Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Dec 12, 2012 1:00:38 GMT -5
I plan to be rock hunting in AZ in Feb. This is my itinerary so far. I will have somewhere around 2 weeks or maybe even 3 to play. Does anyone know of any good places that I have missed? I don't care about precious metals and am only really interested in stuff that I can make something out of. I also don't want to spend an entire day of hard work for 2 pounds of rough. A(T) 34 47 47 N 109 54 09 W PET WOOD OUTSIDE PARK B 61 33 41 30.3 N110 39 20 W FOREST ROAD 303 ONYX C D 80 33 06 21 N 109 17 29 W SAN FRANCISCO RIVER ROAD MISC & GEODES E 83 32 47 54.7 N 109 09 51.1 W OPAL SPOT USED AS REFERENCE F 81 32 43 43 N 109 17 01.4 W COYOTE SPRING SHIT HOLE USED AS REFERENCE G 74 31 59 57 N 110 00 21 W FOREST ROAD 689 GLOWING MARBLE TUSCON H I 19 33 44 21 N 113 02 16 W CONTACT MINE AMETHYST J 18 34 03 00.9 N 113 16 43.8 W BULLARD MINE COPPER MINERALS K 10 33 49 17.3 N 114 04 12 W WEST OF PLOMOSA ROAD HQ BANDED AGATE L 16 34 02 55.8 N 113 45 53.3 W MAMMOTH MINE MALACHITE M 8 34 06 00 N 113 55 41 W GREEN STREAK MINE MALACHITE, CHRYOCHOLLA, N 7 34 09 06.4 N 113 48 56.7 W GOLD HILL MINE MALACHITE O 39 34 17 46 N 113 40 22 W CACTUS QUEEN MINE COPPER MINERALS P 35 34 22 59 N 113 46 16 W KEENAN CAMP GEODES Q 34 34 27 04.8 N 113 46 21.2 W MCCRACKEN MINE BANDED AGATE R 33 34 28 21 N 113 37 36 W AGATE AT SIGNAL CITY S 24 34 40 08.1 N 112 09 08.5 W MINGUS MOUNTAIN BANDED JASPER MAYBE THE METEOR CRATER
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spicer m
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 337
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Post by spicer m on Dec 12, 2012 22:04:37 GMT -5
Foxtail I would be going to Burro Creek instead of McCraken mine and Keenan camp for cabbing material. Mike
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Dec 12, 2012 22:11:58 GMT -5
no fire agate?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2012 15:00:22 GMT -5
Site S:Mingus Mtn might be questionable that time of the year, could be covered in snow. Site B:The Globe Onyx is okay material, not great for cabbing but good for larger items like book ends. Site C: The fossils are not too exciting, no lapidary value. If you are in the neighborhood, worth stopping by.
Site H; Very poor quality material, not worth collecting in my opinion.
I would definitely add Burro Creek to the list. If you want some Onyx I would head up to Seven Springs, you can collect onyx and red jasper.
Have a great trip.
Tim
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Dec 13, 2012 15:40:32 GMT -5
Go dig fire agate in oatman. go visit the Colbaugh turquose processing plant in Kingman. Go dig some more fire agate in the black hills by Tucson. go collect rainbow wood in safford.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Dec 13, 2012 21:02:41 GMT -5
Fire agate just doesn't do much for me because of the amount of prep it requires with equipment I lack. Plus, I found a guy who sold me a pile of it for around a buck a pound and I never was successful at preparing it. (because of lack of correct equipment)
The wood, I was actually planning on getting a bunch, but didn't include it because there is always someone trying to tell me I can't collect it, when I know I can.
Spot H is an error. I went there before and could not access it any way. C is dead now too.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Dec 13, 2012 21:09:13 GMT -5
Does anyone have the book by Jerry Blair? The Neil Bearce book does not include Burro Creek for some reason and the Blair book does. The problem is that the Blair book is so far off from correct in a lot of places. I know a lot of people who know Jerry but I don't know him myself. I think he may have written the book after his stroke. If anyone has it, can you look at the Burro Creek spots and tell me if these are actually accurate?
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Post by mohs on Dec 13, 2012 22:54:17 GMT -5
Rockhounding Arizona Gerry Blair I'm pretty sure the library as that
I'll check it out but I won't be of any assistance because I've never been to Burro Creek
but maybe I can type out what the author as to say and others can contribute we shale see...
