Its name 'Fire' comes from its chalcedony. Asarco, on the other hand, has excellent Azurite, Chrysocolla, and Malachite specimens. It has a specific gravity of 2.60 to 2.64, and a refractive index of 1.530 to 1.543. Silver City/Grant County Chamber of Commerce Silver City Arts & Cultural District, Guesthouses Art Gallery Nature Preserve, Oligocene and Miocene Epochs of the Mid-Tertiary Period, May 27, 2014 Blog Seeking Chalcedony and Jasper in Southwest New Mexico, Silver City/Grant County Chamber of Commerce. After passing through the tiny community of Mule Creek dont blink or youll miss it! Brand New. The desert regions of Arizona, southern California, and central Mexico are the only areas of the world where fire agate is known to occur. It is outwardly similar in appearance to quartz, Its even better if youre an amateur rock collector because youre always guaranteed to collect a few gems, even along some roadways. Aguacalientes Fire Agate Rough in Jar with a lot of Potential . This is one of the best Arizona rockhounding sites for diversity and has a plethora of high quality Arizona rocks, gem, and minerals. You can park anywhere along here to start scouting for fire 2 were here. From here on around this loop you'll see the ground strewn with The second reason is that because of the heavy rainfall the area receives during the annual Summer Monsoon thunderstorm rains, which can exceed 2 to 3 inches in a half hour, fire agate and chalcedony buried beneath of surface of the ground is constantly being uncovered and exposed by high energy flash flood runoff every year. for rockhounding and non-commercial removal of specimens, with no We look forward to hearing your feedback as we fine-tune the website. 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. Most importantly, have fun collecting, and feel free to email us about your trip. I live closest to the Saddle mountain location, but I know there are several more listed in the rockhounding books ( most of them over 3 hours away) has anyone been to Saddle mountain and found anything decent? junction 10 miles from Safford; this is the road to Morenci. Get the best deals on Fire Agate Rough when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. HIKING If you ask around in your neighborhood, you may be able to learn about some potential search sites. BIRDING Please pick up any trash and leave the location better than when you found it. Additionally, jasper, agate, valuable metals, and sometimes even thundereggs are among the minerals and rocks found here. Fires Legend. To crack a bit of stone, place it on a solid, stable surface. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. I did some fire agate collecting out in the Saddle mountain area about year ago. The most desirable colors are usually blue, green, and purple, and they can usually be purchased for about $15 to $25 per carat. 575-535-4455 info@casitasdegila.com Southwestern Guesthouses on 265 Acres near Silver City, New Mexico overlooking Bear Creek and the Gila Wilderness There are several areas across the state that produce coveted specimens of the gemstone. 22 Rockhounding Sites in Southern California - Agates, Petrified Wood Twin Buttes Region (Old Mines) Copper, Azurite, Chalcocite, Marcasite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Calcite, fluorescent minerals, Pyrite, and more. 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. They though my pronunciation of everything was hilarious. Rockhounding - Greenlee Arizona Tourism Safford, AZ 85546. How To Find GEODES! Many eastern Arizona campers are accustomed to However, be cautious when exploring this region because it is densely covered in cholla cacti. They can be found in many places throughout the state. It can still be seen an collected south of the town of Woodruff, Arizona. We are thrilled that you found our website and are planning a rockhounding trip near you. Arizona is a worldwide provider for well known gemstones and minerals even in the commercial industry. The beauty of these fossilized gemstones makes them a very popular choice for rock tumbling enthusiasts. Buckets or a Rock Bag are useful to have on hand. Facilities are the same as in Round Mountain. You need no digging gears, just lunch (if you plan to stay all day), water, gloves, and skin protection. Click here to remove banner ads from this forum. New Mexico state line, the Round Mountain Rockhound Area beckons 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. I was just there and picked up a bucket full. A type of Agate infused with iron and other elements in . Fire agate from the Deer Creek deposit (Arizona, USA)-new insights into structure and mineralogy. 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. Rockhounding In UTAH! FindingRocks.com - Arizona Locations Where To Find Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones in Utah, 3. 