PHILIPSBURG, Mont. — Montana's extensive mining history coined its nickname. The Treasure State. For generations, people have been flocking to find their own treasures near Philipsburg. At the Gem ...

Because Cooney sees Gem Mountain as much an entertainment activity as a mining operation, he samples every gravel pile before bringing it to the work site. There's no way to predict how the sapphires ...

Rockhounding is not a hobby you hear about every day. Loosely defined as the practice of recreationally hunting for gems and semi-precious stones in their natural habitats, it's primarily seen as a ...