In this article, well, Welcome to your online guide to finding the rare and coveted Saddle Mountain Fire Agate. Additional information about these two rockhound areas can be The best places to collect rocks in Arizona include the areas around Phoenix and Tucson, as well as smaller towns such as Cave Creek, Clifton, Morristown, and Kingman. 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. Entrance sign at U.S Highway 191 for BLMs Black Hills Rockhound Area. Arizona, The Grand Canyon State, is obviously no stranger to rocks and gemstones. . var year = today.getFullYear() Arizona is proud to contain the biggest mine of this precious gemstone in the world, peridot. Eastern Arizona Courier 301 E Highway 70, Suite A, Safford, AZ 85546 | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | The EASTERN ARIZONA COURIER is owned by Wick Communications. Proof of this process of replenished collectable material is the fact that over the past 18 years no Casita guests visiting the area have ever returned empty handed! Numerous ancient mines and mining camps have private owners, so ask permission before searching and collecting their land. He has been working Fire Agate for about 7 years, and is welling to help people with working Fire Agate. Near the town of Safford, Arizona lies your ticket to finding fire agate, a brilliant gemstone found only in the southwest. S of Apache Nat. If youre interested in the rock collecting hobby, are trying to figure out where to go rockhounding in Arizona, or are just interested in learning more, youre in the right place! Fire agate is a relatively new gemstone, only identified and formally recognized in the 1930s. As local Apache legend has it, there was a standoff between Apache warriors and an outfit of the U.S. Cavalry. 50 Casita Flats Rd PO Box 325 Several fires were ravagingtheir way across Arizona because ofan unusually dry season. BIRD LIST elevation is 4,200 feet and 4,600 feet at the top of Round highway is a Round Mountain sign and the start of a road that loops 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. Graham looming 52 miles to the west. Carlisle Mining District Area - Rockhounding. Contained entirely within a single desert mesa on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, near the town of what else but, Peridot, is the primary world supply of the gemstone. Gradually, this process will produce a thick, wedge shaped deposit of successive layers of transported sedimentary material surrounding the bedrock core of the ridge. Mountain, a small hill at the center of the rockhounding area. This bright yellow-green gemstone has been treasured for ages. The gemstone is often found in areas near large copper deposits, which are also abundant across Arizona. 45-mph graveled road, headed to the Lazy B Ranch. Forest Blue Agate, Carnelian; Congress, AZ - Garnet, Fluorite, and More. I've found some cool pieces over there and have been several times. Although the region used to be known for producing gold nuggets and placer gold, you might still be able to obtain several unexpected finds if you browse in the ideal spots. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. From root wads to branches, you can see petrified wood in many forms in the National Park. The 1. Contained as of July 13. Brand New. New Mexico Bed & Breakfast Association Association of Lodging Professionals Saddle Mountain Arizona Fire agate spot. Some of the early pioneers in fire agate mining at Deer . Looking southwest across High Sonoran Desert from the overlook on State Road 78, 5.6 miles into Arizona from the New Mexico-Arizona border. 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. Mar 19, 2013 - One of my favorite spots to find fire agate chips and pieces of fire agate. Where To Find Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones in Utah, 3. "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. Graham commands the center skyline 52 miles in the distance. The gemstone can be found laying on the surface, scattered amongst the array of desert rock. collectors. 9049 Oatman Hwy, Golden Valley. The Round Mountain area is 62 miles southeast of Safford, a Some of my favorite rocks to find are fire agates and crystals. William Ascarza A scenic drive takes rock and mineral collectors to the Black Hills cinder mine about 18 miles north of Safford. However, be cautious when exploring this region because it is densely covered in cholla cacti. Its found in Northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. 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. Detailed description: How to get there is as follows: From Phoenix, Arizona, take Highway 17 north. ), Rockhounding Northern Utah: A Beginners Get Started Guide, Emerald Isle Mine Tenorite and Gold-colored Chrysocolla, Kingman Feldspar Mine Allanite, Quartz crystals, and Microcline, NW Kingsman, (Several Mines) Dufrenoysite and Arsenopyrite, Golden Gem & Vanderbilt Mines Sphalerite Galena, Stibnite, and Pyrite, Red Rover mine Chalcocite, Tetrahedrite, Go John Mine Gold, Red Jasper, Silver, Blue Quartz, and Copper, Cave Creek Town Gold, Agate, Quartz, and Jasper, Seven Springs & Bloody Basin Road Jasper and Agate, Near Bartlett Reservoir Quartz and Fluorite, Jeep Road Vicinity Nodules and Thundereggs. Successive floods will, of course, bury previously deposited layers of the concentrated fire agate and chalcedony as the erosion of the bedrock upslope on the ridge continues and the wedge shaped deposits surrounding the ridge thicken. They also offer knowledgeable guided tours of the Round Mountain BLM Rockhound Area. See current wildfires and wildfire perimeters in Arizona using the Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center Wildfire Map. Like