Perhaps the best known agate beds are between Kingman and Oatman along Highway 66, just west of Ed's Camp. HIKING Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. I'm heading to a property near Kingman, Arizona, to do some geology work, but I thought while I was in the area I might try to do some collecting. To crack a bit of stone, place it on a solid, stable surface. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. another 10.5 miles and turn left onto the dirt road near milepost For the next 5.6 miles the road winds through a Ponderosa-shaded mountain roadway within the Apache National Forest before reaching an amazing overlook and parking area at the edge of a major topographic, physiographic, geologic, biologic, and ecologic boundary that marks the abrupt transition from the southwestern extent of the High Chihuahuan Desert of the Mogollon-Datil Volcanic Field into the eastern edge of the High Sonoran Desert of the Basin and Range Province. The five-mile road loops around the hill and is Looking east to the Mogollon Mountains in the Gila Wilderness across the rolling grassland of Mule Creek Country just off State Road 78. Notable for having some of the finest ranch land in Southern New Mexico, the Mule Creek area is a mile-high landscape of rolling grasslands offset by a sparse scattering of Alligator Juniper trees. Discover the Beauty of Saddle Mountain Fire Agate: Your Gemstone AdventureAwaits. var today = new Date() We look forward to hearing your feedback as we fine-tune the website. Create a password that only you will remember. Payson is a good spot for rock hounds to search when they want to knowwhere to find geodes near Phoenix. Take it slow. Looking southwest across High Sonoran Desert from the overlook on State Road 78, 5.6 miles into Arizona from the New Mexico-Arizona border. State Mineral. Copyright 1998- Its found in Northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. high-clearance vehicle is recommended. The 10,696-foot peak of Mt. 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! ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. But be careful when buying turquoise rocks or jewelry from unrepeatable dealers, as some will attempt to pass dyed howlite off as genuine turquoise. Fire agate is a vitreous and waxy Silicon dioxide crystal with traces of iron. Hey there! The gem-type Saddle Mountain fire gates are a pleasant expansion to any mineral collection, as they are rare and hard to come by. Mesa, Arizona. These gemstones can be found in only a few locations worldwide, which makes them special to every gem collector. These areas are open to the public and are under the Additionally, jasper, agate, valuable metals, and sometimes even thundereggs are among the minerals and rocks found here. To read more about Arizona Fire Agate, you can read the following trade article from 1993 - and note the prices! Arizona is one of the highest caliber rockhounding states and receives visitors from all corners of the world in search of Arizona rocks, gemstones, minerals and fossils which find themselves scattered across this geologic treasure trove. Dig for Fire Agate. Nevertheless, the red and brown shades of Fire help stimulate the root or brow chakra. Fires Legend. This particular spot is considered to be among . If you're not, be sure to consider and take Though Arizona has produced much less of this element than other states, it has killed many who believed they could find it. (Or a Mixture? Outcrop of broken angular blocks of andesite bedrock showing abundant gas bubbles near west end of ridge east of parking area. Its a geologic melting pot of rock, minerals, gemstones and fossils that is sort of Mecca for any novice or dedicated rock and mineral collector alike. This can be very informative to collectors of all experience levels. The site is a designated rockhound area on BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management) land, and is open to the public year round. It commonly displays a waxy luster and botryoidal texture. Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. invites exploration for the hardy. Agate is a variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. Keep reading below to learn more about what to bring, clothing types, and driving directions. var year = today.getFullYear() 2 were here. area is open and accessible year-round, but summer temperatures can Graham297 is located in T9S R20E Sec 12 N2 in the Kennedy Peak - 7.5 Min quad. This is also a great wide-open area for primitive camping. Color: Base - golden-brown to reddish-brown; Flashes - usually orange, green, red, yellow; Rarely violet or blue. They are a rounded obsidian volcanic black glass core surrounded by a rough black outer surface. Contained as of July 13. 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. be high. There is a sign near milepost 141 on Highway 191 marking the graded dirt road to the site. Turns out it's just a little over an hour from where I live. the know to make beautiful jewelry. it, this is an excellent time and place to get started. The Black Hills Rockhound Area is one of the BLM designated sites for collecting minerals and gems, including fire agate. From Black Canyon City south to Prescott. Free shipping. At mile marker 141.6, a sign on the right (north) side of the road marks the entrance road to the Black Hills Rockhound Area. A half mile past milepost 5 (in Here are twelve exciting locations to go Rockhounding, includingwhere to find geodes, near Phoenix. S of Apache Nat. Arizona, being home to a diverse variety of crystals, also contains a wide distribution of geodes. This leaves behind an individually unique array of colors throughout these