By Dave Webb

Update November 2023: We took the kids/grandkids and had great fun. There are plenty of shiny pieces of small selenite on the ground to be picked up but larger pieces are harder to come by. We prospected in a wash to the south and the kids were able to dig out large specimens, some clear, some with green, some with black tints. It was great fun.

Glitter Mountain is a pay-to-dig site where it is very easy to find nice selenite (gypsum) crystals. I usually avoid pay sites, preferring to hunt and find rocks and minerals in less-developed locations. But Glitter Mountain is worth the time and money, particularly if there are kids in your group. They will certainly have a blast and come home with plenty of shiny rocks.

This is an old mine located SE of St. George. It is just across the border into Arizona. Selenite can be found in many spots around St. George but most is white or milky. Glitter Mountain offers fairly large specimens that are nearly clear – and most people find the clear variety the most desirable.

The mine is shallow and tailings have been piled around the edges. Nice selenite can be found in the tailing and also down in the pit. Occasionally, the owner will use heavy equipment to turn over dirt, exposing new material. In the bottom of the pit, you can readily see the thick vein of mineral. If you bring a hammer and chisel you can work the vein and potentially chip out a large specimen.

Collecting fees at the mine start at $20, which is good for a gallon bucket of material. If you want to take more you pay more. It is an honor system and a sign at the mine gives payment options. We had good cell service there using T-Mobile and easily paid via Venmo.

You can connect with the mine owners on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlitterMnt

This spot is on the edge of the “Arizona Strip” and rough dirt roads branch out in many directions. Exploring nearby we found excellent selenite in the bottom of washes. We found one spot where we could see a rich vein, ready for young miners armed with rock hammers.

We’ll be back because it is a great spot to give kids an enjoyable, educational experience.

Dispersed camping is allowed in the area but most visitors choose to stay in St. George or Hurricane. There are no services in the area around the mine.