Prior to 1977, only jade, a couple of microdiamonds, agate and jasper were known in Wyoming. Following his instincts, author Dan Hausel found hundreds of diamond, ruby, sapphire, iolite, gold and other gemstone deposits including idenfied the largest colored gemstones in the world and found additional deposits of gem garnet, chromian diopside, Cape Ruby, Cape Emerald, some aquamarine, peridot, and giant opals. Wyoming is now know to be gemstone rich due to the work of the author. In additon, the author found several minerals that were previously unknown in the state as well as some unusual rock types. Possibly no other person influenced the geology of Wyoming more than Professor Hausel.