Debbie
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2006
Posts: 92
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Post by Debbie on Nov 29, 2006 11:29:27 GMT -5
I am going to be in the Mesa area the end of January,where is a good place to go rock hunting close to there? I don't know the area so want to stay close to the east side of Phoenix between there and Apache Junction.
Debbie
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Post by gemkoi on Nov 29, 2006 14:09:33 GMT -5
HI Debbie, The closest trun rock collecting areas to Mesa are the Salt River and Goldfield Mtns. Theres not much to find at the Salt except decent fishing. The Goldfields however are loaded with lots of stuff. AS the Mtns are Granite and there are many access areas into the range. It is for hiking or 4x4 only though. One of the easiest rocks to find in the Goldfields are Chalcedony roses. But you can also find Quartz, pyrite, Calcite, agates and jaspers too. Ellsworth Rd will take you north to Usery Park, which has many hiking trials. But not much rock collecting. The better rrock collecting i have done is further into the Mtns, or off the Apache trail side of the range. Apache Trail splits the Goldfields off from the Suppersitition mtns. And neat rocks can be found on either side of the highway, if you hike around a bit. I have defined one site i have found in the Goldfields on my other website; www.gemkoi.com/rockhounding-sites.htmIts for Pink lace agate, but its a solid mile hike into the location off the Apache trail. BUt you can also find tons of Chalcedony Roses in the same spot, which allot are Druzy covered. The Salt river can hide cool rocks that came way far away, but its getting cold here now. And those rocks are always covered by water and or mud. So its not as rewarding unless you can get your feet wet and clean rocks as you find them in the river. Email or PM me if you like, i can get you driections to these areas no problem. I also allow digging in my piles, but it cost. However your garanteed to find really cool rough. |
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Debbie
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2006
Posts: 92
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Post by Debbie on Nov 29, 2006 19:07:40 GMT -5
You said it is getting cold there now. What are your temps? Here in the central valley in ca it is in the high 50s to low 60s. I don't know what kind of temps you have there the end of January.
I will try the area for the pink lace agates.Do you have a store for your rocks and koi? I would like to stop and visit if you do. I have a small pond with a few koi in it. I like to see other peoples' set ups.
Debbie
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Post by stonesthatrock on Dec 8, 2006 12:47:29 GMT -5
you can always visit my back yard i don't even know what half of them are. so if you want you can pm me
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Post by puppie96 on Dec 9, 2006 3:56:03 GMT -5
Debbie, I don't have a map in front of me but I think this might work for you -- I took a side trip to the Maricopa wilderness area to pick up Maricopa green jasper. It was right off the interstate not far from Phoenix on the way to Tucson. This area is very easy to find & is described in one of the rock guides. You hike into the desert to the hills and when you get there, the whole area is covered with green jasper that ranges from jade like to quartzy. There are other jaspers too, but I was limited by what I could carry out. I did this last May when it was incredibly hot -- over 100 degrees in the cities and must have been much higher in the desert. This little walk was one of the top 5 physical challenges of my life, as it turned out -- I walked out of there with 50 lbs. of rock, I'd estimate close to a mile and a half. It damn near killed me, but I would just love to do that walk in the winter. It was really beautiful if you like desert scenery. You walk 100 yards from the road and you feel like you are a million miles from anything.
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