The first time traveling through Montana was quite the experience on a number of levels. We definitely understand why it is often referred to as Big Sky Country and it did not disappoint. Our goal was to tour around, explore a little, and look for gemstones. Since we were first time travelers, sticking to areas where the public is welcome is a must. Brooks and streams which could contain gems are plentiful, but many reside on private land and require permission from the land owners.
After some research and driving around, we discovered Gem Mountain in
Philipsburg, Montana. It's easy to feel whisked away from the rest of
the world, a getaway in your own little mountain town, in the quaint town of Philipsburg. The stay here is refreshing, and motivational, knowing there's beautiful scenery all around you, and that you're only a short drive away from an active sapphire mine nestled in the mountains.
We spent an entire day panning through tailings brought down from Gem Mountain. By mid-morning we really had a handle on the techniques taught by mine operators and were finding sapphire after sapphire in the load. At the end of the day we extracted more than enough raw sapphires to cover the day's mining expenses. A decent portion of the raw could be cut for jewelry, and there were even a few nice flawless specimens. Firing and hardening can be done right at the mines for a fee, but we decided to keep the stones raw.
Overall, the experience panning for sapphires in Montana is one well worth the time and effort. In a way it's amazing to think some of these old gem mines are still producing significant amounts of raw material on a daily basis. As awesome and educational as panning through tailings is, the next trip calls for a more adventurous experience on our own, now that we have a pretty good idea of what to look for.