other chalcedony quartz gemstones, fire agate has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale; a specific gravity of 2.59 to 2.67; and a refractive index of 1.530 to 1.540.It has no cleavage and can be identified by its silicon dioxide composition. Rockhounding Around The WorldScience QuestionsLearn About Different Kinds of Rocks, About UsPrivacy PolicyTerms Of UseArchives, Is Ammonia A Pure Substance? A MODICUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE SUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR AND RECOVERY OF THE RECLUSIVE AND ELUSIVE FIRE AGATE AND CHALCEDONY OF THE BLACK HILLS ROCKHOUND AREA, Close up of pyroclastic rhyolite ash fall welded tuff bedrock forming massive resistant cliffs at east end of ridge north of parking area. For over 50 years, people from all over have been coming to Saddle Mountain in search of Fire Agate. A containment date of July 12 was given on July 10. New Mexico), turn right onto a dirt road, which is just before a The Opal Hill Mine can be better described as a claim established on a hillside . Contained as of July 14. At this BLM site, camping is allowed, though four wheel drive is recommended and no real amenities exist. There is a good gift shop where you can buy high-quality specimens. return back across the state line into Arizona and the land is without restrictions to what or where you can Dig. Discover the Beauty of Saddle Mountain Fire Agate: Your Gemstone AdventureAwaits. Fire agate is one of the more rare gemstones around, and its unusual patterns ensure that every piece makes a bold statement. Wyoming and Montana (Yellowstone National Park, USA): Scenic agate, Wyoming iris agate. Indeed, agate has an even longer history. Download Fire Agate stock photos. Or Compound? Although its origin is unknown, it is always associated with volcanic deposits. 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. Historically the site has been associated with the Rattlesnake Mining District which is now part of the Coronado National Forest. Proceed to your right to the level primitive Turquoise is a coveted stone and color for much of thenative american jewelry that is continued to be produced through authentic methods to this day. Mountains, with Mount Graham nudging up in the distance on the Be careful not to get pierced when you try to grab some lovely specimen that has your eyes glittering! I think I am just going to go for it this weekend and go to Saddle Mountaincant find anything if I don't look..it was suggested to go to the south side of the mountain and look over there instead of the well picked over north side..wish me luck!!! There are areas where you can metal detect, pan for gold, and sluice for gold. Travel along the Oatman road for approximately twenty miles from I-40. 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. Overall,rockhounding near Phoenix, Arizona, is a big deal because the availability of locations and actual gems is mind-blowing. Free shipping. $31.97. These areas are open to the public and are under the For coverage of the 2022 wildfire season in Arizona, see the latest updates at azentral.com. Directions to the Saddle Mountain Fire Agate location. Instead, youll see iridescent nodules showing a rainbow of colors. Mama Raes Rocks and Rhymes: A Book All Rockhounds Will Love, Where To Find Peridot in Arizona (4 Must Visit Sites). This location is part of the Arizona Mineral Industry Location System (AzMILS), an inventory of mineral occurences, prospects and mine locations in Arizona. 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. As you can see, Arizona is the real deal when it comes to rocks, gems, and minerals. Anyone can contact or email him on the site, for assistance and booking, as he manages the Web Site. Amid the third and fourth peaks is where the mine is situated. ROCKHOUNDING In the New Mexico-Arizona border country, chalcedony is typically found in shades of translucent white to pink and light grays and blues. Though Arizona has produced a dazzling array including brilliant purple amethyst specimens. A rockhound hopes to reach this massive geode 90 feet underground. 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. The flat desert floor has some exceptional specimens of fire agate and nice petrified wood specimens. Location: 2995 Dome Rock Rd W, Quartzsite, AZ 85346. So in the meantime, good luck in your quest and enjoy the chase! 2023 www.azcentral.com. Color: Base - golden-brown to reddish-brown; Flashes - usually orange, green, red, yellow; Rarely violet or blue. from the Red Cloud (photo credit)mine (La Paz . 10 8. Small pieces of the wood are best found on the mesas surrounding the river valley which then runs into the town of Woodruff. situations by filling in holes once you are finished and that you However, I was not looking only for fire, but just grabbing the chalcedony period. Some exceptional fire agates can be found in Arizona. Create a password that only you will remember. Even if youre not guaranteed a high-end gem, youll be able to gather a lot of beautiful pieces of all varieties. Theres a reason that one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the world is held in Arizona. 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..:-)). respect nearby private property rights. Both of these areas are well known and receive many visitors each year. They are a rounded obsidian volcanic black glass core surrounded by a rough black outer surface. Pick up a copy of Gem Trails Of Arizona, check out some of our information on this site, and do some research of your own to get all the knowledge you need to make the most of a rock hounding trip that could extend to all four corners of this geologically diverse state.