Traveling to the mine, located at a cool 7200 feet elevation, is no simple task. Translucency, patterns of color, or moss-like inclusions may distinguish this stone from other forms of chalcedony. Click the image for driving directions and a KML file. Travel along the Oatman road for approximately twenty miles from I-40. other side. Thank you for your support and for sharing Rockhounding Maps in your communities. Arizona is a worldwide provider for well known gemstones and minerals even in the commercial industry. 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! Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Once you enter Tonopah take a left on 411th Ave and then drive about 2.80 miles until you hit W Salome Hwy, turn right. This location has been written about in rock & mineral magazine and there are multiple YouTube videos showing ordinary rockhounds collecting beautiful Fire Agate nodules. Mountain, a small hill at the center of the rockhounding area. I did some fire agate collecting out in the Saddle mountain area about year ago. I got caught up in that stupid triangle vortex spot and got lost for a few minutes. 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. 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. Jasper, Agate, Quartz, Fluorite, and even geodes are among the rocks and minerals to be discovered. next campers. Fire agate pack accordingly. There are areas where you can metal detect, pan for gold, and sluice for gold. The site is open for digging by the public without fees or permits. Allan is familiar with all aspects of the Mine, When in the area he assists diggers, to find and dig their own Fire Agate. This bright yellow-green gemstone has been treasured for ages. During the Tertiary Period, these particular regions experienced massive volcanic activity that created these gemstone deposits. Fun half-day adventure for serious rockhounds seeking fire agates and other volcanic rocks. Start your search a few miles outside of town. The five-mile road loops around the hill and is Entrance sign at U.S Highway 191 for BLMs Black Hills Rockhound Area. Both sites are available Most specimens are found within the top two feet of ground. time: 3-5 hours Traffic: Light Permit Needed: No Current Info: BLM/Phoenix F.O. . At 77-years-old Duncan . 70 about 40 miles to Duncan, continuing through town and about 12 Cuesta Fire Agate Mine - Arizona Cuesta Fire Agate mine is a Desert Dig. It is estimated that the San Carlos Indian Reservation supplies 80%-90% of the world supply that is mined only by San Carlos Tribal members. The gemstone is often found in areas near large copper deposits, which are also abundant across Arizona. This location is part of the Arizona Mineral Industry Location System (AzMILS), an inventory of mineral occurences, prospects and mine locations in Arizona. It has the color play of precious opal with gem quality reds, greens, and blues. Drive Amid the third and fourth peaks is where the mine is situated. Black Mountain Fire Agates Payson B.F.E Payson area agate and geodes Payson area rock crystal west of Payson - agate etc. collectors. 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 stones are plentifully found on the surface of the ground at Twin Buttes Region (Old Mines) Copper, Azurite, Chalcocite, Marcasite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Calcite, fluorescent minerals, Pyrite, and more. 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. To arrive there, take HWY 19 south from Tucson and exit at Pima Mine Road, exit 80. What is special about fire agate is that it contains platy layers of iron oxide crystals (limonite . Last Known Status: Open Trail type: Loop or Out & back Length: 15 miles total Approx. Looking to do it all in one location? Arizona, being home to a diverse variety of crystals, also contains a wide distribution of geodes. United States: Moss agate, banded agate, lace agate (Arizona), petrified wood (Arizona, New Mexico, California, Washington, Oregon) Scotland: Moss agate The flat desert floor has some exceptional specimens of fire agate and nice petrified wood specimens. Azurite, Fluorite, Pyrite, Copper minerals, and calcite are only a few of the minerals that can be found if you know where to look. high-clearance vehicle is recommended. The miners walk nine miles in total to and from work and reside there for a few weeks at a time. . The Round Mountain area is 62 miles southeast of Safford, a The beauty of these fossilized gemstones makes them a very popular choice for rock tumbling enthusiasts. 1. Its found in Northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. William Ascarza A scenic drive takes rock and mineral collectors to the Black Hills cinder mine about 18 miles north of Safford. If course Lol !! The state mineral of Arizona, petrified wood, is mostly contained and protected within Petrified National Forest near the town of Holbrook, Arizona. At Three Way, Highway 78 ends and the journey continues straight ahead on U.S. Highway 191 to once again cross the Gila River and for the next 13 miles passes through a fascinating Sonoran Desert landscape of weathered and dissected volcanic hills, mountainous ridges, mesas, and sharp pinnacles or buttes, almost all of which is public BLM or State of Arizona land. 2. There is even a kiosk with a visual guide to many species of fossils that can be found at the site. However, the agate in the area is beautiful. We have been collecting and working Fire Agate for many years! Salome is spelled that same way as Salome. 