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American Bar — Rockhounding in Lewis and Clark County, Montana

American Bar belongs to the upper Missouri River sapphire province, where GIA traces gem-quality sapphire mining back to 1865. The associated heavy-mineral suite, including cassiterite, garnet, kyanite, topaz, gold, and chalcedony, makes the Missouri River bars one of Montana's most mineralogically varied placer settings. Reported finds include sapphire, cassiterite, chalcedony, garnet, gold, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

American Bar photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material, with source and license attribution.

2 photos

Map showing American Bar in Lewis and Clark County, Montana

Quick details

Access
Public area
State
Montana

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified:

Found at American Bar

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of American Bar.

American Bar FAQ

Why is American Bar one of the best rockhounding spots in Montana?+
American Bar belongs to the upper Missouri River sapphire province, where GIA traces gem-quality sapphire mining back to 1865. The associated heavy-mineral suite, including cassiterite, garnet, kyanite, topaz, gold, and chalcedony, makes the Missouri River bars one of Montana's most mineralogically varied placer settings.
Where is American Bar?+
American Bar is in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, at 46.81306, -111.92923.
What rocks and minerals can you find at American Bar?+
American Bar is reported to produce Sapphire, Cassiterite, Chalcedony, Garnet, Gold, Kyanite, Limonite, Topaz.
Is collecting allowed at American Bar?+
Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I get to American Bar?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 46.81306, -111.92923 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote — check road conditions before driving out.

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