This makes it really easy to pick out a bunch of agates from an area very quickly. The area is set aside for the non-commercial collecting of agate, jasper, and petrified wood. This is a big part of the reason it can be helpful to understand your local geology when hunting for agates. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Found some pretty decent rainbow petrified wood and black petrified wood, also found a. These days he can be found in his workshop, setting the stones he dreamed of as a child. In Mexico, you can find both fire agates and Laguna agates. Fire agate from Mexico, Rare and unique pendant. 1894 Newport Beach Agates, Oregon, adv., Mary Ann Kasey, Arizona, Earth Science Digest, v. 2, no. Northeast New Mexico is "where the plains meet the mountains." Visit Capuln Volcano National Monument, an extinct volcanic cone (inactive now for 10,000 years) and you can say you saw the plains of Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. Exceptional Fossil Reveals Fish-Eating-Fish Moment Frozen in Time, The Great Meteorite Hunt: Museum Offers $25,000 Reward for Rare Fireball Remains in Maine, Why Petrified Logs Look Like Theyve Been Cut (The How and The Why), Detailed maps and directions to sites including GPS points, Contact information for local land management agencies, Suggestions for tools and techniques by site. We have a great source for New Mexico Rocks and Minerals and we carry a large variety of both finished and rough materials. Note that this list and the specific locations I mention are far from exhaustive. Depending on your local geology you may also be able to find agates in conglomerates that have formed from volcanic source rock. The wide volcanic crater is mainly composed of basalt. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. We are focused on discovering 38 million year old natural treasures. Its basically a wire mesh scoop on a pole that allows you to pick up rocks without having to bend over to pick them up. The state park amenities for campers and travelers make it a great camping spot or road-tripping stopover point as well. Certain agates can only be found in one or two locations worldwide, some have very vibrant colors and some even feature beautiful and unique landscapes (scenic agates) all of which can significantly increase their price. Any place where the earth has been cut away or dug out has the potential to reveal some agates ripe for the picking. 119; 123; 126; 8.9mm X 7.9mm ; 11mm X 9mm; 8.9mm X 7.9mm.41" X .25".43" X .33 . Like many other popular areas to look for rocks in Mexico, this has led to a lot of Agave being found in the state of Chihuahua. Rock Hounding in the cobble fields near Rio Rancho, New Mexico. As such, no matter which direction one takes from the Casitas on a single day's outing, there are excellent collecting sites to be discovered. Got a bit of jasper, petrified wood, a really great agate, and possibly a fossil. The colors of the agates are typically colorless . Feel free to bookmark and/or link to this site so you can see the agates gallery grow and change over time. New Mexico also has many areas where fossils are found too. Agate new mexico. Gravel roads are especially bad about this because dust gets kicked up and coats the agates. While all share some of the same characteristics, each also provides their own impressive visuals. New Mexico Regions & Cities | Places to Visit | New Mexico True The state is full of biological and geological diversity. If you go early in the morning or late in the day, the angle of the sunlight will catch the colorful, translucent agates at an advantageous angle, making them much easier to spot. In one of the more rock-collecting-limited areas of the state, the vast deserts of southeast New Mexico, you can actually find peridot. RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. Seam agate is simply agate that is formed in the seam between mineral layers instead of in round nodules. The "Baker Eggs" is generally considered a proper term to distinguish the Baker Eggs from other thundereggs found nearby such as Taveniers, and Torpedeo Beds. From Highway 70 east of Safford, Arizona approximately 50 miles, travel into New Mexico to just beyond milepost 5. In New Mexico, its distribution can be isolated and patchy but its present in many corners of the state. Most of the worlds agates come from Brazil and Uruguay so these two countries have to be on this list. Rockhounds and agate newbies welcome any time. Another famous agate thats found in Montana is the Dryhead Agate, which is most often found in the form of nodules that feature red, orange, white, and brown fortification banding surrounded by darker colors. These include translucency (if you hold a flashlight behind or in front of the rock, you will notice transparent areas, especially near the edges), a waxy exterior (especially if the rock is broken or chipped and the exposed area has a waxy feel) and bands inside the rock (once you open it). The locations and information contained in this article are primarily derived from academic papers, online resources, and other outside sources. 