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. The agate formation, size, color and fire layer thickness all vary within these different geographic locations. highway, turn left onto the road to Round Mountain, where you also I got caught up in that stupid triangle vortex spot and got lost for a few minutes. situations by filling in holes once you are finished and that you The route travels into New Mexico and back into Arizona across about 12 miles of desert dirt road. These locations offer a diverse array of rock and mineral specimens such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, turquoise, and copper. Fire agate is a vitreous and waxy Silicon dioxide crystal with traces of iron. Have any questions? Cuesta Fire Agate Mine. Contained as of July 13. The material is dispersed over a large area, so finding good pieces can take some time. My go to Arizona rockhounding sites for these are the aforementioned locations at Diamond Point and Round Mountain, woops, secrets out! ASTRONOMY 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. 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. Terrain Satellite Forest Service Carto Open Street Map. When rainfall is plentiful, 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. Heber Peridot Peridot spinel location - (20 collector specimens from same city, 13 collector specimens from nearby locations) Perkinsville Perkinsville Agate Quartzsite Plomosa Road - (2 collector specimens) Roosevelt Here are twelve exciting locations to go Rockhounding, includingwhere to find geodes, near Phoenix. There is a sign here indicating the location. 141. I really hope youre able to get out and explore the unique natural resource treasures my home state of Arizona possess. Rockhounding In Arizona! | Rock Collecting Sites And Much More! Follow the If you've never done any rock collecting . The site can be accessed via highway 260 east out of the town of Payson, AZ. This can happen from an air bubble in a volcanic rock, or a mineralized animal burrow or tree root. This puts you onto a On July 11, the fire wasactive in the head of Squaw Creek and above the Verde River. Upon reaching the base of the steep escarpment, Highway 78 continues a downward but more gradual descent of another 1,400 feet in elevation over the next 10 miles to arrive at Three Way, Arizona, at elevation of 3,600 feet. . Graham commands the center skyline 52 miles in the distance. Outcrop of broken angular blocks of andesite bedrock showing abundant gas bubbles near west end of ridge east of parking area. Other southwestern and western states can be good agate localities - visit Arizona for fire agate . Free shipping. Travel along the Oatman road for approximately twenty miles from I-40. PLUS!!! 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. So in the meantime, good luck in your quest and enjoy the chase! 95% contained as of July 7; Snap Point Fire: 9,843 acres. The Opal Hill Mine can be better described as a claim established on a hillside . . area is open and accessible year-round, but summer temperatures can These areas are open to the public and are under the Each mine produces its each unique variant characterized by different shades of color, levels of patterning, and intermixed minerals. Camping throughout the area is allowed for up to two weeks. 29173 N Fire Agate Rd , San Tan Valley, AZ 85143-6292 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. Looking southwest across High Sonoran Desert from the overlook on State Road 78, 5.6 miles into Arizona from the New Mexico-Arizona border. Enter the ranch and follow the rockhound site signs. The fire agate from Deer Creek Arizona ranks high on the list of desired collected gemstones, mineral specimens, and lapidary gemstone cutting material. high-clearance vehicle is recommended. The location is ideal for a mine tour, but the number of specimens available is restricted. From root wads to branches, you can see petrified wood in many forms in the National Park. Mountain, a small hill at the center of the rockhounding area. Unfortunately, getting there is a challenge because this mine is a private commercial mine in a remote area. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. It has the color play of precious opal with gem quality reds, greens, and blues. Fluorite, Malachite, and Other Gemstones in Tucson, Arizona. What we know about Arizona wildfires:Latest evacuation news. He has been working Fire Agate for about 7 years, and is welling to help people with working Fire Agate. No water, tables, no trash Secure .gov websites use HTTPS see a sign indicating the area is ahead. Small pieces of the wood are best found on the mesas surrounding the river valley which then runs into the town of Woodruff. Both sites are available You have permission to edit this article. They should have snacks and drinks in case they get thirsty or hungry. Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a prime collecting spot for fire agates, an uncommon semi-precious gem found only in Mexico, California and Arizona. An Arizona State Land permit is required to be on much of the land in this area, though is open to collection. We have some great Fire Agate Cabochons and jewelry! Guesthouses Art Gallery Nature Preserve, 575-535-4455 This is a well labeled site off of highway 260 approximately 12-13 miles east from the town of Payson, AZ. Arizona Gov. Fire Agate: Meaning, Properties and Powers - The Complete Guide If course Lol !! even closer to Safford than Round Mountain. 