Consult maps and a guide book about Crystal Park's 220-acre public site noted for recreational rock-hounding. The site is about a 1 hour drive from Dillon, Montana in the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest. The site is reserved for day use only and provides picnic tables, parking areas and toilets. There are some amethyst finds near Garnet. The area is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Amethyst hunting is allowed nearby in Deep Creek, Gamblers Creek and Cayuse Gulch.
Purchase a size 4 mesh miner's sieve and miner's pick from a reputable mining store such as The Prospector Shop in Helena, Montana. The cost of the sieve is about $25 and the pick costs $36 to $69. A shovel, gloves, bucket or cushioned bag and wrapping material can be purchased at any hardware store.
Check the rules for digging for amethyst established by the forest service or the Bureau of Land Management posted at the various sites and online. Tunneling is strictly forbidden due to safety concerns for visitors and land conservation. Hand tools are the only acceptable method for digging for amethyst crystals at Crystal Park. Parking is available at the Crystal Park picnic area.
Scope out a desirable area to begin to dig. You will need to pack in your tools to the digging site from the parking area. The soil at Crystal Park is decomposed granite and feels like course sand. It is porous and caves in easily. The Garnet digging areas are not managed for public use and require some experience in crystal digging.
Identify the pale lavender or deep purple appearance of the amethyst quartz that differs from other clear or gray quartz crystals. Work your digging area slowly and methodically. Use your shovel to extract a heaping portion of granite sandy soil. Carefully examine the material by using a miner's sieve or by hand. Amethyst crystals are fragile and heat sensitive. If you are lucky and find an amethyst wrap it in cloth or paper and place it in a cushioned bag or a bucket.