4 x 3 1/4 x 1/4 Agate with large sagenite sprays. TIP: Fake agates have flooded online shops these days. If youre searching in an area other than a beach then the agates will likely not be as shiny and easily recognizable. Baker Ranch. Fortification agates are the classic agate: striped, colorful, and generally forming rings. Move slowly. Most commonly they are a reddish orange with alternating white bands. The True Worth of Agates. The best places to rockhounding in Southwestern New Mexico include many localities in Gila National Forest, Rockhound State Park, Kilbourne Hole, and the countless old mining dumps that dot the landscape. Agates show off their distinctive colors and luster much better when theyre wet, so if you are searching in a place that hasnt seen rain in a while then a quick spray of water can be a great way to quickly check if a rock is an agate or not. Rockhounding Mexico: 6 Must-Visit Destinations For Those Who - Yes Dirt So where can you find agates? At that stage, agates are only a silica-rich gel before pressure and time create the stones we know and love. Most of our Mexican agates were found in the northern state of Chihuahua. Demming. Other Fee Dig sights to check out include: http://epswww.unm.edu/harding/harding_.htm, and www.peaktopeak.com/blanchard/. amzn_assoc_asins = "B01IEX2TEO,B0002YWWVE,B08N41884X,B01CV1XW5K"; Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. There are certain types of areas that you can search and many useful techniques that will increase your chances of finding agates. In the U.S., agates are most commonly found along the shores of the Great Lakes, the beaches of the Pacific Coast, and in the deserts of many western states. Dig Your Own Amethyst Crystals: The Diamond Willow Mine Offers a Unique Experience! This site contains affiliate links to products. A Field Guide to Agate | Rock & Gem Magazine New Mexico. You dont necessarily need to be on an ocean beach in order to find agates. This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. Its another great spot to find a wide variety of different minerals. The most commonly found minerals in New Mexico are: If youve already found a rock and youre not sure what it is, I would highly recommend checking out my Practical Rock Identification System. I like to bring a satchel, or sometimes even my favorite backpack for rockhounding. The area is set aside for the non-commercial collecting of agate, jasper, and petrified wood. Exceptional Fossil Reveals Fish-Eating-Fish Moment Frozen in Time, The Great Meteorite Hunt: Museum Offers $25,000 Reward for Rare Fireball Remains in Maine, Why Petrified Logs Look Like Theyve Been Cut (The How and The Why). Jornada Valley, area 13 mi. One of the best things you can do before looking for agates is to check the weather. At first glance theyre often not very impressive, especially before theyve been cut and revealed their optical effect. Take the dirt access road on your right for 12 miles, following the signs to the Rockhound Area. It can be any variety of agate, but a lot of it is simple waterline agate that has formed in veins. If there are agates anywhere on the beach, theyll likely be mixed in with that gravel. New Mexico Rockhounding Location Guide & Map - Rockhound Resource Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. Blue Agate. Specimens may become depleted from other collectors, the location may have been built on or altered, locality information in literature may be inaccurate, and property ownership may have changed hands. Sandy desert roads can easily get a 2-wheel-drive vehicle stuck in dry or extremely wet conditions. The inclusions take the form of botryoidal formations of iridescent minerals inside of clear chalcedony. Most agates that youll find will be about walnut sized or smaller. The choppy water and heavy wave action tend to transport and uncover fresh agates, so those beaches tend to make for much better rockhounding destinations than calmer beaches. Petrified wood is created through the replacement of wood in ancient layers of stone. 5. Banded Agate, 5.8 cm. The Rock Hound State Park is in Luna County near Deming, New Mexico. Now that Ive covered the types of locations to look for agates Ill get into how to actually go about planning your trip to the field and some best practices for increasing your chances of finding good specimens. Plumes are, quite often, multicolor as well. These locations offer a diverse array of rock and mineral specimens such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, turquoise, and copper. 3 x 3 x 3 Geode with stalactites. Rockhounding Agate, Chalcedony and Obsidian in the Jemez - YouTube The ownership and status of land can and does change frequently, making it impossible to document accurate information on this page. Check out the complete guide on cutting and polishing agates in the article below:How to Cut and Polish Agates? TIP: Fake agates have flooded online shops these days. Petaca, mine dump 1 mi. Agates can present themselves very differently depending on your location. Hello, I am John.As a little boy, I was fascinated by stones and liked to take them home. Fire agates are found in New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Sarape Agate. The True Worth of Agates, What Is Agate And How Do Agates Form? TIP: Agates look quite dull from the outside. The churning waves will have brought in fresh material for you to search, so even if you go to a very popular location that is normally picked clean there will probably be some good finds available for you. Fluorite, now known as a beautiful gemstone, was actually mined early on due to its ore compound, Fluorspar, being a highly used industrial manufacturing component. This site is devoted to sharing my love of rocks with you. The best places to collect rocks in Arizona include the areas around Phoenix and Tucson, as well as smaller towns such as Cave Creek, Clifton, Morristown, and Kingman. