Does anyone know of a place in Utah that will be open the week of March 24th to dig for fossils or gems? I really really want to do that while there .

Thanks in advance.

In Utah, Topaz Mountain is always open, weather permitting. You can dig for topaz any time; it's on public land and no fees. About 15 miles north of this, there is a place where you can dig for geodes. There is also a place to dig for trilobite fossils near there, but I haven't been thre yet. Search for Topaz Mountain on the internet to get directions.

I've been to Utah for the trilobtes and geodes
Both places we went to didn't have any people or to pay to dig (they were just open pits with out fees) you can try to just walk in and see (went a long time ago - might be tresspassing now if someone bought the land) I think the geode pit is government land - I remember passing an army base of some sort (I think it was a weapons testing facility).

either way if you are going Geode hunting you might not want to open them up until you get home with a table saw. I ended up cracking mine open with my rock hammer to see what was inside (ended up busting a few good specimens).
There was one person who brought a table saw and hooked it up to his truck to open geodes on site.

Trilobite site was cool, it was easy to rip apart the shale with bare hands to find trilobites.

Both digs were extremely plentiful when I went

Found these links online for ya
For trilobites (didn't go here) opend 5/1 (I'm sure if you look you'll find a site that woud be free)
http://www.u-digfossils.com/

For Geodes
http://geology.utah.gov/utahgeo/rockmineral/collecting/rkhd0500.htm

What are the roads like to the Topaz? To the geodes? Can we do it in a 2WD passenger car?

Athos,
ROADS? I checked out the site on Google Earth and it looks more like ruts and washes.
Here's a little more info.

GPS coordinates lat=39.6956941068N, lon=-113.098143153W

Topaz Mtn - Topaz, Beryl, Bixbyite, Pseudobrookite
topaz, red beryl, bixbyite, pseudobrookite, hematite, garnet, chalcedony, amethyst, ilmenite, fluorite, calcite, cassiterite, durangite can all be found here. There are a few ways to get here, depending on where you are. If traveling from Salt Lake, head toward Vernon (on hwy 36 from Tooele) and drive west through lookout pass. Continue on the Pony Express road through Simpson Springs, along the Dugway Proving Ground, and turn left on a dirt road about 15 miles from Simpson Springs. You will follow the east side of the Thomas Range until you hit the Weiss hwy. Take that west a few miles until you see the sign for the Topaz Mountain ampitheatre. To get there from the south, drive to Delta and then just take the Brush road (paved!) all the way to Topaz Valley. There are many guides and websites about Topaz mountain. Consult them before you go. http://rockhoundguide.blogspot.com/2007/11/july-2007-du...nd-thomas-range.html http://geology.utah.gov/utahgeo/rockmineral/collecting/topaz.htm http://www.pgjr.alpine.k12.ut.us/science/whitaker/Places/Topaz/Topaz.htm

Happy Hunting,
-Rocky.