Goat Mountain & Blackdome Peak: Kyanite Rockhounding in Bonner County, Idaho

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Bonner County

State

Idaho

Nearest road

Goat Mountain Trail

Coordinates

48.19809, -116.10953

Geology at Goat Mountain & Blackdome Peak

This spot sits on Prichard Formation, member g, mapped as metasedimentary rock that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit

Prichard Formation, member g

Age

1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)

Rock types

metasedimentary rock

Elevation

4,820 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Goat Mountain & Blackdome Peak

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 72°F in midsummer and 25°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 15°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CABINET GORGE station (8 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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: April 1, 2026

• Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Emerald Creek
• Idaho Geological Survey
• Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Goat Mountain & Blackdome Peak

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

• KyaniteEncyclopedia →