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Eye agate has orb-shaped inclusions that often end up being cut and resembling an eye. Rockhound State Park is in southwestern New Mexico near the town of Deming. The distinct color and translucence of agates really makes them pop in contrast to most other rocks youre likely to find on a beach. Until the 1920's, New Mexico was the United States largest producer of turquoise. Brightly colored jasper and agate can be found on both sides of the road for almost 5 miles. The cavity created is usually filled with a silica-based mineral. Lake Superior is famous for its world-class agates. Dwarves Earth Treasures: New Mexico Luna Agates from Grant Co., New Mexico The only facet-quality dolomite in the United States is colorless material recovered from a deposit in New Mexico. Iris agates appear to be mostly transparent chalcedony with a bit of white banding. Once again, a USGS map will identify the locations of all the old mines! In New Mexico numerous rock and mineral mines were developed and worked beginning in the early 1800s. Thundereggs. At most of these locations, youll have the most success hunting in the winter or early spring when storms are larger and more frequent. It can be found in numerous locations, some of which are private mines and cannot be accessed whereas others are public rockhounding sites where you can go digging whenever you want. Seam agate is known for intense coloration, with many amazing samples coming out of Turkey. Find a rockhounding site near you easitly by using this map. Posted on Published: September 13, 2020- Last updated: July 13, 2022. Fire Agate and Chalcedony | Casitas de Gila Nature Blog $187.77 (10% off) FREE shipping. Follow These Simple Steps. The best time to search for agates (especially in a beach setting) is right after a storm. Always The Best Prices. Its located about two hours south of Albuquerque on Highway 380 at mile marker 30. 7. I would also highly recommend asking around at a local rock shop, or even joining a local rockhounding group that will be filled with people who know all of the best spots. Ill get into that later, but for now, Ill focus on the best places to look for agates. Some people describe it as looking like a potato skin generally fairly round and smooth, but with some rough spots and pits on the surface. As with the rest of the state, Northwestern New Mexico contains a wealth of rockhounding sites with a wide variety of rocks and minerals. (1.6k) Since most agates form in the pockets left by gas bubbles in solidified lava flows, they tend to be roughly spherical or oblong in shape. You can even find eyes in varieties of chalcedony like Carnelian if you get lucky! Banded Agate. . Organ. Fortification agates are fairly common and they make up the collections of many collectors. . How to Cut and Polish Agates? Plus, other rock hunters may have been to that same location at high tide so they will have missed anything that was underwater at the time. Sagenite, 6.4 cm . These are mostly comprised of old mining prospects, streams, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. In Brazil, most of them are found in the South, in the Rio Grande do Sul. It is when they are cut and polished that their intricate wavy patterns and colors are revealed. The key is in finding and identifying the rare stuff, such as Fairburn Agates, and separating it from the rest of the material in an area. If youre planning on hitting up a beach to look for agates then make sure to check the tide tables for the best time to go. A guide to New Mexico rockhounding is hardly complete without mentioning the eponymous state park of the hobby. For more information about turquoise in New Mexico I would recommend reading this short article from the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources which contains background and some details on each of the mining districts I listed above. Another very famous type of agate that can also be found in the U.S. is fire agate. It is your responsibility to know the rockhounding laws and regulations for each site you visit. I encourage you to check them out if you are curious about the legalities of rock and mineral collecting. Steins, NM 88045, USA. These unique and collectible specimens are only found in this region of New Mexico, making them a favorite among crystal collectors. Iris agate is sometimes used in jewelry but only displays well in earrings due to the nature of the optical qualities. 6. Rare minerals seem to be found at every turn, including the famous turquoise deposits in the state. Flickr/Samat Jain. All rights reserved. Agate is a strange word, used in a wide variety of ways. The best places to find turquoise in New Mexico are: Los Cerrillos Mining District Burro Mountains Mining District Hachita Mining District Jarilla Mining District These mining districts each contain many mines, both active and abandoned, and care should be taken to ensure you have permission to search and collect wherever you go. That constant motion polishes the rocks, making them extremely beautiful and relatively easy to spot. It is the responsibility of each rockhound to obtain permission from a landowner to search and/or collect on a piece of property. 2, p. 22 Montana is actually quite famous for its agates which have been one of their official state gemstones since 1969, along with sapphire. It can be very helpful to take a spray bottle with you so you can quickly wash off the superficial dust from small areas to check for agates. Waterline agate tends to not have vivid colors. 