Rock collecting Boron, Ca
Jan 6, 2020 12:53:35 GMT -5
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socalagatehound, lpl, and 4 more like this
Post by joecollins on Jan 6, 2020 12:53:35 GMT -5
Hello, I have read through some threads here and noticed that the area between Mojave and Kramer Hills is not fully represented. I have scoured these areas for years and can say the absolute best materials are not located in the books. If anyone is interested in traveling to or through the area and wanting to find some great material I'd be glad to help.
I started rockhounding these areas approximately 15 years ago and have made hundreds of trips between. I currently live in Boron now.
I'd like to say that you can find an abundance of great stuff all around these areas.
My favorite locations listed are off of Gephardt Rd. To get to this location you will take hwy 58 east of Mojave, west of Kramer. Head North on Gephardt Rd which has its own on ramp and offramp. You will continue North along the settling ponds of the Borax mine. As Gephardt road curves to the right you will head slightly straight and to the left of a decent dirt road. This road will be the link between the main collecting area. Off to the west of this road you will notice several dirt roads leading to a playa. The hill above this playa has homestead ruins near the top, this is the former homestead of the Boron rock shop owners family. On this hill is several varieties of Chalcedony and Jasper. You can find the occasional geode fragment and druzy quartz. I've found some nice pieces here. ( Note the playa and hill will produce materials.)
Back to the linkage Rd and continue North towards small hills drive up to the rocky crossroads and find a spot to park. You can park just south of these hills as well and walk up. The best producing hill here is the western hill along the road. Here you will find moss agate, agate, jasper, chalcedony, common opal, petrified palm and reed, rarely petrified wood. There is a variety of moss agate with a red center looking like a watermelon. Finding higher quality material may require some digging in the pockets already exposed by old timers. You can look around the areas between these hills and the playa and find material and perhaps petrified wood if you are lucky.
The next area is Claymine Rd which is west of Gephardt Rd and east of California City turnoff. This area was mentioned in other threads however I didn't see the better locations mentioned so I figured I would now.
These areas off of Claymine Rd are North of 58. The first location is just northwest of North Edwards community. You will notice hills after turning onto Claymine to the west side of these hills is collecting sites. You can treverse the ever changing roads here to get to the western tip of these hills. I usually take the road past the church then cut up a decent dirt road heading to the hills. You will notice and drive through a playa which has chalcedony, jasper, druzy and many other interesting materials as well as very occasional petrified wood. Further up to the hills you will notice mining activity on the furthest west hill. I have found some interesting pieces here in and around the dig. The area to the east of this mined hill is productive as well. Along the edge of hills and the playa have been productive as well.
Back to Claymine Rd and head north to next area. Pass through the first range of hills and beyond the larger single hills. You will notice a small hill "Claymine hill " off to the west with bright white along the base which is evidence of mining. There are a couple of roads connecting you to this hill. Head to it and you will find common opal and occasional agate and chalcedony. Note: this hill has tunnels cut into it and they are cut through loose material which is hazardous to attempt crawling in. The north face of this hill has an exposed pocket of green common opal that has lovely white patterns and banding. When on the western sides you will see a white series of hills to the west. These hills are the next collecting area. To the South of these small hills and digs is a good area to find quality chalcedony and Jasper. There are agates and common opal/opalite along the hills. These hills and areas around have been said to be the most productive for petrified wood. The dry lake just north west of this area is where I've found some wood myself however that playa is now private property. Explore these areas around the hills and you will find good material.
Back to Claymine Rd and head north to next locations.
Castle Butte area is not at Castle Butte but to the South of the butte. The best area I've found here is just off of Rosewood blvd. Make a left on Rosewood blvd off of Claymine Rd and head West towards California City. You will drive about 3-5 miles on this road before getting into the southern side of the Butte which is still about a mile away from the peak. You will notice a definite change in rocks in the right area. Park along the road and explore. You can find agates, chalcedony, jasper and petrified wood. I found my favorite piece of petrified wood here years ago. You can head closer to the Butte and up to it and still find some material around the area. I've found wood closer to the Butte on the east side. This area has scattered material and it can sometimes feel unworthy but there are goodies to be found. The area noted to park will be more abundant. Pay attention as you drive you should notice the good material area.
Back at the Claymine Rd and Rosewood intersection if you make a right heading east you will be lead into the honey onyx location. Note Rosewood blvd is the first street you will come to before houses in Arial Acres community.
Head East on Rosewood/Peerless you will drive over a ridge or two at about 1.5 miles you will notice a matrix change in soil off to the left you will notice a road heading north east take this road. It will drop into a little valley and wind around the hills. You will notice a red hues on the sides of this road which has some good quality red jaspagate with a lot of lower quality red jasper. Further down this road you will see claim posts and digs. Slowly drive along and cut slight right towards a claim box behind a bush. You will also notice a picnic bench. This is the club claim. I am not certain on who currently has the claim however the club allows access to other visitors. Simply be sure to fill out a card inside of the box after completing your collection note quantity taken and date visited. Collecting this area you will see digs all around some pockets are more fruitful than others. Some will contain the multi colored onyx the others may have just the honey color with wonderful banding. Digging here is usually required. You can just use a rock hammer pick as well. Some material is in float. This area is also seeded with rocks and materials from outside of the region. My theory is an old timer who is a club member likes to share his bounty by hiding it inside of bushes around this area. There is also a pile around the claim box where others have left some of their finds. Feel free to explore beyond the boarders of this area as the region is heavily mineralized and I always find good stuff around here.
