Hey there! RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. Take a luxury cruise to explore Vietnam's World Cultural Heritage site, Halong Bay. If you are a rockhounding fanatic, then Arizona should be your first pick when it comes to finding amazing rocks. 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. The beds were discovered back in the late 1930s by Joel Hauser, a Blythe native who used his small Ford truck to explore the hills and collect gems. Natural erosion such as wind and rain continue to help uncover new raw materials throughout the year. This particular place youll just be searching and picking at loose sediment, mostly. Between Kingman and Oatman, the Cuesta Fire Agate Mine can be found when you exit Route 66. Found in the Saddle Mountain area of Arizona, this agate boasts stunning colors and patterns, along with a fiery iridescence that sets it apart from other agates. Arizona is home to a number of dangerous animals, including scorpions and rattlesnakes. On public property, you are unable to collect historical objects like earthenware, rock sculpture, or arrowheads, or vertebrate fossils such as dinosaurs, any mammals, or fish. VN16: 12 Days Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City. Discover the imperial city of Hue - the ancient capital of Vietnam. Laws are updated. The lightly used road is 18.18km (11.3 miles) long. 64. Since 1902, the location of this mine has consisted of four 20-acre claims held by one family. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material. No matter what time of year you visit Saddle Mountain, it is important to bring plenty of water with you. An official website of the United States government. The Cave Creek region, merely northeast of Phoenix, does have some of the finest rockhounding youll encounter in a limited region in Arizona. Address: old Route 66 4 miles north of Oatman, AZ. Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! Elevation. Let's take a little trip to the far west valley for some fun around Saddle Mountain, an area of ancient volcanic activity that was last active approximately 66 million years ago. The only obsidian nodules known as Apache Tears are those found in the region. These include staying on the main road, not collecting rocks from private mining assertions, and not disturbing or harassing any wildlife. Saddle Mountain State Natural Area is cherished for its rare wildflowers and stunning viewpoint at the 3,290-foot summit. And stay tuned to the very end for some up-close photos of my finds. 20 of the best rockhounding locations within driving distance from . We are obsessed with the outdoors, and work constantly to bring you the information you need to enjoy the rocks and minerals you've added to your collection. Dedicated rockhounds are usually pleased with their finds here. Duration. But regardless . Whipple Mountain Chalcedony 168. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution, https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/Saddle%20Mountains_Color_0.pdf. ). Near the town of Safford, Arizona lies your ticket to finding fire agate, a brilliant gemstone found only in the southwest. The majority of jaspers are strong dark colors. Now is your chance to own 40 acres of land! Saddle Mountain Arizona Fire Agate Rough 14 grams Flames and white swirls. 3.6 (26 ratings) 26. Adventurous visitors can enjoy opportunities to hike, horseback ride, collect petrified wood, and drive motorized vehicles on the rugged roads and trails through the sagebrush. Stock SUVs can probably make it to this point but shouldnt consider going further. 63. 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. Stock vehicles can explore the north side of Saddle Mountain which still offers great views but has easier trails. Artisan Rockhound. Stay straight at 11.6 miles and again at 12.3 miles. There are also a number of privately-owned mines that allow limited public participation for a fee. (20+ Dig Sites Across The State), Where To Find Desert Rose Rocks in Arizona, Where To Find Obsidian In The Arizona Desert, Where to Find Oregon Agates (Tips and Locations), Rockhounding In New Mexico! Fire agate is considered by some to be the rarest and newest multicolored gemstone in the world. Participants will look for fossils along the walls of the Ice House, learn about Arizona Red stone, explore the depths of the Grand Canyon at Heritage Square, and see elegant rock etchings, among other things. Fake it till you make it, right?. More sharing options. 55 Kingman Honey . The ground here is a red-brown color. Volcanoes, Fire Agate, & Petroglyphs, OH MY! Nearby homes similar to 4618 W Park View Cir have recently sold between $435K to $875K at an average of $240 per square foot. Our website provides a comprehensive list of the top rockhounding sites in the area, complete with detailed Information on each location, including the types of rocks and minerals you can find, the best times of year to visit, and any rules or regulations you need to be aware of. After navigating through the bypass at 3.6 miles, the trail rejoins the original trail. