How to Find Sapphires in Montana

Obtain detailed topographic mineral maps from the United States Geological Survey in Montana. These maps will give you known locations of mineral deposits, including sapphires.

Obtain a mining claim map from local resources through the local Montana Bureau of Land Management office or the Department of Natural Resources. These maps will have mining-claim layouts on the map, keeping you from hunting for sapphires on already-staked claims.

Search in known sapphire-bearing regions, away from private land or previously staked claims. These regions include gravel-bearing regions along the Missouri River and its smaller creeks and tributaries, in Lewis and Clark County, Rock Creek, Yogo Gulch, Beaverhead and Madison counties. Look for thick gravel deposits along shoals and bends in rivers and creeks. Water currents tend to deposit the stones in elbows, bends and coves along rivers and creeks.

Pan for the sapphires in the daylight along the shoreline. Scoop up a small amount of dirt and gravel then dip your pan in the water if not already wet. This will help the sunlight to reflect off of the shiny surface of sapphires and wash away clumps of dirt.

Look for small colored stones that protrude from or are partially covered by small gravel rocks. The colors will vary widely, but in Montana specifically you cane find sapphires that are green, blue, orange, yellow and pink. The most popular sapphires in the world are blue, so look out for these fine specimens.