Welcome to Rockhounding Near Phoenix, Arizona your ultimate guide to finding the best locations to hunt for rocks, minerals, and gemstones in and around Phoenix. None other than the state gemstone of Arizona, turquoise is an iconic stone and color of southwest folklore. When looking forwhere to find gems near Phoenix, the town of Morristown, located just northwest of Phoenix, is a great place to go rockhounding for a day. Sponsored. This can happen from an air bubble in a volcanic rock, or a mineralized animal burrow or tree root. The Twin Buttes area, just southwest of Tucson, is a particularly promising locale for rockhounds, primarily if you want to try your hand at nighttime fluorescent mineral hunting. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Its private land. You soon When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. However, the agate in the area is beautiful. In Tucson, there is excellent prospecting. Location 1 Aliquots. Committee Fire: 362 acres east of Sedona, 100% . Having been ravaged by collectors through the years, it is sparse on lands where collection is open. The Black Mountains are located in close proximity to the town of Kingman in northwest Arizona. HORSERIDING restroom facilities. There is a lot of material there but not as much with fire. THE 5 CASITAS It has the color play of precious opal with gem quality reds, greens, and blues. Its found in Northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. 2 were here. The most desirable colors are usually blue, green, and purple, and they can usually be purchased for about $15 to $25 per carat. THINGS TO DO return back across the state line into Arizona and the land is Location Type: Public Access Details: This is land governed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management - government). The large cactus is the Barrel Cactus, a common plant of the High Sonoran Desert. This rockhound area makes a great day adventure for rock collectors. The gold can be found around a wide region and in many locations. var year = today.getFullYear() Indeed, agate has an even longer history. Rockhounding is ideal for the whole family but remember to carry adequate water, food, and a map. Fire agate Looking to do it all in one location? For guidelines and a map, phone 888-837-1841. Get the best deals on Fire Agate Rough when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Saddle Mountain Arizona Fire agate spot. Arizona Gov. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. "It wont take much to get ignition source going and get that fired up and spread across the landscape," Department of Forestry Fire ManagementOfficer John Truett said in March. Many eastern Arizona campers are accustomed to When one thinks of a mine, images of deep shafts or dark tunnels usually come to mind. The drive from the Casitas to the Black Hills Area takes about 1.5 hours, traveling on excellent highways that pass through some of the most scenic mountain country in Southwestern New Mexico and Southeastern Arizona. The material is dispersed over a large area, so finding good pieces can take some time. The most representative specimens contain deep iridescence of reds and browns, hence its fiery name. for rockhounding and non-commercial removal of specimens, with no It is very near the turn-off to the Diamond Point crystal site, but is on the south side of highway 260 and is labeled with a sign reading Paleo Site. fee: $30.00 - $50.00 a day, Tool Rentals, $5.00 a day. Youll spend most of your time picking up Agates right off the ground, theyre covered with it. It did say the area had been hit hard by collectors over the years, so do I give it a go anyways? Upon reaching the base of the steep escarpment, Highway 78 continues a downward but more gradual descent of another 1,400 feet in elevation over the next 10 miles to arrive at Three Way, Arizona, at elevation of 3,600 feet. Hi fellow rockhounds! Here, on the lower slopes well below the ridge east of the parking lot an abundance of Prickly Pear Cactus indicates the presence of an increased percentage of fine sediment and mineral soil plus accompanying retention of ground moisture. It has the color play of precious opal with gem quality reds, greens, and blues. Please be aware that there are private mining claims . Turn north on forest road 64, which is approximately 12-13 miles east of town and just before the development of Kohls ranch. Ithave beautiful iridescent rainbow colors, similar to opal, with a Mohs scale hardness measurement of between 5 and 7 which reduces scratching when polished gemstones are put in jewellery. Free shipping for many products! Although its origin is unknown, it is always associated with volcanic deposits. I know that there is supposedly fire agate around Burro Creek and this store looks worth dropping in on . when you come out to the Mine, you go to the claims and you can dig to your hearts content. Fire agate is a limonite-bearing layered form of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz with a botryoidal, or grape-like formation. If you're not, be sure to consider and take Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. It is cut, polished and mounted by those in It belongs to the family of cryptocrystalline quartz. No water, tables, no trash Start your search a few miles outside of town. mostly level here, except for wash crossings. This fire agate mineral collecting site, located off I-10 near Tonopah, has some fire agate as well as an abundant supply of chalcedony and quartz specimens for the rock collector. The fire was burning approximately 7 miles west of Bylas. This mine has been in operation sporadically from the 1900s and produces a portion of the finest Amethyst globally, varying in color from dark purple to violet with a rosy undertone. The rough outside of agate will block all light, so you'll have to get it open in order to test the transparency. United States: Moss agate, banded agate, lace agate (Arizona), petrified wood (Arizona, New Mexico, California, Washington, Oregon) Scotland: Moss agate junction 10 miles from Safford; this is the road to Morenci. 