New Mexico Bed & Breakfast Association Association of Lodging Professionals Click here to remove banner ads from this forum. Andesite is composed of a high concentration of feldspar and other minerals which over time will break down physically and chemically decompose to form an unconsolidated mineral soil of clay minerals and fine rock particles, thereby releasing the contained fire agate and chalcedony which retains its original size and shape because SiO2 minerals are very stable and inert to weathering and chemical decomposition at the Earths surface. Amid the third and fourth peaks is where the mine is situated. LockA locked padlock 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. New Mexico), turn right onto a dirt road, which is just before a 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. Wyrick Fire: 7,592 acres . On the hunt for the reclusive and elusive fire agate amongst the Ocotillo and Prickly Pear Cactus at Black Hills Rockhound area, A welcome lunch break in the shade of the rhyolite welded tuff cliffs at the top of the ridge, A DAYS CATCH AT THE BLACK HILLS ROCKHOUND AREA. This particular spot is considered to be A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. 45-mph graveled road, headed to the Lazy B Ranch. The site is open for digging by the public without fees or permits. If you ask around in your neighborhood, you may be able to learn about some potential search sites. What we know about Arizona wildfires:Latest evacuation news. A BEAUTIFUL EARLY MORNING DRIVE OVER THE HIGH CHIHUAHUAN DESERT MOGOLLON-DATIL VOLCANIC FIELD TO THE SONORAL DESERT BELOW. Its private land. it, this is an excellent time and place to get started. There is a sign here indicating the location. Jasper, Agate, Quartz, Fluorite, and even geodes are among the rocks and minerals to be discovered. Its 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. Location: 2995 Dome Rock Rd W, Quartzsite, AZ 85346. In this article, well, Welcome to your online guide to finding the rare and coveted Saddle Mountain Fire Agate. windmill on the left side of the highway. "In an article he penned back in 1977, Jones states that he began to work it in 1941. . Detailed description: How to get there is as follows: From Phoenix, Arizona, take Highway 17 north. And in that respect, rockhounding is much like fishing:. The Ultimate Guide To Rockhounding Tools. It makes for a pleasant time to wander through the Which of the several will give me the best chance of a good piece? Fire agate. The Indian Gardens Paleo Site contains a large variety and density of small invertebrate shelled organisms in the limestone and sandstone layers. 10 8. There is a lot of material there but not as much with fire. Please provide feedback on the locations we provide and well do our best to update the page to make it more accurate. var today = new Date() Some of the quartz crystals found at the Diamond Point outside of Payson, Arizona are so clear that they have been compared to herkimer diamonds. By Bob Jones THE BEN E. CLEMENT MINERAL MUSEUM. Here are the remaining fire agate properties: Mohs hardness: 6-7. This can happen from an air bubble in a volcanic rock, or a mineralized animal burrow or tree root. Salome is spelled that same way as Salome. Physiography 1 Records. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Phoenix and the surrounding areas offer a wealth of opportunities for rockhounds of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned experts. 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. In Arizona, geodes can be found in many places across the state and contain a large diversity of crystals. time: 3-5 hours Traffic: Light Permit Needed: No Current Info: BLM/Phoenix F.O. Small pieces of the wood are best found on the mesas surrounding the river valley which then runs into the town of Woodruff. 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. Unfortunately, getting there is a challenge because this mine is a private commercial mine in a remote area. Make sure youre a good steward of the property. The nearly perfect shape and clarity quartz crystals at this site can be found sitting on the surface at times, but can also be found by digging via handtools. Or Compound? The site is a designated rockhound area on BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management) land, and is open to the public year round. We were fortunate to have one of our previously inventoried Arizona Fire Agates appear in a book on gemstones (in fact, that book contains about 35 gemstones from the All That Glitters inventory, most representing . miles to the New Mexico state line. Watch. Copyright 1998- Outcrop of broken angular blocks of andesite bedrock showing abundant gas bubbles near west end of ridge east of parking area. There are also Fire Agate stones that are full colored but need direct lighting to see their vibrance. But, then, isnt that at least half of the fun anyway? There is a good gift shop where you can buy high-quality specimens. Allan is familiar with all aspects of the Mine, When in the area he assists diggers, to find