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..:-)). For over 50 years, people from all over have been coming to Saddle Mountain in search of Fire Agate. For more information or to schedule a guided tour please contact Doug (928) 215-9912 or visit www.rockabuyrocksandgifts.com. Free or royalty-free photos and images. Rock-A-Buy Rock and Gifts. It did say the area had been hit hard by collectors over the years, so do I give it a go anyways? The Fire Agate will stabilize the aura, removing and transmuting negative energies. Let's look at each source and the agate it produces. For coverage of the 2022 wildfire season in Arizona, see the latest updates at azentral.com. Gradually, this process will produce a thick, wedge shaped deposit of successive layers of transported sedimentary material surrounding the bedrock core of the ridge. Be careful not to get pierced when you try to grab some lovely specimen that has your eyes glittering! These rock types consist of 1) dark gray to reddish gray andesite lava flow rock that is deposited in a sequence of essentially horizontal layers, many of which contain abundant gas bubbles, and 2) gray to light tan, silica rich, rhyolite pyroclastic ash flow or ash fall welded tuff that overlies or is interbedded with the andesite flow rock. The change in landscape, both topographically, geologically, biologically and ecologically over this 14 mile stretch of highway is both dramatic and amazing and for most travelers will be remembered as one highlight of the days journey. To the observant and slow walker among this Sonoran desert landscape, a fire agate or two can be found. Arizona is one of America's leading mining States, although the primary focus in the past has been on the heavy metals rather than the other beautiful gemstones and minerals. agate. 95% contained as of July 7; Snap Point Fire: 9,843 acres. From here on around this loop you'll see the ground strewn with You will have a whale of a time, especially since the variety of gems in this area is vast. Youll be digging for and collecting Fire Agate in Duncan, Arizona at the Lazy B Ranch. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Using mine locations as a reference, the map provided above gives a very interesting and useful . The Bear Fire wasburning 25miles north of Clifton in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, near U.S.Highway 191. 141. Definition in general: Chalcedony fragments that have deteriorated from the matrix and rinsed down the gradients and washes can be found in the Black Mountains. The Black Mountains are located in close proximity to the town of Kingman in northwest Arizona. Items: 18 . Wildfire Resources - Frequently Asked Questions. "According to Warren Jones, fire agate was discovered in Arizona in 1939," say Si and Ann Frazier, Lapidary Journal Foreign Correspondents. New Mexico state line, the Round Mountain Rockhound Area beckons 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. Actually this is not a problem for two reasons: the first being that the area at the Black Hills site where fire agate and chalcedony can be found is vast, comprising thousands of acres of public BLM land surrounding the main collecting area, some of which comprises incredibly rough and steep terrain which is rarely visited. known as fire agates may be collected. As further proof that there is still lots of good fire agate and chalcedony to be found at the Black Hills Rockhound Area, the following photos represent the best of the Days Catch over a four-hour period by your Casitas hosts on a beautiful early Spring day in February 2016. From Phoenix take I-10 west towards Tonopah. Hi fellow rockhounds! 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Graham looming 52 miles to the west. Though Arizona has produced much less of this element than other states, it has killed many who believed they could find it. Overview Semiprecious Gemstone. Are some areas better to look than others? A great photo opportunity location is adjacent to the shop. In addition to fire agate, geodes and quartz can also be found scattered amongst the desert at this site. 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. BIRD LIST Collectors refer to some of the parts as Fire Agate because they have flashy gold and green flames. The Mine is open 12 months of the year. In Mexico, you can find both fire agates and Laguna agates. Small fossils can be found among the crystals as well. Location: 2995 Dome Rock Rd W, Quartzsite, AZ 85346. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In Arizona, geodes can be found in many places across the state and contain a large diversity of crystals. Mineral diversity is much greater here than in other parts of the state. 3 Tips On How To Tell If Turquoise Is Real Or Fake. The route travels into New Mexico and back into Arizona across about 12 miles of desert dirt road. or better condition than you found it - clean and ready for the Small pieces of the wood are best found on the mesas surrounding the river valley which then runs into the town of Woodruff. 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. In most cases the overall volume percentage of chalcedony and fire agate that forms within the flow rock is extremely small much less than 1%, although examination of the vertical sequence of the Black Hill andesite deposits does show that certain layers or levels do contain more void space and hence higher concentrations of chalcedony and fire agate than others. var year = today.getFullYear() He has been working Fire Agate for about 7 years, and is welling to help people with working Fire Agate. Having been ravaged by collectors through the years, it is sparse on lands where collection is open. stones; the BLM simply asks that you help prevent hazardous Fire agate has been reportedly found in 15 locations on Arizona, as well as several locations in New Mexico and two . 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. Luster: Waxy, dull, or vitreous (glass-like) Transparency: Semi-transparent to translucent. return back across the state line into Arizona and the land is As a seasoned rockhound and creator of this site, were here to provide, Design a site like this with WordPress.com, The Geology of Saddle Mountain Fire Agate, The Geology of Saddle Mountain Fire Agate: Uncovering the Secrets Behind Its Formation, Composition, and UnusualProperties. primitive campsites only, with no tables, water, trash removal or miles northeast of Safford. The most representative specimens contain deep iridescence of reds and browns, hence its fiery name. Keep reading below to learn more about what to bring, clothing types, and driving directions. The women and children who witnessed the event cried tears that then formed into the stones which we now call Apache Tears. Crystal structure: Hexagonal. This leaves behind an individually unique array of colors throughout these preserved pieces of wood. even closer to Safford than Round Mountain. area looking for the best specimens; they cover the ground like among the richest areas in the world for this gem. Macro mineral stone fire agate on a black background. Address: old Route 66 4 miles north . From Black Canyon City south to Prescott. from the Red Cloud (photo credit)mine (La Paz . Discover the Beauty of Saddle Mountain Fire Agate: Your Gemstone AdventureAwaits. These gemstones can be found in only a few locations worldwide, which makes them special to every gem collector. Many have tried, failed, and even perished in pursuit of this supposed treasure. THE 5 CASITAS Both sites are located on public lands so camping is allowed at or nearby. agates. Which of the several will give me the best chance of a good piece? You can read more about tumbling petrified wood here! ABOUT US, ART GALLERY Wyoming and Montana (Yellowstone National Park, USA): Scenic agate, Wyoming iris agate. Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! SanDomingo Wash Placer gold The elevation is 2,799 feet, with the primary mineral being sand and gravel and the tertiary being platinum. You need no digging gears, just lunch (if you plan to stay all day), water, gloves, and skin protection. Agate is a semi-precious gemstone formed by relatively recent A half mile past milepost 5 (in It has the color play of precious opal with gem quality reds, greens, and blues. all that you'll need. Fountain Hills Sami Fine Jewelry is one such choice. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Both of these areas are well known and receive many visitors each year. The Black Hills Rockhound Area is one of two designated fire agate localities on BLM land in Southeastern Arizona, the other being the Round Mountain Rockhound Area, some 27 miles to the southeast near the Arizona-New Mexico border. Saddle Mountain Fire Agate is a unique and fascinating geological formation that has captivated the attention of geologists, mineral collectors, and gem enthusiasts alike. The fire agate and chalcedony of the Southern New MexicoArizona border area is formed when low pressure and low temperature epithermal hydrothermal waters (50-200C / 122-392F) carrying colloidal SiO2 and iron oxides are injected into cavities in volcanic rocks such as gas bubbles in flow rocks, irregular-shaped vug fillings, or along fault or bedding plane fractures. Active Fire (<1000 acres) . 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. The mine follows an angular vein of quartz on the side of the rough mountaintops. The Opal Hill Mine can be better described as a claim established on a hillside . The area is located about 20 miles northeast of Safford. HOME Looking southwest across High Sonoran Desert from the overlook on State Road 78, 5.6 miles into Arizona from the New Mexico-Arizona border. RATES & POLICIES camping sites. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material. 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. Outcrop of broken angular blocks of andesite bedrock showing abundant gas bubbles near west end of ridge east of parking area. ROCKHOUNDING CONNECTICUT YANKEE 64 Club members collect on Topaz Mountain.By Mark Leatherman Boots on the ground in the. Copyright 1998- The desert regions of Arizona, southern California, and central Mexico are the only areas of the world where fire agate is known to occur. Laws are updated. It is characterized by dazzling arrays of colors in various patterns of depth into the stone. The important result of this process is, of course, that the concentration of fire agate and chalcedony which was less than 1% in the original solid host rock may now be increased many times over in the loose, unconsolidated sediments and mineral soil, which in addition to being picked up on the surface can be successfully recovered by digging with pick and shovel. Terrain. Explore. Colors displayed by the fire vary greatly, the most common being shades of orangish brown, but also all shades and tones of yellow, orange, red, and green, and more rarely, purples and blues. As you can see, Arizona is the real deal when it comes to rocks, gems, and minerals. Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a prime collecting spot for Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 32.6712N 110.2709W. But, then, isnt that at least half of the fun anyway? Pure chalcedony, while composed of only cryptocrystalline SiO2, is actually a very fine intergrowth of two separate minerals, quartz and moganite, which have the same chemical composition but differ in their crystal structure. numerous wildflowers sprout from the hillsides during the Please look at all our cabs and pieces and let us know if you have any questions!! around the area. Nevertheless, the red and brown shades of Fire help stimulate the root or brow chakra. Finding a huge chunk of fire agate in the Saddle Mountain area, Arizona Please give us a call at 928-428-2560, Copyright Does anyone have suggestions for places to go or stores to drop in on? 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. After reading this, however, it must always be kept in mind when setting out for a day of rockhounding, that just like it is in fishing, there will always be the occasional great day, many good days, and those other days where, well, it was certainly a nice day for being out in the desert connecting with nature! The geology of the Black Hills Area is not very complex. The jewelry is treasured worldwide. The Black Hills Rockhound Area is one of the BLM designated sites for collecting minerals and gems, including fire agate. Arizona also continues to be a primary supplier of Amethyst, Peridot, and Turquoise to the world gemstone market. Look no further than rockhounding! The site can be accessed via highway 260 east out of the town of Payson, AZ. If you havent seen the Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Shows in the first two months annually, you are missing out on a true gem enthusiasts world of treasures. odometer at this point. As weathering of the andesite bedrock continues over time, the bedrock and large blocks of andesite found higher up on the ridge are broken down into smaller and smaller pieces and loose mineral soil which are gradually transported further and further downslope by Monsoon rain runoff. Overall, rockhounding is the right pursuit for you if you've often been intrigued by the natural deposits in Arizona's soils.