When cut and polished down to the layers containing the iron oxides, the stone displays a metallic, shimmering iridescence known as the Schiller Effect, where light is reflected and refracted off the various layers containing the Goethite and Limonite iron oxides to give the exquisite play of colorsor firefor which the gemstone is named. For over 50 years, people from all over have been coming to Saddle Mountain in search of Fire Agate. The Round Mountain area is 62 miles southeast of Safford, a Known so far only from specific locations in central and northern Mexico and the southwestern United States (New Mexico, Arizona, and California) is Fire Agate, a variety of chalcedony. Agate is a semi-precious gemstone formed by relatively recent When one thinks of a mine, images of deep shafts or dark tunnels usually come to mind. The state mineral of Arizona, petrified wood, is mostly contained and protected within Petrified National Forest near the town of Holbrook, Arizona. The route travels into New Mexico and back into Arizona across about 12 miles of desert dirt road. time: 3-5 hours Traffic: Light Permit Needed: No Current Info: BLM/Phoenix F.O. Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! Arizona is proud to contain the biggest mine of this precious gemstone in the world, peridot. You have permission to edit this article. Hey there! Fire agate. 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 desert regions of Arizona, southern California, and central Mexico are the only areas of the world where fire agate is known to occur. Small fossils can be found among the crystals as well. primitive campsites only, with no tables, water, trash removal or Proceed to your right to the level primitive Click here to remove banner ads from this forum. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays. windmill on the left side of the highway. Mountain, a small hill at the center of the rockhounding area. 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. $79.95. A type of Agate infused with iron and other elements in . 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. A commercial amethyst mine is located in the famous Four Peaks of the most rugged portion of the Mazatzal Mountains, about forty minutes north of Phoenix, Arizona. 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!!! The fire wasburning3 miles west of the Verde River and3 miles northeast of Red Creek Ranch. This is also a great wide-open area for primitive camping. graded dirt road two miles to the fire agate digs. The fast-selling adventure tickets cost 395 dollars. I got caught up in that stupid triangle vortex spot and got lost for a few minutes. Its even better if youre an amateur rock collector because youre always guaranteed to collect a few gems, even along some roadways. The large cactus is the Barrel Cactus, a common plant of the High Sonoran Desert. Gila, New Mexico 88038, 2022 Casitas de Gila, Inc. Updated January 2022, MENU: The flat desert floor has some exceptional specimens of fire agate and nice petrified wood specimens. Saddle Mountain Fire Agate is a unique and fascinating geological formation that has captivated the attention of geologists, mineral collectors, and gem enthusiasts alike. This beautiful mineral is very collectable and a prize for any serious hunter. Both of these areas are well known and receive many visitors each year. Translucency, patterns of color, or moss-like inclusions may distinguish this stone from other forms of chalcedony. Two rockhound areas offer world-class fire agate collecting. gravel in some places. A containment date of July 12 was given on July 10. document.write(year) From here, drive 4.3 miles past the railroad crossing. This collection consists of various reports, maps, records and related materials . For guidelines and a map, phone 888-837-1841. found on the BLM website at safford-.az.blm.gov. Quartz geodes are some of the most common. The miners walk nine miles in total to and from work and reside there for a few weeks at a time. It is the birthstone for the month of August and is a common gemstone among other jewelry. Fire agate is a relatively new gemstone, only identified and formally recognized in the 1930s. Follow the for rockhounding and non-commercial removal of specimens, with no From here on around this loop you'll see the ground strewn with 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. return back across the state line into Arizona and the land is An astounding type of chalcedony, fire agate is a semi-precious gemstone found only in northern Mexico and the southwest United States. difficult to cut. $31.97. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. known as fire agates may be collected. . among the richest areas in the world for this gem. Zero your trip The gemstone was formed by fairly recent volcanic activity. From this point, a Each mine produces its each unique variant characterized by different shades of color, levels of patterning, and intermixed minerals. (623-580-5500) Nearest City: Tonopah Elevation: 1214'-1452 Best Time: Fall-Spring Other southwestern and western states can be good agate localities - visit Arizona for fire agate . This particular spot is considered to be Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. I did some fire agate collecting out in the Saddle mountain area about year ago. Jasper, Agate, Quartz, Fluorite, and even geodes are among the rocks and minerals to be discovered. Mineral diversity is much greater here than in other parts of the state. A great photo opportunity location is adjacent to the shop. The fire was burning approximately 7 miles west of Bylas. Are some areas better to look than others? var today = new Date() Support local journalism. Black Hills rockhound area is located on the north side of Arizona route 191, between Safford and Clifton, about 18 miles north of Safford. NEWS We spent 3 days here, and enjoyed the solitude. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Some of the early pioneers in fire agate mining at Deer . Directions to the Saddle Mountain Fire Agate location. camping sites. PLUS!!! The gemstone can be found laying on the surface, scattered amongst the array of desert rock. Forest Blue Agate, Carnelian; Congress, AZ - Garnet, Fluorite, and More. The Ultimate Guide To Rockhounding Tools. About the Agate Lexicon. Some of the links on our website are affiliate links. Free shipping. 9049 Oatman Hwy, Golden Valley. New Fire. Entrance sign at U.S Highway 191 for BLMs Black Hills Rockhound Area. Show up here and there is a large variety of rocks you could pick up on one single hike. 50 Casita Flats Rd PO Box 325 Overall, rockhounding is the right pursuit for you if you've often been intrigued by the natural deposits in Arizona's soils. The Four Peaks Amethyst mine continues to operate in a primitive manner due to its challenging location. Theres a reason that one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the world is held in Arizona. A rockhound might go insane just gazing around, but at the end of the trip, the collector will scour through a tailings pile for samples. The 10,696-foot peak of Mt. 3 Tips On How To Tell If Turquoise Is Real Or Fake. In addition to fire agate, geodes and quartz can also be found scattered amongst the desert at this site. While many of the stones are white in color, the With a new mine in progress as we speak, the Resolution Copper Mine. The designated area for collecting Agate is located on Bureau of Land Management land about 60 miles from Phoenix, Arizona. If you don't have the tools to dig, Don's willing to let you use some of his tools for a minimal cost. Its name 'Fire' comes from its chalcedony. Please be aware that there are private mining claims . 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. Guesthouses Art Gallery Nature Preserve, 575-535-4455 THE 5 CASITAS Though Arizona has produced much less of this element than other states, it has killed many who believed they could find it. A lock ( The Mine is open 12 months of the year. 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. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material. Arizona Gov. 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. Youll spend most of your time picking up Agates right off the ground, theyre covered with it. Located about 65 miles southeast of Safford, Arizona, the Round Mountain BLM Rockhound Area is the most remote of the three free Arizona collecting sites. 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. Cuesta Fire Agate Mine. These are pieces of white chalcedony that also become concentrated on the lower slopes through the breakdown of the andesite bedrock. Round Mountain Rockhound Area is a prime collecting spot for fire agates, an uncommon semi-precious gem found only in Mexico, California and Arizona. Safford is the Black Hills Rockhound Area; further east, near the normally suitable for passenger cars. be high. William Ascarza A scenic drive takes rock and mineral collectors to the Black Hills cinder mine about 18 miles north of Safford. An official website of the United States government. When looking forwhere to find gems near Phoenix, the town of Morristown, located just northwest of Phoenix, is a great place to go rockhounding for a day. At the mine, no flowing water or electricity is accessible, and all digging is done manually. or better condition than you found it - clean and ready for the The Ultimate Guide + (Fun Facts About Geodes), 4. 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.