and dig their own Fire Agate. Earlier this year I made a post about a location I ran across. A great photo opportunity location is adjacent to the shop. Rather than face defeat, the Apache warriors took them and their horses leaping over the edge of a cliff to their death below at a location now known as Apache Leap outside of the town of Superior Arizona. An astounding type of chalcedony, fire agate is a semi-precious gemstone found only in northern Mexico and the southwest United States. We are thrilled that you found our website and are planning a rockhounding trip near you. You will need a PayPal account to make payment with as this is the only form of payment they accept. With a new mine in progress as we speak, the Resolution Copper Mine. Azurite, Fluorite, Pyrite, Copper minerals, and calcite are only a few of the minerals that can be found if you know where to look. spring. Keep an eye out for brown and orange colored chalcedony everywhere from the paved street to the foot of the mountain. Where To Find Gold in Arizona (5 Must Try Places), Where To Find Dinosaur Fossils and Footprints in Arizona, The Uncle Sam Diamond: Unveiled After 40 Years (The Story Behind This Record Setting Diamond), One-of-a-Kind Discovery: Unusual Diamond Found with Another Diamond Inside, Ancient Amethyst Ring May Have Served as Hangover Prevention, Man Discovers 794-Pound Emerald Worth $300 Million, Rare Discovery Reveals Insect Trapped in Opal! Even if youre not guaranteed a high-end gem, youll be able to gather a lot of beautiful pieces of all varieties. To arrive there, take HWY 19 south from Tucson and exit at Pima Mine Road, exit 80. Free or royalty-free photos and images. The geology of the Black Hills Area is not very complex. Each mine produces its each unique variant characterized by different shades of color, levels of patterning, and intermixed minerals. Official websites use .gov These are pieces of white chalcedony that also become concentrated on the lower slopes through the breakdown of the andesite bedrock. next campers. invites exploration for the hardy. Check out our arizona fire agates selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. I highly recommend visiting Arizona to utilize our public lands and engage in some serious rockhounding. Hey there! 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. The material is dispersed over a large area, so finding good pieces can take some time. info@casitasdegila.com, Michael & Becky O'Connor, Owners Access is easiest from U.S. Highway 191, just east of milepost 141. Fire agate Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Buckets or a Rock Bag are useful to have on hand. Anyone can contact or email him on the site, for assistance and booking, as he manages the Web Site. The Bear Fire wasburning 25miles north of Clifton in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, near U.S.Highway 191. 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. ). These are principally the result of traces of oxides of iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, nickel . miles northeast of Safford. Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a prime collecting spot for fire agates, an uncommon semi-precious gem found only in Mexico, California and Arizona. Though Arizona has produced much less of this element than other states, it has killed many who believed they could find it. I did some fire agate collecting out in the Saddle mountain area about year ago. Directions to the Saddle Mountain Fire Agate location. 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. S of Apache Nat. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. Luster: Waxy, dull, or vitreous (glass-like) Transparency: Semi-transparent to translucent. Contained as of July 13. Graham297 is located in T9S R20E Sec 12 N2 in the Kennedy Peak - 7.5 Min quad. Many have tried, failed, and even perished in pursuit of this supposed treasure. 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. It is cut, polished and mounted by those in Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! They though my pronunciation of everything was hilarious. Fire agate is one of the more rare gemstones around, and its unusual patterns ensure that every piece makes a bold statement. ABOUT US, ART GALLERY Mineral specimens such as bismuth, beryl, and microcline have been found in a number of pegmatite veins. Having been ravaged by collectors through the years, it is sparse on lands where collection is open. 