Gemfield

You can discover jasper in the hilly areas and dry, open landscapes. The terrain, with its mix of sagebrush and desert shrubs, is a perfect backdrop for discovering these stones.

A visit to Gemfield Gems, a chalcedony claim in the area, offers an opportunity to explore and collect rocks, including jasper.

Jackpot

Jackpot is a town situated in a high desert region, characterized by its rugged, open landscapes. The terrain here is mostly rolling hills and wide valleys, covered with sagebrush and small desert plants.

The area’s geology is diverse, with a mix of sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The soil is typically sandy and rocky, making it a good place for rock collecting.

In our explorations, we’ve often found areas rich in different minerals, reflecting the varied geological processes that have shaped the land.

Where we found jasper in Jackpot

Jasper here tends to appear near the surface, especially in places where natural erosion has occurred. We focus on areas with less vegetation, as these spots often provide clearer access to uncover jasper hidden among the rocks.

Black Rock Desert

Black Rock Desert is a vast, open area dominated by large, flat playa and surrounded by mountains. The terrain here is mostly dry, with the playa providing a unique, almost moon-like landscape.

The desert’s soil is largely made up of clay, silt, and sand, which can change drastically with the weather. This place is known for its extreme conditions, with scorching hot days and chilly nights.

The geology of Black Rock Desert is quite diverse, featuring both sedimentary and volcanic formations. We often come across lava flows and volcanic rock fragments scattered across the landscape.

In certain areas, the erosion of these volcanic materials has revealed deposits of Nevada jasper.

Where we found jasper in Black Rock Desert

Search near the eroded areas of old volcanic deposits. These spots are typically on the outskirts of the playa, where the desert meets the mountains. The jasper here is usually embedded in or lying among other volcanic rocks and debris.

Nye County

Nye County is a diverse and expansive area. The geography here varies widely, from flat, arid basins to rugged, mountainous terrain.

The county is home to a variety of rock types, including sedimentary, metamorphic, and volcanic rocks. We often come across areas rich in mineral deposits, which include a range of gemstones and valuable ores.

The mountains here are especially interesting. They’re formed from a mix of ancient rocks, and the erosion over millions of years has revealed fascinating geological formations.

Where we found jasper in Nye County

The mountains and mining districts are particularly fruitful areas if you want to look for jasper. We’ve had good luck exploring around Bare Mountain, where the terrain is a mix of rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation.

The Quinn Canyon Range is another spot where we often find jasper, especially near eroded areas where the rocks are more exposed. Union Mining District has also been a productive place to search for jasper.

Other Great Places To Find Nevada Jasper

We’re always on the lookout for the best spots where to mine for jasper. Here is a list of our favorite areas where we’ve found beautiful jasper specimens:

Our recommendations by county

Common Jasper-Hunting Questions

We’ve gathered the common questions people ask about searching for jasper and provided clear, helpful answers based on our experiences in the field.

Collecting jasper in Nevada is generally legal, but there are important rules and regulations that we need to follow.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees most of the public lands in Nevada. On these lands, the BLM allows for the collection of gemstones and rocks, like jasper, for personal use.

However, it’s crucial to note that this collection is allowed only on unclaimed land. If the land is part of a mining claim, the minerals on it belong to the claim holder, and we can’t collect there without permission.

On federal lands managed by the National Park Service, like in National Parks or Monuments, collecting rocks, including jasper, is not allowed.

The same rule applies to Nevada State Parks, where collecting any rocks or minerals requires a research permit.

The Best Places To Buy Jasper In Nevada

We’ve visited many shops across Nevada that specialize in selling jasper and other beautiful rocks. Here are our favorite ones:

• Jewelry & Minerals-Las Vegas – 410 E Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89104
• Sticks and Stones – 3528 S. Maryland Parkway Suite 102, Las Vegas, NV 89169
• Rockchuck Gem and Mineral Gallery – 4045 US-95, Schurz, NV 89427
• Earthe Energe – 1023 Rock Blvd A, Sparks, NV 89431
• Rock Decor – 522 California Ave, Reno, NV 89509