Laws are updated. Apache Tears are only formed near Superior, Arizona, and when refined and held to the light, these are semi-transparent and have a smoky brown shade. He has been working Fire Agate for about 7 years, and is welling to help people with working Fire Agate. Beautiful day though windy and join us as I show you where we hunt and how to go about it.. There are no restaurants or food stores in the Saddle Mountain Recreation Area, so it is important to pack a lunch with you. Saddle Mountains Fire Agate 154. Fire Agate Rough LOOK PICTURES . The trail gets more rugged and more remote at its southernmost point. 50 Aguila Road Apache Tears 172. 15.2 x 14.2 mm. Optimistic rockhounds that are capable of following the edges and pick beautiful crystals out from the rock layers discover the perfect bits. Sunday 12/13 - Saddle Mountain | Rock Hounding | Petroglyphs | Easy to Moderate near Tonopah, AZ. The road is generally passable for most cars, and the site is about 2 miles off the highway. BLM-8211 is slightly rocky but not bad. I did some fire agate collecting out in the Saddle mountain area about year ago . Theyll find it in the sandbars of the river, and the gold is most often very fine. For over 50 years, people from all over have been coming to Saddle Mountain in search of Fire Agate. sarahrose. You can also take a trek and find geodes scattered about, even though they might not be of the highest quality. The gem-type Saddle Mountain fire gates are a pleasant expansion to any mineral collection, as they are rare and hard to come by. Location: 16704 Avenue of the Fountains #100, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. 1 - 155ct. The public is not permitted to visit this mine unless prior arrangements have been made. Saddle Mountain is one of the highest peaks in Oregon's Coast Range with an elevation of 3,283 feet. 3 stars. Agates, crystal and geodes are found in this region. The diggers will hold anything they find, up to the size of a bucket, no more than five gallons per day. You can travel by flight, train running along the Reunification Express, bus, or motorbike. When one thinks of a mine, images of deep shafts or dark tunnels usually come to mind. (source). It is recommended to bring at least 1 gallon per person per day. Allan is familiar with all aspects of the Mine, When in the area he assists diggers, to find and dig their own Fire Agate. A beautiful trail taking you along the edge of Grand Canyon National Park. 51 Burro Creek Campground Apache Tears 177. 53 Black Mountains White Agate 184. Once youve had your limit of rockhounding, take a stroll on some of the pathways that snake through the region, or pitch a tent so you can drill down early the next day. Wish we could go but I have this weekend booked Great trip idea!! Saddle Mountain is a famous rockhounding destination just next to Queen Creek, particularly for those looking for fire agate, a semi-precious jewel found only within Arizona and some other southwestern regions. Each individual is allowed to gather as much as 25 pounds of material each day and 250 pounds per year for non-commercial intentions. Fire Agate Saddle Mountain, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Look no further than rockhounding! 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At 1.4 miles, bear left and cross through a somewhat difficult wash. Continue straight at 1.9 miles where left leads to some nice rock hounding and camping closer to Saddle Mountain. The first portion of the trail is short and rocky with the more difficult and washed out loop around Saddle Mountain providing more of a challenge. 15%. We are obsessed with the outdoors, and work constantly to bring you the information you need to enjoy the rocks and minerals you've added to your collection. Powered by. Many collectors have found enough pieces to satisfy them on the lower slopes. The fire agate that you can find in Saddle Mountains features rare quality and will fit perfectly into your . It is best to stay on the main road and avoid any areas that are marked with no trespassing signs. When it comes to rockhounding Arizona, weve chosen our top 12 locations for you to explore. Ok Ryan! I had a somewhat difficult time finding and fire that I felt was worth keeping. The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Hey there! (Find Of a Lifetime! When back on Salome Highway, continue west turning left again onto Courthouse Road and then left again to get back to your staging area. Mark K Cave Dweller. Clifton, Arizona, is a little town northeast of Tucson in proximity to the New Mexico border with promising rockhounding prospects. While there is a bypass, from this point on the trail is moderately difficult. The wide-open pits are littered with piles of malachite, azurite, among other copper ores. Participants will look for fossils along the walls of the Ice House, learn about Arizona Red stone, explore the depths of the Grand Canyon at Heritage Square, and see elegant rock etchings, among other things. 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. Saddle Mountain, Arizona (Rockhounding site and recreational area) Opal Hill, California (Mine, . A geode is a mineral in the form of a sphere with a crystal-lined cavity. Free shipping. The first portion of the trail is short and rocky with the more difficult and washed out loop around Saddle Mountain providing more of a challenge. Saddle Mountain State Natural Area is a state park in northwest Oregon.It is located in the Northern Oregon Coast Range in central Clatsop County, about 20 miles (32 km) by road from Seaside.A 2.5-mile (4.0 km) long hiking trail climbs to the top of Saddle Mountain, which is located in the park.On clear days, the Pacific Ocean, Columbia River mouth and several of the Cascade mountains in . Found in the Saddle Mountain area of Arizona, this agate boasts stunning colors and patterns, along with a fiery iridescence that sets it apart from other agates. 1 star. OpenStreetMap ID. Lelande Quick La Jolla . At 4.2, the trail enters a wash and roughens. If you want to go rockhounding, the Tucson area is a fantastic place to go. Agate is the most common variety of chalcedony which is a form of quartz. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. Rocky McCall, Marysville Club suggested we "keep the Maughans in the loop," so Nathan Maughan was contacted. Crystal Hill, slightly southeast of Quartzsite, is among Arizonas increasingly common crystal collection spots. The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Weve created an ultimate guide to gifts for rockhounds with helpful links directly to Amazon to make product evaluation and review easy! Condition:--not specified. Nathan Maughan at Saddle Mountain. Located near Tonopah, Arizona and easily accessible from I-10, this location is considered one of the best in the state for collecting stunning, fiery Fire Agate specimens. Rare Large Flowering Tube Onyx and Saddle Mountain AZ Fire Agate Necklace Sterling Silver Utah Gem Handmade Black Red Brown Tan 1053. Member since April 2012 Posts: 1,931. The fire agate found in the Saddle Mountains is of high caliber and will complement your mineral inventory. From the interchange of I-10 & Loop 101, head west on I-10. Click the image for driving directions and a KML file. Saddle Mountain's distinctive size and shape make it the predominant landform on the . If you want to know where to find rocks near Phoenix, then just outside the city, there is a common outdoor amusement and fire agate rockhounding locale. This is because you are guaranteed to find amazing specimens that are nicely crystallized in this area and its environs. Saddle Mountain Arizona Fire Agate Rough 14 grams Flames and white swirls. But regardless . Visitors are encouraged to explore the west end of the Saddle Mountains due to the amount of private land intermixed with BLM-managed lands on the east end. The guests meet and interact with the mine owner, Kurt Cavano, as well as the miners once they arrive. The trail passes through several washouts. Rockhounding Saddle Mountain - Fire Agate. Trailhead is a short 4 mile drive from the gas station. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material. Saddle Mountain Road is a very scenic drive around the uniquely formed volcanic Saddle Mountain in Maricopa County, in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona, west of Phoenix. node 359261341. However, rock hunting experts and rookies are still able to locate gold in the Colorado River. 52 Burro Creek Pastelite, Opalite, and Agate 181. 5. 3.6 (26 ratings) 26. 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. Don, the proprietor, explains how Fire Agate is shaped and provides tips on how to search for, find, and excavate fire agate from the host rock. Twin Buttes Region (Old Mines) Copper, Azurite, Chalcocite, Marcasite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Calcite, fluorescent minerals, Pyrite, and more. It's a loop drive around Saddle Mountain, pretty difficult and lightly traveled. The most common type of rock is fire agate, a semi-precious gemstone found in a variety of colors. There are many specimens to be found lying on the ground that can be lovely with a bit of cutting and polishing. This Recreational zoned property is great for those who love. Agate Mountain is situated nearby to Gibson Ranch. At 7.7, the trail enters a rocky wash and then bears right at 8.4 miles. Saddle Mountain is comprised of mid-Tertiary volcanic deposits ranging from basalt or basaltic lava flows and cinders to . The Cave Creek region, merely northeast of Phoenix, does have some of the finest rockhounding youll encounter in a limited region in Arizona. Let's take a little trip to the far west valley for some fun around Saddle Mountain, an area of ancient volcanic activitythat was last active approximately 66 million years ago. Building a fabulous online presence starts with a top-quality domain name from DomainMarket.com. One of my favorite spots to find fire agate chips and pieces of fire agate. Its a loop drive around Saddle Mountain, pretty difficult and lightly traveled. ), 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. The ability to dig for a fee is available at this mine. Best fire agate location in CA is in Christopher's back yard!!!! ID file #10023619, MRDS ID #I000808. We'll check out a site known for rock hounding to see if we can scrounge up some fire agate or chalcedony, We'll take a 14 mile loop of the mountain with a brief side trip into the heart of the mountain where we will be surrounded on all sides by gorgeous views and canyon walls. 15.2 x 14.2mm Oval Cabochon Multicolor Fire Agate from Mexico, Weight of 11.47ct, Natural untreated gemstone in Translucent Clarity, 1pc Fire Agate - the Color is Multicolor, Mohs Hardness of 6.5 - 7 suitable for daily wear jewelry. Be careful not to get pierced when you try to grab some lovely specimen that has your eyes glittering! Tucked deep into the Mule Mountains not far from Palo Verde is the Opal Hill Mine. 4x4tographer, November 25, 2020 in Trip & Event Planning/Sign-up, Sunday 12/13 - Saddle Mountain | Rock Hounding | Petroglyphs | Easy to Moderate near Tonopah, AZ. Fake it till you make it, right? I may be bringing my son & his girlfriend along too. The fire agate from Deer Creek Arizona ranks high on the list of desired collected gemstones, mineral specimens, and lapidary gemstone cutting material. Overall, rockhounding is the right pursuit for you if youve often been intrigued by the natural deposits in Arizonas soils. No facilities are present in this area, and snow and rain occasionally close the gravel and dirt roads. The Saddle Mountain fire agate, with gem quality being rare and hard to find, are a nice addition to any mineral collection. Use caution when approaching blind hills and corners, and keep a watchful eye for other visitors and livestock. Scan for abandoned holes and start digging. Buckets or a Rock Bag are useful to have on hand. It is also important to remember that the area is at a high elevation, so you may need to bring a jacket even if it is hot outside. Hope you have a ton of fun! 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