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. You dont see banding as you find in a typical Agate. Historically the site has been associated with the Rattlesnake Mining District which is now part of the Coronado National Forest. "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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Fire agate. Brand New. Dont worry the process is fairly simple and youre guaranteed to find some amazing nodules. Are some areas better to look than others? Graham looming 52 miles to the west. Safford Field Office Sierrita Mts(Old Mines)- Pyrite, Copper, and Melanterite. The Bradshaw Mountains are bisected by Highway 17. A second interesting area in the eastern Arizona outdoors for Turn north on forest road 64, which is approximately 12-13 miles east of town and just before the development of Kohls ranch. Other southwestern and western states can be good agate localities - visit Arizona for fire agate . The jewelry is treasured worldwide. This is also a Using mine locations as a reference, the map provided above gives a very interesting and useful . Camping throughout the area is allowed for up to two weeks. Click the image for driving directions and a KML file. pack accordingly. State Symbols. When mineral laden water leaks into the hollowed cavity, crystals can begin to grow inside this rock and form a geode. area looking for the best specimens; they cover the ground like The mine has changed owners and the new ouners are continuing the operation as before. var year = today.getFullYear() Fire agate has been reportedly found in 15 locations on Arizona, as well as several locations in New Mexico and two . 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. The most desirable colors are usually blue, green, and purple, and they can usually be purchased for about $15 to $25 per carat. From this overlook at an elevation of 6,250 feet the road descends 2,650 feet over the next 14 miles to the small community of Three Way, Arizona, on the Gila River. Saddle Mountain, Arizona, Fire Agate Mineral Location Page: This popular outdoor recreation and fire agate rockhounding area is located outside of Phoenix, Arizona. This can be very informative to collectors of all experience levels. Explore. We spent 3 days here, and enjoyed the solitude. There are several areas across the state that produce coveted specimens of the gemstone. Twin Buttes Region (Old Mines) Copper, Azurite, Chalcocite, Marcasite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Calcite, fluorescent minerals, Pyrite, and more. In the New Mexico-Arizona border country, chalcedony is typically found in shades of translucent white to pink and light grays and blues. Although if I cannot find a piece worthy of my living room shelf I may have to go the cash route. Disclosure: These are links to Amazon. 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. Wildfire Resources - Frequently Asked Questions. east from Safford, then turn left (north) onto Highway 191 at the The fire was burning approximately 11 miles east of Crown King. I Know there are quite a few other minerals found around saddle mtn as well and the fire agateso we may go poking about looking for that too.wish there was fluoriteive been tring to find a good source of purple or blue fluorite for some time now.eventually I suppose. 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. This rule is what makes this rockhound destination the perfect place to see and appreciate the petrified wood, as it has not been tainted by frivolous collectors. Rough, windows, and finished rocks. For guidelines and a map, phone 888-837-1841. The fire wasburning3 miles west of the Verde River and3 miles northeast of Red Creek Ranch. 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. The most representative specimens contain deep iridescence of reds and browns, hence its fiery name. Some say that the color of the stone resembles the intense heat of the area. There is a parking lot and trail to the collection site. Its an excellent tour. I've found some cool pieces over there and have been several times. He has been working Fire Agate for about 7 years, and is welling to help people with working Fire Agate. Perhaps the best known agate beds are between Kingman and Oatman along Highway 66, just west of Ed's Camp. If you've never done any rock collecting . This is a well labeled site off of highway 260 approximately 12-13 miles east from the town of Payson, AZ. 32.6712N 110.2709W. Collectors refer to some of the parts as Fire Agate because they have flashy gold and green flames. A large piece of fire agate encased in translucent chalcedony, No two pieces of fire agate in the rough are the same, Only through grinding and polishing of this fire agate in the rough can the underlying beauty be revealed, Fire agate is often encased in thick layers of semi-transparent to opaque chalcedony, Pure chalcedony can take on a variety of shapes and forms, such as this strange frog-like little creature perched on this fragment of weathered andesite, CASITAS DE GILA Although the miners take an all-terrain vehicle across the mountains then a strenuous walk, pre-arranged tours are only allowed into the mine a few times a year. Traveling to the mine, located at a cool 7200 feet elevation, is no simple task. One of my favorite spots to find fire agate chips and pieces of fire agate. gravel in some places. volcanic activity. In addition to fire agate, geodes and quartz can also be found scattered amongst the desert at this site. This puts you onto a It is also permissible to dig for the 50 Casita Flats Rd PO Box 325 Remnants of the ancient past when the limestone was deposited by warm oceans of previous eras.