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Post by drocknut on Dec 13, 2012 23:52:36 GMT -5
FYI - The Contact Mine area has a claim on it so I don't think collecting even the amethyst is allowed. I did a little looking around there a few years ago and the amethyst was not really good quality for lapidary, lots of it was bleached out from the sun so digging would be in order to get any with much color. Bullard Mine is also not a very good locale for lapidary material but maybe I was just looking in the wrong places.
I would also add Burro Creek to any rockhounding list in AZ. There are a lot of people on the forum who could give you better directions to good Burro Creek areas than I can but I know there is agate all over the place. The most experience I've had with that area is from Burro Creek Crossing Road north of the Burro Creek Campground. We drove about 13 miles in on that road and found some good material.
Unfortunately a lot of the rockhounding books are read by a lot of people and so sites in them are well picked over but there are some exceptions especially in areas where there is a lot of material to be had. I have been disappointed many a time by one of those books. They are handy for reference but I find the best information is to be had on this forum and by talking to rockhounds in the areas.
It would add time to your trip but I would also add Quartzsite to the list. There are still some vendors hanging out in February despite Tucson plus there are people there who would be willing to give you information about collecting areas that would not be found in the books.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2012 11:00:30 GMT -5
The Gerry Blair book "The rochounds Guide to Arizona" is the first collecting guide I owned, it is also the WORST collecting guide that I own, the maps are about totally worthless for getting you to the locations.
For Burro Creek, take Drocknut's advise and start roaming the hills just before before the river crossing and anywhere after the river crossing 12 miles in and you will find some real nice opalite and pastelite.
And definitely hit the Tucson show and Quartzite.
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Post by mohs on Dec 14, 2012 11:29:55 GMT -5
Hey Tim
I borrowed from the library
Arizona Rock & Minerals by Bob Lynch & Dan R. Lynch
from its bibliography that where I got the title for Gerry Blair book
anyway I won't bother myself with getting the Blair book you already know it lacks
Ed
o Tales of the Superstitions by Robert Blair is a must
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Dec 14, 2012 18:50:18 GMT -5
Yep, the Blair book is bad. I don't think I have heard of the Lynch book. Anyone know if it is any good?
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Post by mohs on Dec 14, 2012 21:39:45 GMT -5
I have the Lynch book its excellent as a field book for identification it as over 160 photographs of minerals & rocks but lack any specifics for locations to find just real generalizations of areas where the photographed mineral may be in Arizona
so I would suggest a perusal of it and great for out in the field pocket size borrowed it from the library
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Post by Rockhobbit on Dec 14, 2012 21:55:56 GMT -5
The west of Phoenix area holds a secret that not many know of, luck have it, I know! I would be willing to share if you pm me. You will spend a day collecting and only bring back grade AAA material! So much you won't have anywhere to put it! Good luck and PM me for some directions! Sheri
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Post by drocknut on Dec 14, 2012 22:03:45 GMT -5
Sheri, you holding out on me...lol.
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Post by Rockhobbit on Dec 14, 2012 22:25:44 GMT -5
Dixie Peak, Diane. You have been there! Silly!
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 15, 2012 13:41:45 GMT -5
I lived in AZ for a year or so,wish I would have been into rockhounding than,as I am now....(Rolling eyes) LOL Lived in Phoenix,hated it there! Sounds like some nice places to hunt in the state...
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Post by mohs on Dec 15, 2012 17:59:47 GMT -5
I was borne & raised in Phoenix & there certainly is much to loathe about the big shitty city as Beef would put it ;D
yet there is magic about this place a raising --very little see
honestly tho there are lots of folks here that don't like it and I wished they go back to wherever they came from...mostly
Ed
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Post by drocknut on Dec 15, 2012 21:34:05 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I remember that place, where you filled your shirt with rocks and looked like a pregnant woman carrying a load of rocks back to the quad. Yep, there were and still are a few good rocks there. Hmm, maybe I should find that pic Ed, I feel that way in Montana sometimes. I suppose if some people didn't have anything to complain about they wouldn't be happy.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 16, 2012 7:38:54 GMT -5
I was borne & raised in Phoenix & there certainly is much to loathe about the big shitty city as Beef would put it ;D yet there is magic about this place a raising --very little see honestly tho there are lots of folks here that don't like it and I wished they go back to wherever they came from...mostly Ed All in all Ed,it was just to freakin' hot for this guy! My body doesn't handle hot at all........ The palm trees,lemon trees,mountains in the back grounds,etc,etc,were cool....Just not a city guy!
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