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Tunk Creek — Rockhounding in Okanogan County, Washington

Tunk Creek is one of Washington's few documented thulite localities, where rose-pink thulite, a variety of zoisite, occurs in lenses up to three feet across within hornblende schist. The same schist hosts corundum, including blue sapphire and pink to red crystals associated with the thulite, an unusual pairing recorded by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System and mindat. Quartz and plagioclase round out the assemblage in the Okanogan highlands. Reported finds include quartz, blue corundum, pink corundum, thulite, plagioclase. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Tunk Creek photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Map showing Tunk Creek in Okanogan County, Washington

Quick details

Access
Public area
Nearest road
Keystone Road

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 Tunk Creek

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 Tunk Creek.

Tunk Creek FAQ

Why is Tunk Creek one of the best rockhounding spots in Washington?+
Tunk Creek is one of Washington's few documented thulite localities, where rose-pink thulite, a variety of zoisite, occurs in lenses up to three feet across within hornblende schist. The same schist hosts corundum, including blue sapphire and pink to red crystals associated with the thulite, an unusual pairing recorded by the USGS Mineral Resources Data System and mindat. Quartz and plagioclase round out the assemblage in the Okanogan highlands.
Where is Tunk Creek?+
Tunk Creek is in Okanogan County, Washington, at 48.56146, -119.48658. Nearest road: Keystone Road.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Tunk Creek?+
Tunk Creek is reported to produce Quartz, Blue Corundum, Pink Corundum, Thulite, Plagioclase.
Is collecting allowed at Tunk Creek?+
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 Tunk Creek?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 48.56146, -119.48658 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Keystone Road.

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