preserved pieces of wood. I accidentally left a pile if some of the best stuff I had found the whole day in a hustle to get going,,,, I'll stop next weekend on my way to brenda and see if it's still there, if not, oh well..,, there is more..:-)). elevation is 4,200 feet and 4,600 feet at the top of Round Items: 18 . Cuesta Fire Agate Mine - Arizona Cuesta Fire Agate mine is a Desert Dig. Coastal locations or lakes are good places to find agates. Please be aware that there are private mining claims . It offers Which of the several will give me the best chance of a good piece? Fire agate is a relatively new gemstone, only identified and formally recognized in the 1930s. Turn north on forest road 64, which is approximately 12-13 miles east of town and just before the development of Kohls ranch. Doug Barlow said the bigger rocks are popular among those who like to whittle. (Find Of a Lifetime! In order for the "fire" to come out in fire agate, Doug Barlow says you have to wet the stone. A type of Agate infused with iron and other elements in . Great half-day adventure for rock collectors located off AZ Hwy 70, east of Safford, AZ in scenic, undeveloped area. Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! Mineral diversity is much greater here than in other parts of the state. If you don't have a rock . the road immediately enters the Gila National Forest where it begins a gradual six-mile climb over the northern extent of the Burro Mountains before crossing into Arizona and entering the Apache National Forest at an elevation of 6,000 feet. Its private land. Arizona is proud to contain the biggest mine of this precious gemstone in the world, peridot. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In this photo weathered and disintegrating blocks of andesite comprise the foreground on left, and the high promontories on far right horizon, and rhyolite welded tuff constitutes the cliffs in middle distant horizon. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. windmill on the left side of the highway. Within a short drive of Safford lie two areas where gemstones When one thinks of a mine, images of deep shafts or dark tunnels usually come to mind. The Bear Fire wasburning 25miles north of Clifton in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, near U.S.Highway 191. light inside the stone. They can spend a bit of time looking for fossils as well because it is right in the center of Arizona and enclosed by the National Forest. William Ascarza A scenic drive takes rock and mineral collectors to the Black Hills cinder mine about 18 miles north of Safford. Afton Canyon . Safford is the Black Hills Rockhound Area; further east, near the The fire was burning approximately 7 miles west of Bylas. 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. Yellows and reds can be bought for $5 to $10 per carat. The wood can be found scattered amongst other rocks along the surface and a large variety of colors are present. Overview Semiprecious Gemstone. Location Type: Public Access Details: This is land governed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management - government). Click the image for driving directions and a KML file. The Deer Creek Fire Agate Mine is in Graham, Arizona. At 11.6 miles from the Saddle Mountain Fire Agate is a unique and fascinating geological formation that has captivated the attention of geologists, mineral collectors, and gem enthusiasts alike. And as an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases after clicking on those links, at no additional cost to you. It did say the area had been hit hard by collectors over the years, so do I give it a go anyways? Fire Agate. Tucked deep into the Mule Mountains not far from Palo Verde is the Opal Hill Mine. 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. This site is open to collection from October 1 through February 18. In this article, well, Welcome to your online guide to finding the rare and coveted Saddle Mountain Fire Agate. This diverse southwestern state even has two national parks dedicated to its rocks: Grand Canyon National Park and Petrified Forest National Park. 3 Tips On How To Tell If Turquoise Is Real Or Fake. The westward view from this overlook affords a marvelous long-distance view into the Sonoran Desert Country within the Basin and Range Province of Arizona, with the 10,696 foot towering presence of Mt. 9049 Oatman Hwy, Golden Valley. However, I was not looking only for fire, but just grabbing the chalcedony period. In the New Mexico-Arizona border country, chalcedony is typically found in shades of translucent white to pink and light grays and blues. highway, turn left onto the road to Round Mountain, where you also removal, no restroom facilities. Fire agate. Cuesta Fire Agate Mine. If you have photos, videos, or a new location youd like to share with the rockhound community then contact us directly and we will feature it on the site. If course Lol !! The Deer Creek Fire Agate Mine is a surface mining operation. "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. The Saddle Mountain fire agate, with gem quality being rare and hard to find, are a nice addition to any mineral collection. Still, we have compiled a list of historically recognized locations below that have provided specimens of agate, nodules, turquoise, chalcedony, fire agate, geodes, and jasper, among other minerals for enthusiasts goingrockhounding near Phoenix. Macro mineral stone fire agate on a black background. document.write(year) A top-notch area in Arizona to gather rocks and minerals is near Congress Junction. Earlier this year I made a post about a location I ran across. 