of the Sapphires as "lower rolling mountains, mostly under 9,000 feet and heavily forested, except for parts of the rocky crest." About 98,000 acres of this roadless area are protected as a Wilderness Study Area. Sapphires of gem quality are found in the region. They were first found in this region at Rock Creek near Philipsburg in 1892. Rock Creek, also known as Gem Mountain, has been the most productive site in Montana for sapphires by far, even more so than Yogo Gulch, producing over 190 million carats of sapphires . Garnets are also found here. See also List of mountain ranges in Montana Yogo sapphire Skalkaho Pass Notes Mountain ranges of Montana Ranges of the Rocky Mountains Landforms of Ravalli County, Montana Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Bitterroot National Forest Lolo National Forest