141. Entrance sign at U.S Highway 191 for BLMs Black Hills Rockhound Area. Every winter in Tucson, Arizona, exhibitors from all over the world come together to show off their collections of rocks, gemstones and minerals at theTucson Gem And Mineral Show. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. The site is open to casual collection of a reasonable number of specimens for personal use. time: 3-5 hours Traffic: Light Permit Needed: No Current Info: BLM/Phoenix F.O. Best fire agate location in CA is in Christopher's back yard!!!! Both andesite and rhyolite ash fall welded tuff bedrock occur along the top of the ridge north of parking area. Following this breakdown of the andesite bedrock, the processes of gravity, wind (desert pavement), and running water in the form of flash floods, acting over thousands of years, will carry the altered and disintegrated clay particles, fine rock debris, and the fire agate and chalcedony further and further downslope and away from the bedrock to be redeposited in and over the surrounding lowlands, flats, valleys, and washes. This site is open to collection from October 1 through February 18. Interactive real-time wildfire and forest fire map for Arizona. Master Faceter, Avid Rock Hound, World Traveler, Fanny pack is the ultimate way to collect these Agates. 45-mph graveled road, headed to the Lazy B Ranch. Amid the third and fourth peaks is where the mine is situated. The agate formation, size, color and fire layer thickness all vary within these different geographic locations. Asarco, on the other hand, has excellent Azurite, Chrysocolla, and Malachite specimens. The Deer Creek Fire Agate Mine is a surface mining operation. Remnants of the ancient past when the limestone was deposited by warm oceans of previous eras. Or Compound? any rock collecting, gemstone hunting or have just thought about Physiography 1 Records. This leaves behind an individually unique array of colors throughout these preserved pieces of wood. Journal (issue) Rockhounds enjoy the products of this amazing Arizona mine. From root wads to branches, you can see petrified wood in many forms in the National Park. Outcrop of broken angular blocks of andesite bedrock showing abundant gas bubbles near west end of ridge east of parking area. It was formed by water peculating into the rock from from hot geysers carrying minerals in solution which then formed the layers of chalcedony in cracks and voids in the matrix rock. This location has been written about in rock & mineral magazine and there are multiple YouTube videos showing ordinary rockhounds collecting beautiful Fire Agate nodules. Bring heavy gloves, big hammers, chisels . 95% contained as of July 7; Snap Point Fire: 9,843 acres. or better condition than you found it - clean and ready for the Below is a map of fires that are currently burning in Arizona, as compiled by thewildfire tracking website InciWeb, operated by the U.S. Forest Service. As you see, we have riverbeds and banks to mountain peaks. While many of these sites are on National Forest land, several (particularly the mines) are potentially private property, so do your investigation and get approval before venturing on any property forrockhounding near Phoenix. 2022 fires with or near full containment. A top-notch area in Arizona to gather rocks and minerals is near Congress Junction. Most specimens are found within the top two feet of ground. document.write(year) this type of camping. Safford Field Office Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a prime collecting spot for fire agates, an uncommon semi-precious gem found only in Mexico, California and Arizona. We are thrilled that you found our website and are planning a rockhounding trip near you. I got caught up in that stupid triangle vortex spot and got lost for a few minutes. contains a variety of colors, highlighted by the refraction of Located in the eastern foothills of the Galiuro Mountains southwest of Safford, Arizona, this area has several active fire agate mines. A BEAUTIFUL EARLY MORNING DRIVE OVER THE HIGH CHIHUAHUAN DESERT MOGOLLON-DATIL VOLCANIC FIELD TO THE SONORAL DESERT BELOW. Please pick up any trash and leave the location better than when you found it. These areas are open to the public and are under the The road is found on the BLM website at safford-.az.blm.gov. be high. I was just there and picked up a bucket full. Overall, rockhounding is the right pursuit for you if you've often been intrigued by the natural deposits in Arizona's soils. Round Mountain. A nice variety of different fossils and minerals can be found in the desert just west of Palo Verde. The Agate Lexicon and glossary of amorphous and cryptocrystalline silica gems have been designed to be used in conjunction with the Agate Bibliography, which was compiled to be used by researchers, hobbyists, historians, lapidaries and other individuals which have an interest in these stones.Numerous localities are listed here but this does not imply that the sites are . Other prominent agate-producing states include Minas Gerais, Gois, Par, Piau, Paraba, and the Tocantins. About the Agate Lexicon. A DAY TRIP OF COLLECTING AT THE BLACK HILLS ROCKHOUND AREA. At the mine, no flowing water or electricity is accessible, and all digging is done manually. Here are the ideal areas inside the city and its periphery to collect gems from Agate to Amethyst: Black Canyon Highway Chalcedony, Jasper & more, New River area Jasper, Agate, Chalcedony, Agua Fria River Chalcedony, Agate, Jasper. They are lower to the ground. ASTRONOMY This is one of the best Arizona rockhounding sites for diversity and has a plethora of high quality Arizona rocks, gem, and minerals. Here are the remaining fire agate properties: Mohs hardness: 6-7. You can park anywhere along here to start scouting for fire miles northeast of Safford. Be careful not to get pierced when you try to grab some lovely specimen that has your eyes glittering! Though fire agate can be found at a few locations across the state, the Round Montain Rockhound Area on BLM land near the towns of Safford and Duncan is your best avenue for collection. graded dirt road two miles to the fire agate digs. We won't share it with anyone else. To reach Round Mountain from Safford, drive east on U.S. Highway Payson is a good spot for rock hounds to search when they want to knowwhere to find geodes near Phoenix. Arizona is one of the places that offers world class opportunity to see and collect this brilliant gemstone. They just pronounce it funny in AZ. Youll be able to park your park close to the dig area. Sources. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. You can read more about tumbling petrified wood here! Even if youre not guaranteed a high-end gem, youll be able to gather a lot of beautiful pieces of all varieties. Rockhounders visiting this site can stumble upon opalite, agates, pastelite, patterned jasper, apache tears, and other specimens of interest. Safford, AZ 85546. Allan is familiar with all aspects of the Mine, When in the area he assists diggers, to find and dig their own Fire Agate. The area is located about 20 miles northeast of Safford. 29173 N Fire Agate Rd , San Tan Valley, AZ 85143-6292 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. Opal Hill is well known for its beautiful and rare fire agate, opal eggs and quartz crystals. This can be very informative to collectors of all experience levels. Its primitive campsites only, with no tables, water, trash removal or It is said to bring wearers of the stone peace, success, and good luck. From the Casitas, the route goes northwest on US 180 through a High Chihuahuan Desert landscape affording magnificent views of the Mogollon Mountains before turning west on NM 78 through the incredibly beautiful Mule Creek Country. Translation of BLM wordage: the big pieces have already been picked up by somebody else before you got here. But dont be put off: there are still tons of collectable material out there somewhere! ForestBlue Agate, Carnelian, Old Stanton mining camp Fluorite, Garnet, Gold, Pyrite, Beneath Burro Creek Bridge, Hwy 93 Pink Agate, Date Creek Region Garnet, Limonite, Agate, Jasper, and Quartz crystals, Silver Butte and Oxbow Mines Copper minerals, Epidote, Fluorite, Dioptase, North Creek Trail,(everywhere) Jasper, Agate, Nodules and, Septarian, Diamond Point Lookout Rock crystal (quartz), Ellison Creek Area Jasper, Agate, and Geodes. $31.97. The second reason is that because of the heavy rainfall the area receives during the annual Summer Monsoon thunderstorm rains, which can exceed 2 to 3 inches in a half hour, fire agate and chalcedony buried beneath of surface of the ground is constantly being uncovered and exposed by high energy flash flood runoff every year. This means that you need to first find where it formed, and then work the matrix out whilst collecting the agate. Forest Blue Agate, Carnelian; Congress, AZ - Garnet, Fluorite, and More. agate. Enter the ranch and follow the rockhound site signs. The 1,699 sq. @wildlandfireAZ Twitter List (#AZFire) ADEQ Wildfire Smoke Forecasts. Though fire agate can be found at a few locations across the state, the Round Montain Rockhound Area on BLM land near the towns of Safford and Duncan is your best avenue for collection. Historically the site has been associated with the Rattlesnake Mining District which is now part of the Coronado National Forest. Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a prime collecting spot for Mama Raes Rocks and Rhymes: A Book All Rockhounds Will Love, Where To Find Peridot in Arizona (4 Must Visit Sites). white-colored agate. Overview Semiprecious Gemstone. A containment date of July 12 was given on July 10. Open all year for digging without permits or fees. Official websites use .gov Raw fire agates collected from the Black Hills Rockhound Area. Unfortunately, getting there is a challenge because this mine is a private commercial mine in a remote area. To the observant and slow walker among this Sonoran desert landscape, a fire agate or two can be found. Twin Buttes Region (Old Mines) Copper, Azurite, Chalcocite, Marcasite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Calcite, fluorescent minerals, Pyrite, and more. Look no further than rockhounding! collectors. Dragon Fire: 1,375 acres west of Grand Canyon North Rim. This collection consists of various reports, maps, records and related materials . The clear purple gemstone mined from this specific mine is characterized by its unique red flash when observed through light. Sami Fine Jewelry is not only one of the few fine jewelers who design jewelry with Four Peaks amethyst, plus give guests a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter expedition of the Four Peaks Amethyst Mine. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Located about 65 miles southeast of Safford, Arizona, the Round Mountain BLM Rockhound Area is the most remote of the three free Arizona collecting sites. 9049 Oatman Hwy, Golden Valley. Fortunately for gem hunters, the owner operators allow a small number of tourists to tour the facility and search for gems. If you see pieces with the white coating over what looks like color keep them because oftentimes the fire is hiding beneath the thin layer of chalcedony. area is open and accessible year-round, but summer temperatures can We have been collecting and working Fire Agate for many years! . If you've never done The ancient Egyptians used agate as a gemstone more than 3,000 years ago. At mile 6.9 from the The Ultimate Guide To Rockhounding Tools. The Four Peaks Amethyst Mine produces some of the highest quality of the gemstone and is the only active mine in the United States.