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. The fire wasburning3 miles west of the Verde River and3 miles northeast of Red Creek Ranch. Numerous ancient mines and mining camps have private owners, so ask permission before searching and collecting their land. plentiful on the surface and must be dug up with picks and shovels. However, one of the rarest forms of agate - fire agate - has been available commercially only in the last 60 years. document.write(year) Have any questions? THE FIRE AGATE AND CHALCEDONY OF THE BLACK HILLS ROCKHOUND AREA, Every year during the Summer Monsoon Season intense thunderstorms expose, transport, and deposit new fire agate and chalcedony for collecting as heavy rain runoff rushes down from the higher regions of the Black Hills Rockhound Area to the lowlands below, Looking west from the prominent ridge on north side of fire agate deposit towards the parking area at Black Hills Rockhound area in center of photo, 2 miles in from US Highway 191. It makes for a pleasant time to wander through the We also feature articles and resources on the history of rockhounding in the area, as well as the science behind the rocks and minerals youll be collecting. The Black Hills Rockhound Area is located in Arizona, 50 miles west of Casitas de Gila Guesthouses, just off US Highway 191, about 13 miles west of the crossroads community of Three Way and 19 miles east of Safford, Arizona. In Arizona, geodes can be found in many places across the state and contain a large diversity of crystals. auspices of the Bureau of Land Management. 575-535-4455 info@casitasdegila.com Southwestern Guesthouses on 265 Acres near Silver City, New Mexico overlooking Bear Creek and the Gila Wilderness 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. The large cactus is the Barrel Cactus, a common plant of the High Sonoran Desert. Home > Fire Agate. Although if I cannot find a piece worthy of my living room shelf I may have to go the cash route. 1. Mama Raes Rocks and Rhymes: A Book All Rockhounds Will Love, Where To Find Peridot in Arizona (4 Must Visit Sites). If you've never done any rock collecting . Near the town of Safford, Arizona lies your ticket to finding fire agate, a brilliant gemstone found only in the southwest. During the Tertiary Period, these particular regions experienced massive volcanic activity that created these gemstone deposits. Finding a huge chunk of fire agate in the Saddle Mountain area, Arizona A rockhound hopes to reach this massive geode 90 feet underground. such tremendous rewards for so little effort. PLUS!!! The material is dispersed over a large area, so finding good pieces can take some time. It is the birthstone for the month of August and is a common gemstone among other jewelry. Please provide feedback on the locations we provide and well do our best to update the page to make it more accurate. The Peloncillo Mountains Wilderness to the south With it's gem quality deposits of Peridot, Amethyst, Garnets, Fire Agate, Turquoise, and Azurite the Arizona gemstone and mineral industry deserves more attention. Additional information about these two rockhound areas can be This particular spot is considered to be among the richest areas in the world for this gem. 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. junction 10 miles from Safford; this is the road to Morenci. Whether youre interested in collecting quartz, amethyst, jasper, or any other type of rock or mineral, weve got you covered. Let's look at each source and the agate it produces. Each mine produces its each unique variant characterized by different shades of color, levels of patterning, and intermixed minerals. Youll spend most of your time picking up Agates right off the ground, theyre covered with it. Its even better if youre an amateur rock collector because youre always guaranteed to collect a few gems, even along some roadways. Guesthouses Art Gallery Nature Preserve, 575-535-4455 Committee Fire: 362 acres east of Sedona, 100% . Fluorite, Malachite, and Other Gemstones in Tucson, Arizona. In the United States, agates are mostly found in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Please pick up any trash and leave the location better than when you found it. The site can be accessed via highway 260 east out of the town of Payson, AZ. or better condition than you found it - clean and ready for the A type of Agate infused with iron and other elements in such a manner that in some cases, it looks as if there's fire inside of it, Fire Agate can only be found in a few Southwest states, as well as Mexico. Even if youre not guaranteed a high-end gem, youll be able to gather a lot of beautiful pieces of all varieties. Click here to remove banner ads from this forum. miles northeast of Safford. However, be cautious when exploring this region because it is densely covered in cholla cacti. 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. Hopefully, the above discussion offers some clues as to where to begin, and your hosts at the Casitas will be pleased to offer additional suggestions if asked. Of course! Arizona is one of the places that offers world class opportunity to see and collect this brilliant gemstone. The women and children who witnessed the event cried tears that then formed into the stones which we now call Apache Tears. 2022 fires with or near full containment. Though Arizona has produced a dazzling array including brilliant purple amethyst specimens. NEWS The May 27, 2014 Blog Seeking Chalcedony and Jasper in Southwest New Mexico includes numerous photos on the various forms and shapes of chalcedony and fire agate that have been found at or near the Casitas over the years, and presents more details on their various modes of formation.