Need some Arizona feedback!

Daniel,

I don't know if you have looked through these books but they are THE books to buy or check out from the library for Arizona rockhounds.

The first is Rockhounding Arizona; Gerry Blair and the other is Gem Trails of Arizona; James R. Mitchell.

If you are down in the valley you are in the epicenter of Arizona's finest minerals and there are too many spots to mention and that is why I suggest you check out either or both of those books.

Yes, there is some nice stuff up in Saint Johns and the White Mountains. Lots of Jasper and Agate. Quartz crystals and geodes near Payson. Petrified Wood from Snowflake to Woodruff.

I have been to Crystal Hill in Payson for quartz and Control Road area for geodes. Didn't find a lot of crystals as it is closed to digging and the geodes were unspectacualar. This was a long time ago and we probably didn't know quite what to look for, hence the disappointment. NICE CAMPING SPOT THOUGH! I'd love to go back being a little more edumacated! Shain (Freeform) is the guy to talk to about that area, he knows of some Herkimer Diamond type crystals in the area but I don't know if he would want to reveal his spot. Nonetheless it is a beautiful area to be in, I saw my first and only bear (so far) there since we moved to AZ in 2000.

Thats a tough question, i do really know were i would go, maybe the southeastern are of AZ, south of Chircuwa monument. Heard there is tons of odd agates and jasper in that area, plus lots of Fire agate on either side of San Pedro river valley.

St Johns flower agate is on private property, but you bound to find P-wood in the general area. ive head they sometimes let people in to collect, but cant confrim it as i dont have the ranch phone number.

Beejello-Agate mountain is real cool, but i havent been there since ADOT finished the highway expansion from Payson to Chritpher creek. I suspect the books driections are wrong now becasue its a double highway, and the access road to Agate MTN was on the old highway which they torn down. If you go let us know if you find the road. It was when i went, a tough 4x4 road. so be careful. Also, note the same geological desposite of agate mtn is found near Giesla, south of Payson. Here is a clickable map you can pring off.


While on a fishing trip to the a great known swimming hole off the Tonto river, north of Giesla. YOu have to park and walk through a Ranch. At the point when you cross a stream that feeds into the Tonto, on the ranch property. Theres tons of this float coming out of that Streams soruce. The soruce being a good hike up into the canyon off the Tonto. Its very pretty stuff, a brecciate quartz mainly. Bright whtie and red rough. Be warned as well, this ranch has a mean looking giant dog on it. This dog charged me last time i was up there becasue i had my dog with me. I called animal control on the ranch becasue the road is an Easment road open to the public to walk to the swimming hole. And The dog came out to the road. HE didnt attack me, just my dog.

The Daimond Point collection local is generally closed to the public. But according to the Tonto Ranger station in Payon, in 2005, they open a couple acers to the public which your allowed to dig one cubic yard of earth. If you looking for Herkimers with Amthyst, Diamond point is the way to go. But i would contact the ranger station frist to get details on the site.

Ya, I agree Mike, That area has so many awesome campping areas. I just wish the East Verde river would flow again. Ive found Herkimer like (AZ diamonds) as far west as Gernimo Camp, and have seen signs of occruace as far west as Christerpher creek. My general collection area is around the East Verde River. Which is roughly 10miles west of Diamond point.

Float collecting is allowed throughout the area. But no digging or breaking rocks. The area of the east Verde has a unqiue geology and erodes very badly. There are areas with the East Verde that are only seen on the planet elsewere in the Grand Canyon, some 3.5billion years old! If you dont find crystals, you will find tons of Fossils. I think the fine for diggin or breaking rocks without a permit is $2500!

I always collect float, and have found some big 2inch crystals as float. The best place to look once you start finding the field/s. Is around trees. These push crystals up as the grow and the dirt is washed away rather sofly. So these crystals result in less fractures. If you find the crystals in an open flat drit area. Most may be heavy fractured or in chips. The Crystals Weather out from the Graysandstone ledge everywere. Last time i was up there i found a new soruce of these on the North Side of Control road 64, about 1/2mile in from the Intersection of that road and Houston Mesa Rd. Didnt stay long to look for crystals, but you could see the large football and grapefriut size markings in the ledge that were filled with Clacite. Theres Herks in there too, just none weathered out.

Baz I ran into my one and only wild black bear when we went on a wood cutting trip down Rocky Park road in the late 80's. Apparently we spooked him as we were driving in and he scrambled up a tree. After being there about half an hour I happened to look up and noticed him looking down on me! It was really neat but kinda spooky lol.

Freeforms thanks for the info on the roads being changed up there.. I hadn't thought about the new highway they did a few years back. I'm thinking that might be in the area near Tex Earnhardt's ranch? Thanks for the info on Giesla as well.

Scorpius let us know what you find out at Saddle Mountain.. supposed to be some good fire agate country.