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Popular Geology - Rocks & Minerals | Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
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href="/about-us/contact.html">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/faq.html">FAQ</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="soa-tmpl-content"> <div class="soa-tmpl-breadcrumb"> <a href="//alaska.gov"> <span class="soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-lg">State of Alaska</span> <span class="soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-sm">Alaska</span> </a> / <a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/"> <span class="soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-lg">Natural Resources</span> <span class="soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-sm">DNR</span> </a> / <a href="//dggs.alaska.gov"> <span class="soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-lg">Geological & Geophysical Surveys</span> <span class="soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-sm">DGGS</span> </a> / <a href='index.html'><span class='soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-lg'>Popular Geology</span><span class='soa-tmpl-breadcrumb-sm'>Geology</span></a> </div> <h1>Rocks & Minerals</h1> <div class="soa-tmpl-columns"> <div class="soa-tmpl-columns23"> <div class="soa-tmpl-container"> <div class="dggs-fig-full-width"> <img src="img/rocks-banner.jpg" alt="Rocks and minerals banner - pan of gold"> </div> <p> Alaska is a great place to pan for gold (the state mineral) and hunt for mineral and rock specimens. The state has a rich <a href="http://www.alaskamininghalloffame.org/index.php">history of mining</a>, due to its substantial endowment of <a href="/pubs/minerals">mineral resources</a>. The most important thing for you, as a prospector, to know is the ownership of the land on which you would like to rock hound. Landowners have different rules about what activities are permitted on their land. For example, the state has set aside specific areas for recreational gold panning: </p> <ul> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/caribou-creek-recreational-mining-area.pdf?v=1">Caribou Creek</a></li> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/hatcher-pass-public-use-area.pdf">Hatcher Pass Public Use Area</a></li> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/nelchina-public-use-area.pdf">Nelchina Public Use Area</a></li> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/petersville-recreational-mining-area.pdf">Petersville Recreational Mining Area</a></li> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/nome/">Nome Offshore East and West Beach</a></li> </ul> <div class="dggs-fig-align-right"> <img src="img/rocks-silver-mineralization.jpg" alt="Silver and copper mineralization in the Talkeetna Mountains"> <p>Silver and copper mineralization in the Talkeetna Mountains. Green color is the copper mineral malachite. Photo credit: Evan Twelker, DGGS, taken 2014.</p> </div> <p> Prospecting and gold panning on state and BLM land is limited to hand tools and light equipment; permits may be required for other equipment. For additional information about mining or mineral collecting on state land, view the <a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/">Mining Resources web site</a> or contact the <a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/">Public Information Center</a>. For information regarding mining on federal land, contact the <a href="https://www.blm.gov/node/6352">Bureau of Land Management</a>. </p> <p> Without having to hike off the roads, specimens may also be viewed at the University of Alaska's <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/museum/">Museum of the North</a>, <a href="https://www.alaskamuseum.org/index.html">Alaska Museum of Science & Nature</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Chugach-Gem-and-Mineral-Society/100069344991968/">Chugach Gem and Mineral Society's Annual Rock and Mineral Show</a>. DGGS also has a nice display of minerals, rocks, and fossils in its main Fairbanks office and many samples from all over Alaska are archived and viewable at the Geologic Materials Center. </p> </div> </div> <div class="soa-tmpl-columns13"> <div class="soa-tmpl-linklist"> <h4>In Depth</h4> <ul class="soa-tmpl-linklist"> <li><a href="../minerals/index.html">Mineral Resources Section</a></li> <li><a href="/pubs/id/29558">Mineral Resources Map</a></li> <li><a href="/pubs/minerals">Alaska's Mineral Resources</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="soa-tmpl-linklist"> <h4>More Resources</h4> <ul class="soa-tmpl-linklist"> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/time-saving-tips-for-gold-seekers.pdf">Time Saving Tips for Gold Seekers</a></li> <li><a href="//lam.alaska.gov/gold">Gold Mining in Alaska</a></li> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/cdn/pdf/factsheets/generally-allowed-uses.pdf">Generally Allowed Uses, State Land</a></li> <li><a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/factsheets/">ML&W Fact Sheets</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-activities/alaska">BLM Recreational Gold Panning</a></li> <li><a href="http://alaskaminers.org/">Alaska Miners Association</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="soa-tmpl-clear"></div> </div> <div id="soa-tmpl-content-footer" class="soa-tmpl-content-footer"> <div class="soa-tmpl-content-footer-left"> <div class="soa-tmpl-content-footer-social"> <a href="https://twitter.com/akdggs"> <img src="/template/img/twitter.png" alt="DGGS on Twitter" > </a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AKDGGS"> <img src="/template/img/facebook.png" alt="DGGS on Facebook" /> </a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/DggsNews"> <img src="/template/img/rss.png" alt="DGGS RSS Feed" /> </a> </div> <div class="soa-tmpl-content-footer-links"> <a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/shared/notices/accessibility.htm">Accessibility</a> <a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/shared/notices/privacy.htm">Privacy</a> <a href="//dnr.alaska.gov/shared/notices/copyright.htm">Copyright</a> </div> </div> <div class="soa-tmpl-content-footer-right"> <div class="soa-tmpl-content-footer-address-head"> Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys </div> <div>3354 College Road</div> <div>Fairbanks, Alaska 99709</div> <div>Phone: (907) 451-5000</div> <div>Fax: (907) 451-5050</div> <div>Email: <a href="mailto:dggspubs@alaska.gov">dggspubs@alaska.gov</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="soa-tmpl-tail"> <div class="soa-tmpl-tail-links"> <a href="//alaska.gov/">State of Alaska</a> <a href="//my.alaska.gov/">myAlaska</a> <a href="//alaska.gov/akdir1.html">Departments</a> <a href="//alaska.gov/employeeHome.html">State Employees</a> </div> Copyright © 2025 · <a href="//alaska.gov/">State of Alaska</a> · <a href="//dggs.alaska.gov/">Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys</a> · <a href="mailto:dnr.dggs.webapps@alaska.gov">Webmaster</a> </div> </body> </html>