I have one more secret location in the Boron area that I will keep secret for now as I don't want it to be over picked. I will add some pictures of my finds here as well as some maps to highlight these locations.
I started rockhounding these areas approximately 15 years ago and have made hundreds of trips between. I currently live in Boron now.
I'd like to say that you can find an abundance of great stuff all around these areas.
My favorite locations listed are off of Gephardt Rd. To get to this location you will take hwy 58 east of Mojave, west of Kramer. Head North on Gephardt Rd which has its own on ramp and offramp. You will continue North along the settling ponds of the Borax mine. As Gephardt road curves to the right you will head slightly straight and to the left of a decent dirt road. This road will be the link between the main collecting area. Off to the west of this road you will notice several dirt roads leading to a playa. The hill above this playa has homestead ruins near the top, this is the former homestead of the Boron rock shop owners family. On this hill is several varieties of Chalcedony and Jasper. You can find the occasional geode fragment and druzy quartz. I've found some nice pieces here. ( Note the playa and hill will produce materials.)
Back to the linkage Rd and continue North towards small hills drive up to the rocky crossroads and find a spot to park. You can park just south of these hills as well and walk up. The best producing hill here is the western hill along the road. Here you will find moss agate, agate, jasper, chalcedony, common opal, petrified palm and reed, rarely petrified wood. There is a variety of moss agate with a red center looking like a watermelon. Finding higher quality material may require some digging in the pockets already exposed by old timers. You can look around the areas between these hills and the playa and find material and perhaps petrified wood if you are lucky.
The next area is Claymine Rd which is west of Gephardt Rd and east of California City turnoff. This area was mentioned in other threads however I didn't see the better locations mentioned so I figured I would now.
These areas off of Claymine Rd are North of 58. The first location is just northwest of North Edwards community. You will notice hills after turning onto Claymine to the west side of these hills is collecting sites. You can treverse the ever changing roads here to get to the western tip of these hills. I usually take the road past the church then cut up a decent dirt road heading to the hills. You will notice and drive through a playa which has chalcedony, jasper, druzy and many other interesting materials as well as very occasional petrified wood. Further up to the hills you will notice mining activity on the furthest west hill. I have found some interesting pieces here in and around the dig. The area to the east of this mined hill is productive as well. Along the edge of hills and the playa have been productive as well.
Back to Claymine Rd and head north to next area. Pass through the first range of hills and beyond the larger single hills. You will notice a small hill "Claymine hill " off to the west with bright white along the base which is evidence of mining. There are a couple of roads connecting you to this hill. Head to it and you will find common opal and occasional agate and chalcedony. Note: this hill has tunnels cut into it and they are cut through loose material which is hazardous to attempt crawling in. The north face of this hill has an exposed pocket of green common opal that has lovely white patterns and banding. When on the western sides you will see a white series of hills to the west. These hills are the next collecting area. To the South of these small hills and digs is a good area to find quality chalcedony and Jasper. There are agates and common opal/opalite along the hills. These hills and areas around have been said to be the most productive for petrified wood. The dry lake just north west of this area is where I've found some wood myself however that playa is now private property. Explore these areas around the hills and you will find good material.
Back to Claymine Rd and head north to next locations.
Castle Butte area is not at Castle Butte but to the South of the butte. The best area I've found here is just off of Rosewood blvd. Make a left on Rosewood blvd off of Claymine Rd and head West towards California City. You will drive about 3-5 miles on this road before getting into the southern side of the Butte which is still about a mile away from the peak. You will notice a definite change in rocks in the right area. Park along the road and explore. You can find agates, chalcedony, jasper and petrified wood. I found my favorite piece of petrified wood here years ago. You can head closer to the Butte and up to it and still find some material around the area. I've found wood closer to the Butte on the east side. This area has scattered material and it can sometimes feel unworthy but there are goodies to be found. The area noted to park will be more abundant. Pay attention as you drive you should notice the good material area.
Back at the Claymine Rd and Rosewood intersection if you make a right heading east you will be lead into the honey onyx location. Note Rosewood blvd is the first street you will come to before houses in Arial Acres community.
Head East on Rosewood/Peerless you will drive over a ridge or two at about 1.5 miles you will notice a matrix change in soil off to the left you will notice a road heading north east take this road. It will drop into a little valley and wind around the hills. You will notice a red hues on the sides of this road which has some good quality red jaspagate with a lot of lower quality red jasper. Further down this road you will see claim posts and digs. Slowly drive along and cut slight right towards a claim box behind a bush. You will also notice a picnic bench. This is the club claim. I am not certain on who currently has the claim however the club allows access to other visitors. Simply be sure to fill out a card inside of the box after completing your collection note quantity taken and date visited. Collecting this area you will see digs all around some pockets are more fruitful than others. Some will contain the multi colored onyx the others may have just the honey color with wonderful banding. Digging here is usually required. You can just use a rock hammer pick as well. Some material is in float. This area is also seeded with rocks and materials from outside of the region. My theory is an old timer who is a club member likes to share his bounty by hiding it inside of bushes around this area. There is also a pile around the claim box where others have left some of their finds. Feel free to explore beyond the boarders of this area as the region is heavily mineralized and I always find good stuff around here.
I have one more secret location in the Boron area that I will keep secret for now as I don't want it to be over picked. I will add some pictures of my finds here as well as some maps to highlight these locations.