There are two sapphire "mines" about mid-way between Yellowstone and Glacier. My friend has been to one of them in the past week and they are open in their summer mode. The first is the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine http://www.sapphiremine.com/ just east of Helena. They will take you to an area to dig in the sapphire gravels of the Spokane Bar. You can also buy bags of gem-bearing gravel. You can take the stuff with you to wash and sort at home or you can search it there. They are very helpful. The second place is Gem Mountain near Philipsburg, MT http://www.gemmtn.com/ . It is about the same format as Spokane Bar and the rural area is beautiful.If you like old mining towns, go to Butte, MT. Follow the signs to the Visitors Info Center just off I90 to get directions to all the rock-related sights. They do a great job explaining the mining history there. There is a good museum and rock shop on the Montana Tech campus.
This was taken in part from LA Rocks. Sally
