Wyoming State Geological Survey

06/03/2026

One tiny crystal. One entire mineral species.

Kyawthuite is one of the rarest minerals known to science. The reddish-orange mineral, first described from the Mogok region of Myanmar, has the formula Bi³⁺Sb⁵⁺O₄ and was formally approved as a valid mineral species in 2015. Its published scientific description is based on a single known natural sample: a waterworn crystal that was faceted into a 1.61-carat gem.

The crystal was found in alluvial material near Chaung-gyi, in Myanmar’s famous Mogok gem district. Alluvium is loose sediment, such as sand or gravel, deposited by moving water. That means the place where a gem or mineral is found is not always the place where it formed. In this case, kyawthuite likely weathered out of an original source rock — possibly a pegmatite — before being carried into the sediments where it was discovered.

Today, the type specimen is held in the mineral collection of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. That matters because type specimens are not just interesting objects — they are scientific reference materials.

When scientists formally describe a new mineral, the name is tied to real physical material. That material becomes the reference point for the species, allowing future researchers to compare, verify, and reexamine new discoveries. In other words, a type specimen helps anchor a scientific name to something tangible.

That is one reason museum and research collections matter. A specimen may begin as a small crystal in stream gravel, but after careful study and preservation, it can become the defining example of an entire mineral species.

06/01/2026

June 1st is National Dinosaur Day!
From Acheroraptor to Zephyrosaurus, Wyoming has a huge variety of dinosaur specimens: At least 70 different species, and counting! (Sometimes there are disagreements between paleontologists as to whether a specimen is a new species or not, so we can't give you an exact number). Wyoming specimens are found in museums and private collections around the world, and include some of the most famous dinosaurs in the world: Allosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Deinonychus, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus rex.
The official State Dinosaur of Wyoming is the Triceratops! Check out this sheet of fun facts about Triceratops.

05/27/2026

A new U.S. Geological Survey data release makes geologic map information for Wyoming’s Savage Run Wilderness easier to use in modern mapping and research.

The release provides GIS data for the mineral resource potential map of the Savage Run Wilderness in Carbon and Albany counties. The data are based on a 1983 USGS map and include geospatial features and attribute tables formatted to current Geologic Map Schema standards.

Modern GIS versions of older geologic maps help researchers, land managers, and the public better access and use geologic information for mineral resource assessments, critical mineral studies, geologic mapping, and related work.

View the USGS data release: https://www.usgs.gov/data/gis-data-mineral-resource-potential-map-savage-run-wilderness-carbon-and-albany-counties

05/22/2026

WSGS scientists attended this week’s event recognizing 25 years of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s work to study and monitor one of the most geologically dynamic regions in the world.

YVO is a collaborative consortium of state, federal, and university partners working to better understand Yellowstone’s geologic past, present, and future. The Wyoming State Geological Survey joined the consortium in 2013, contributing to the shared mission of advancing geologic research, hazards monitoring, and public communication in the Yellowstone region.

Read more from Buckrail:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) is celebrating 25 years of studying the largest magmatic system in the United States. YVO’s Scientist-in-Charge Michael Poland wrote this week’s Caldera Chronicles, celebrating a quarter-century and telling the story of how ...

05/19/2026

Happy 25th birthday to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory!

For 25 years, YVO has helped monitor and study one of the world’s most famous volcanic and hydrothermal systems. The observatory was founded in May 2001 as a partnership among the USGS, Yellowstone National Park, and the University of Utah, and it has since grown into a broader consortium of federal, state, and university partners—including the Wyoming State Geological Survey, which joined in 2013.

This partnership supports long-term monitoring, hazards assessment, research, and public communication about Yellowstone’s geologic past, present, and future. Read more about YVO’s history in this Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles article from USGS:

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory is turning 25 years old! Surprisingly, the seeds for the observatory were planted at Lassen Volcanic National Park, almost 1,000 miles to the southwest.

05/18/2026

The Wyoming State Geological Survey is inviting you to take a short user feedback survey.

As a subscriber to our newsletter, your input is especially valuable to us. You are among the people most engaged with our work, and your feedback will help us better understand how our data, maps, and publications are being used and where we should focus our efforts moving forward.

We are gathering input to help improve our resources and guide future mapping and research priorities across Wyoming. The survey takes about 5–10 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and will be used internally for strategic planning.

At the WSGS, our mission is to promote the beneficial and responsible development and use of Wyoming’s geologic, mineral, and energy resources while seeking to understand, characterize, and inform the public about geologic hazards.

To learn more about the Wyoming State Geological Survey and explore our maps, publications, data, and public resources, please visit our website at https://wsgs.wyo.gov.

Take the survey here:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/c1eca3be5866479f808c35ff86e04451

We appreciate your time and input.

Thank you,

Bryce Tugwell
Media and Communications Manager
Wyoming State Geological Survey

Anonymous feedback survey for users of Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) data, maps, and publications — gathering input on how our resources are used to help prioritize future mapping and research across Wyoming.

05/11/2026

A recent Cowboy State Daily story highlights a reported fossil discovery near Alpine that may represent a remarkably well-preserved small dinosaur skeleton:

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/05/09/wyoming-woman-discovers-perfectly-preserved-dinosaur-near-alpine/

Wyoming’s rocks preserve an extraordinary record of ancient life, and stories like this are a good reminder that fossils are an important part of our geologic heritage.

If you think you’ve found a fossil, it is important to consider both what it is and where it is located. Vertebrate fossils—such as bones, teeth, turtles, mammals, or dinosaurs—are protected on public lands and should be reported rather than removed.

If you encounter a potentially significant fossil, take photos, note the location, and contact the appropriate land management agency. The geologic context of a fossil can be just as important as the fossil itself.

Learn more about Wyoming geology through WSGS.

A paleontologist said Heather Zamora's discovery of a small dinosaur skeleton near Alpine, Wyoming, is one of the best fossils he's ever seen of the…

04/29/2026

A question about whether Wyoming could produce its own curling stones led to a broader conversation about geologic mapping, resource identification, and the value of understanding the state’s natural materials.

During the Legislature’s first interim meeting of the year, State Geologist Ranie Lynds spoke with lawmakers about what it would take to evaluate potential stone resources in Wyoming. As the Wyoming Public Media article notes, that kind of work connects to a much larger need: detailed geologic information that helps identify aggregate, copper, critical minerals, and other resources important to Wyoming’s infrastructure, economy, and communities.

https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-04-29/lawmakers-talk-energy-reusing-water-and-curling-stones-at-first-interim-meeting

04/21/2026

Looking for your next Wyoming adventure? Rockhounding Wyoming by Kenneth L. Graham is now available through the WSGS store.

This handy field guide includes maps, directions, site descriptions, collecting tips, and land-use information to help readers explore Wyoming’s rockhounding opportunities with confidence. You can order online or stop by the WSGS store in the WSGS building on the University of Wyoming campus.

Shop the book: sales.wsgs.wyo.gov/rockhounding-wyoming-falconguides-3rd-edition-2023/

04/17/2026

Yellowstone is always changing.

USGS scientists are tracking subtle uplift that began in July 2025 south of Norris Geyser Basin — a part of the caldera that has experienced similar movement before. It’s a reminder that Yellowstone is an active geologic system, and that not every change is a sign of something catastrophic.

Read more: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/its-baaaaaack-norris-uplift-anomaly