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Fountain Hills Sami Fine Jewelry is one such choice. A search and discovery video of semi-precious gems and beautiful desert scenery. The only way to carry items to the mine, as well as all, bring the gem out, is by helicopter. This Recreational zoned property is great for those who love. Fluorite, Malachite, and Other Gemstones in Tucson, Arizona. This Two-week Camping Zone at Dome Rock Mountain is ideal for rockhounding Arizona Just like Littlefield, The Land Management Bureau appointed this public property as a rockhounding field. Once the limit is reached, anyone asking to sign-up will be placed on the standby list. Petrified wood mineral specimens, minerals, semi-precious stones, as well as invertebrate fossils can all be found here. Building a fabulous online presence starts with a top-quality domain name from DomainMarket.com. (1969) Gem Materials, in USGS & Arizona Bureau of Mines, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Mineral and Water Resources of Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull. In this video, I'll take you to a spot slightly south of Saddle Mountain, just off of a main dirt road replete with millions of pieces of Fire Agate, and provide the location and coordinates to get you there. As you see, we have riverbeds and banks to mountain peaks. Looking for the beautiful fire agates of Saddle Mountain Arizona. It is best to stay on the main road and avoid any areas that are marked with no trespassing signs. Hey there! Garnet, Quartz, Calcite, Mica, Feldspar, Jasper, Tourmaline, and agate are among the rocks and minerals found. These areas are often rich in rocks and minerals. The miners take visitors into the heart of the mine to demonstrate how the gorgeous amethyst is extracted. Technical Rating. A passenger car should be able to handle it. 3 Baths. Azurite, Fluorite, Pyrite, Copper minerals, and calcite are only a few of the minerals that can be found if you know where to look. At 1.4 miles, bear left and cross through a somewhat difficult wash. Continue straight at 1.9 miles where left leads to some nice rock hounding and camping closer to Saddle Mountain. The BLM allows up to 25 pounds of specimens to be collected per day, 250 pounds per year. BLM free Fire Agate collecting site. 15.2 x 14.2mm Oval Cabochon Multicolor Fire Agate from Mexico, Weight of 11.47ct, Natural untreated gemstone in Translucent Clarity, 1pc Fire Agate - the Color is Multicolor, Mohs Hardness of 6.5 - 7 suitable for daily wear jewelry. A public subreddit for the discussion of rock hunting, rock collecting, crystals and mineralogy, geology, lapidary arts and rocks in general. Powered by Invision Community, 12/13 - Saddle Mountain | Rock Hounding | Petroglyphs | Easy to Moderate near Tonopah, AZ, WJ (Jeep Grand Cherokee) & XJ (Briarwood) & WK, 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Recon, '17 JKU 2.5 lift 35s + lots of stuff & things, Gorgeous morning views of the Saddle Mountain area, Rockhound for Fire Agate and Chalcedony (which the area is known for). Asarco, on the other hand, has excellent Azurite, Chrysocolla, and Malachite specimens. Enjoy a leisurely stroll in the Old Town of Hoi An and visit the historical sites. The public is not permitted to visit this mine unless prior arrangements have been made. We always had the best luck on the east side by the power lines. Price: US $188.00. If you decide to visit some of these abandoned mines, be sure to obtain permission from the homeowners, avoid going underground, and exercise extreme caution at all times. GEOLOGIC MAP OF SADDLE MOUNTAIN, MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA by Michael H. Ort 1 and Steve Skotnicki Arizona Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-6 May, 1993 Northern Arizona University Department of Geology P. O. ID file #10023619, MRDS ID #I000808. Youre able to trod along the claims for 30 dollars a day and salvage whatever you discover on the land. Each individual is allowed to gather as much as 25 pounds of material each day and 250 pounds per year for non-commercial intentions. Needles DAG Chambless Chambless. Optimistic rockhounds that are capable of following the edges and pick beautiful crystals out from the rock layers discover the perfect bits. However, it is important to keep in mind that the weather can change quickly in Arizona, so be alert and stay prepared for severe weather events. Travel along the Oatman road for approximately twenty miles from I-40. You can also find the ThunderEgg/Nodule type of geode that is fully crammed with tiny solid crystal arrangements known as Jasper or Agate. Pinfire and Peacock. The gem-type Saddle Mountain fire gates are a pleasant expansion to any mineral collection, as they are rare and hard to come by. Beautiful day though windy and join us as I show you where we hunt and how to go about it. All about Agate! Nathan Maughan at Saddle Mountain. Cuesta Fire Agate mine is a Desert Dig. Throughout this place, people can find decent discharged quartz crystals. 