Washington's diverse geology provides many opportunities for mineral collecting. Over 550 mineral varieties have been found in Washington, including two—paulingite-K and okanoganite-(Y)—that are known only from this state! For information on mineral collecting, contact your local gem and mineral club.
For information concerning recreational gold panning, obtain a Gold and Fish pamphlet from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This pamphlet covers the rules for mineral prospecting and placer mining and is available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/habitat/goldfish/.
For information concerning recreational prospecting on state-owned aquatic lands, please contact the Aquatic Resources Division.