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. Fire Agate and Chalcedony | Casitas de Gila Nature Blog Best Arizona fire agate location | Rock Tumbling Hobby Keep an eye out for brown and orange colored chalcedony everywhere from the paved street to the foot of the mountain. Allan is familiar with all aspects of the Mine, When in the area he assists diggers, to find and dig their own Fire Agate. West Chev Fire: 1,170 acres. 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. $79.95. RATES & POLICIES However, the agate in the area is beautiful. This is also a Arizona County Emergency Notifiaction Systems - Sign up for Emergency Notifications for your county/community. 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. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Mineralogical Magazine, 84(2), 343-354. Duncan [Greenlee Co.] area Watch. (nice camping - rough entry. Location 1 Aliquots. The site is open to casual collection of a reasonable number of specimens for personal use. A containment date of July 12 was given on July 10. Arizona Gemstones | Agate | Amethyst | Fire Agate | Opal | Peridot The drive from the Casitas to the Black Hills Area takes about 1.5 hours, traveling on excellent highways that pass through some of the most scenic mountain country in Southwestern New Mexico and Southeastern Arizona. Tucked deep into the Mule Mountains not far from Palo Verde is the Opal Hill Mine. collectors. 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. Fire Agate: Mineral information, data and localities. - Mindat.org It is said to bring wearers of the stone peace, success, and good luck. next campers. Rough, windows, and finished rocks. Let's look at each source and the agate it produces. None other than the state gemstone of Arizona, turquoise is an iconic stone and color of southwest folklore. Rafael Fire: 78,065 acres. Location Type: Public Access Details: This is land governed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management - government). 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. This location has been written about in rock & mineral magazine and there are multiple YouTube videos showing ordinary rockhounds collecting beautiful Fire Agate nodules. The wood can be found scattered amongst other rocks along the surface and a large variety of colors are present. Indeed, agate has an even longer history. . The andesite flow rock is the host rock for the fire-agate and chalcedony which, as explained above, forms over time through secondary deposition from hydrothermal waters containing colloidal silica and iron oxide colloids that slowly fill or are injected into cavities such as gas bubbles, irregular shaped vugs, and thin veins within the andesite flow deposits. The gemstone can be found laying on the surface, scattered amongst the array of desert rock. Drive Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! From Phoenix take I-10 west towards Tonopah. 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. The ancient Egyptians used agate as a gemstone more than 3,000 years ago. great wide-open area for primitive camping. Fire Agate. Notice the great views to the west of the Peloncillo Active Fire (<1000 acres) . There are areas where you can metal detect, pan for gold, and sluice for gold. The fire agates are found south of Arizona whereas Laguna agates are prevalent in Estacion Ojo Laguna, in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico. Take it slow. It has been compared to opal, found on the BLM website at safford-.az.blm.gov. Please note that there are private mining assertions in this region; therefore, regard the estate privileges of landowners and refrain from collecting specimens from those claimed properties. Always a plus for myself. The rough outside of agate will block all light, so you'll have to get it open in order to test the transparency. These are principally the result of traces of oxides of iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, nickel . Fire Agate-rough-SE Arizona(1) | eBay "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. 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. Containing the Fire - Fireagate This means that you need to first find where it formed, and then work the matrix out whilst collecting the agate. Dont worry the process is fairly simple and youre guaranteed to find some amazing nodules. Its not a good idea to hike there yourself! or better condition than you found it - clean and ready for the It commonly displays a waxy luster and botryoidal texture. Its private land. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. Remember to leave your campsite in the same ROCKHOUNDING AZ Camp Guide | Round Mountain Rockhound Area As you can see, Arizona is the real deal when it comes to rocks, gems, and minerals. 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.