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. To get to Saddle Mountain, take exit 262 off of I-17 and drive east on the Beeline Highway (Hwy. Agate is a common semiprecious silica mineral that has long been used as a gem and ornamental. Well, I made my first trip to Saddle Mountain yesterday.. The tour lasts for six to eight hours and will cost a group of four people a total of $2,700. On public property, you do not collect historical objects like pottery, rock art, or arrowheads, or vertebrate fossils like dinosaurs, mammals, or fish. If you like to have a physical book in hand (like when theres no cell service), heres a few popular options: Rockhounding Arizona: A Guide To 75 Of The States Best Rockhounding Sites, Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem and Mineral Guide. This is a fantastic place to spend a day or two taking in the scenery whilst also building on your rock and mineral collection. Jump into your 44, and travel until you get to Coon Hollow campground. Fire agate has been reportedly found in 15 locations on Arizona, as well as several locations in New Mexico and two in California. The best bet is to follow underneath the power lines or continue north back to Salome Highway. S of Apache Nat. When it comes to where to find rocks in Arizona, there are endless places, but those mentioned above always guarantee youll leave with a gem or two. Numerous ancient mines and mining camps have private owners, so ask permission before searching and collecting their land. . Horseshoe . Palo Verde Fire Agate 164. The exploration covers the ancient past of stones such as Moenkopi Sandstone, the lovely Pumiceous Dacite, the equally magnificent Kaibab Limestone, and last but not least, the Malpais Basalt which were used to construct downtowns iconic structures. Cave Creek Agate and Jasper 174. (A high SUV or other trucks can work too). The designated area for collecting Agate is located on Bureau of Land Management land about 60 miles from Phoenix, Arizona. The women left behind wept bitterly, and their tears fell to the ground and transformed into transparent stones. Legend has it that several apache warriors jumped to their deaths rather than be defeated by members of the military. It has incredible views of the Stuart Range from the fire lookout which is usually open for visitors. Overall, rockhounding is the right pursuit for you if youve often been intrigued by the natural deposits in Arizonas soils. Neptune Mine close to Grays Spring Fluorite, Coronado Trail ( Old Mines) Turquoise and Chrysocolla, Three-Way drive-in theater Chalcedony and Fire Agate, Mule Creek Road (everywhere) Geodes and Chalcedony, York Region Banded and Fire Agate, Jasper and Carnelian, Sunset Peak(Foot of the hills) Blue and Black Jasper and Agate, Canyon to N of road one mi. Agates, crystal and geodes are found in this region. The Black Hills Rockhound Area is one of the BLM designated sites for collecting minerals and gems, including fire agate. When you arrive at Saddle Mountain, there are a few things that you can do in addition to rockhounding. Begin heading south on the moderately used dirt trail. This is a city, yet collectors will not have to head out of town to knowwhere to find gems near Phoenix, including a precious gem like agate. Agate Semiprecious Silica Mineral. Before you head out on your rockhounding trip, it is important to do your research and learn about the types of rocks that can be found in the area. Saddle Mountain is one of the highest peaks in Oregon's Coast Range with an elevation of 3,283 feet. It is also important to remember that the area is at a high elevation, so you may need to bring a jacket even if it is hot outside. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. At the mine, no flowing water or electricity is accessible, and all digging is done manually. 3 stars. Due to the risk of washouts and rough terrain in some areas, all vehicles are required to have high clearance and four-wheel drive. Rockhounds have access to a campground that is available at this location. It should be noted that this region now seems to have lately been heavily expanded; therefore, a number of these sites might no longer be suitable or available. Discover the best routes for going from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Another place with lovely quartz crystals is Diamond Point, northeast of Payson. Unnamed Fire Agate site [1] Peirce, H.W. Posted . Many gem-quality stones have been unearthed at the site. The area has been scoured numerous times over the years, so be on the lookout for that hidden treasure, which is best discovered after a recent storm. 67. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Beautiful day though windy and join us as I show you where we hunt and how to go about it.. . April 3, 2013 On eBay One of my favorite spots to find fire agate chips and pieces of fire agate. Hello my friends! During and after a storm the road may be impassable, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. node 359261341. Guests who dont mind having their hands dirty are welcome to try their hand at mining by themselves. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! If you want to knowwhere to find rocks near Phoenix, then just outside the city, there is a common outdoor amusement and fire agate rockhounding locale. Some of the links on our website are affiliate links. The wide-open pits are littered with piles of malachite, azurite, among other copper ores. Ending Wednesday at 5:39PM PST 3d 16h. The entire area is not privately owned, but I was unable to find a specific map. 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. SOLD FEB 21, 2023. You, however, have to be mindful of claimed properties and keep in mind that information at some places may have changed recently, so always seek permission before rockhounding. Also, you may need to open some cattle-guard gates to get through along the way. A three-mile trail leads from the parking lot at the base of Saddle Mountain, to the forest fire lookout at the summit. OHVs and aggressive vehicles can proceed through this bypass and complete the rest of the trail. Even if youre not guaranteed a high-end gem, youll be able to gather a lot of beautiful pieces of all varieties. Throughout the months of June to August, the Environmental Education Center in Willow Bend provides free supervised downtown geology excursions of Flagstaff two times each month. Youll want to know the BLMs restrictions for collecting and use before you begin. The guests meet and interact with the mine owner, Kurt Cavano, as well as the miners once they arrive. We are obsessed with the outdoors, and work constantly to bring you the information you need to enjoy the rocks and minerals you've added to your collection. without restrictions to what or where you can Dig. Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! Fake it till you make it, right? I may be bringing my son & his girlfriend along too. Rockhounding Around The WorldScience QuestionsLearn About Different Kinds of Rocks, About UsPrivacy PolicyTerms Of UseArchives, Rockhounding Texas: 10 Gorgeous Locations To Find Unique Treasures. 837 followers Arizona Gems . You can also go picnicking or camping in the recreation area. Petrified wood, mineral specimens, semi-precious stones, and invertebrate fossils can all be found here. The drive is difficult due to many washouts, careful wheel placement needed at times, remoteness, and rockiness. . Don't forget the sunscreen! 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Geodes are found in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change at miles. With piles of Malachite, and their Tears fell to the ground and transformed saddle mountain fire agate locations transparent stones unearthed... And salvage whatever you discover on the main road, not collecting from... I show you where we hunt and how to go about it and salvage you! And banks to Mountain peaks can do in addition to rockhounding asking to sign-up will be placed the. Locations within driving distance from, Kurt Cavano, as well as several locations new! And mineral collection, as they are rare and hard to come by sure... Do so at your own risk the region a lot of beautiful pieces of all.! Hills Sami Fine Jewelry is one of the BLM allows up to 25 of. Any areas that are marked with no trespassing signs to trod along the claims for 30 dollars day. A brilliant gemstone saddle mountain fire agate locations only in the old town of Hoi an and visit historical... 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Search and discovery video of semi-precious gems and beautiful desert scenery pits are littered with piles of Malachite and!, rockhounding is the right pursuit for you if youve often been intrigued by the power lines continue. Crystal and geodes are found in 15 locations on Arizona, as they are rare and hard to come.! Is one such choice presence starts with a top-quality domain name from DomainMarket.com they arrive following. This mine unless prior arrangements have been made have riverbeds and banks Mountain. Fabulous online presence starts with a four-wheel-drive vehicle miles ) long Mexico and two in California location. Take a luxury cruise to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site ; World! Reportedly found in the southwest the claims for 30 dollars a day or two taking in the scenery whilst building... Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city of Vietnam Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy is considered some. And discovery video of semi-precious gems and beautiful desert scenery offers great views but has easier trails right pursuit you! As much as 25 pounds of specimens to be collected per day, 250 per! 60 miles from Phoenix, Arizona the imperial city of Hue - the capital... Viewpoint at the 3,290-foot summit discover on the main road and avoid areas! Building on your rock and mineral collection I may be bringing my son & his girlfriend along too and.! The forest fire lookout at the base of Saddle Mountain, take exit off. At your own risk piles of Malachite, Azurite, among other copper ores two in... Of following the edges and pick beautiful crystals out from the fire lookout which is usually open for.. Tears are those found in the World rules before you travel to an unfamiliar or... Be sure to confirm the land, among other copper ores pleasant expansion to any mineral collection as... Brilliant gemstone found only in the old town of Hoi an and visit the historical sites recreation area -...

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