2005-2016 Agates with Inclusions. There are very specific spots that are known to have agates and those are the locations you need to start from. Here rockhounds can find jasper, thundereggs, agates, geodes, pearlite, smithsonite and other prized minerals. Turquoise. Most are fractured, and come in the colors of white, gray, and faint blue/lavender and . Many of these old mine sites offer the chance for rockhounds to collect specimens of fluorite. A locations listing here is not a guarantee of accuracy. Fluorite is quite easy to identify due to its unique geometric structure. Azurite is a secondary formation, created when mineral-laden waters seep into copper ore deposits. Agates are a subject of their own, with various varieties creating an amazing display. You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools. While agates are relatively common, they cant be found just anywhere. Try to find areas that have had recent digging activity if you are not quite sure where to start. Through quite a bit of research and cross-referencing of available literature, I have compiled this list of some prospective locations in New Mexico which I would recommend to people looking to do some rockhounding. New Mexico used to be home to industrial-scale mines dedicated to pulling Fluorspar from the Earth. Find out the main differences between real and fake agate in the article below: It can be found by driving northbound on Interstate 25 just before . Copyright 2022 Rockhound Resource | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, extensive post about rockhounding laws and regulations for just about any type of public land, how-to guide for rock and mineral collectors. Road cuts, construction, and other areas where mountainsides, soil, and other land is cut and exposed. Agates can actually be found in almost every European country and the chart below shows regions where agates have been previously found (this chart shows only a small amount of the locations for the whole list of agates found all over the world and more details, check out this site. Its is one of only two state parks in the U.S. that allows and even encourages visitors to keep something from the park. I hope my articles will be useful to you. Many types of rocks and minerals can be found around Albuquerque including agate, jasper, opalized and petrified wood, fluorite, and turquoise. Here are some of the most well-known and popular beaches on Lake Superior for agate hunting. Rockhounding In New Mexico! (Complete Guide) - Rock Seeker Its often compared to opal in terms of iridescence. The site is located approximately 40 air miles from both Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. Agates From Mexico - Etsy Ill be using agate in the modern sense for this article. Rio Puerco Valley, area gravels, washes, etc. They allow people to collect at the surface and dig among tailing piles. Including paid digs if you prefer. Mexican agate colors range from bright reds, blues, purples and yellows to pastel grays. 9 Different Types of Agate (With Pictures) - Rock Seeker Ultimate Guide To Keokuk Geodes (What They Are and Where To Find Them), Where To Find Jade In California (Top 5 Locations), New Mexico Bureau Of Geology And Mineral Resources, Rockhounding New Mexico: A Guide To 140 Of The States Best Rockhounding Sites, Rockhounding New Mexico: A Guide To 140 Of The State's Best Rockhounding Sites, Where to Find Oregon Agates (Tips and Locations), Rockhounding In New Mexico! waterline agates, and some with shadowing effect. This particular spot is considered to be. . The inclusions resemble small branches or trees, but the appearance of the inclusion is usually black. Here are some of the best beaches that Ive found, along with some information on the type of agates you can find at each. As mineral-laden water precipitates through the rock over time, it leaves behind concentric circles of microcrystalline quartz. W on S side of road, Nacimieto Mountains, area draws and washes, Jemez National Recreation Area, area near Battleship Rock, NW San Juan County, in Ojo Alamo formation exposures, Mount Chalchihuitl, area slopes and draws, Belen to Los Lunas, area gravels and washes, Pecos, mining dump near Willow Creek campground, Lee Russell & Kerr Canyons, area surfaces, Plains of San Agustin, volcanic tuff exposures. Since its such a huge collectors item, many people want to know more. New Mexico is one of the archetypes of the American desert Southwest. The truth is that your best bet is always to get to know the locals, but this book can make a close second. I'm still new to rockhounding, so be kind,. Picking the correct angle to cut is important as the view of the tube inclusions will depend entirely on where theyve been cut. Once that happens, however, they can be downright breathtaking. For the most part, plume agate will resemble feathers or smoke instead of moss. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Most commonly, the primary colors are purples, greens, and aquamarine. Like most rocks and minerals, they require a fairly specific geological setting to form, and more geological processes to become exposed for us to collect. While green moss agate is quite common there are many different oxidized metals that can end up forming in chalcedony. Agates form when hollow cavities in lava are later filled with quartz and other minerals precipitating through the rock, so any volcanic beds are a good sign. The finest, facet-quality moonstone in the United States comes from a deposit in Grant County. 114,000 talking about this. In New Mexico turquoise and ochre was mined near Santa Fe in pre-Columbian times. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. These formations are fractions of a millimeter thick, making fire agate much trickier to cut properly than most agates. A lot of agates are also found along the coast of California and this map shows the main locations. Make sure you take some serious precautions, abandoned mines are dangerous. Big Diggings, Burdick Hills. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; - YouTube 0:00 / 9:08 Hunting for Agates in New Mexico! Southeastern New Mexico is a fantastic area for rockhounding. Ill dive deeper into how agates form, why certain areas are better for agate hunting, and give you tips on how to give yourself the best shot possible of finding your very own agates to add to your collection. You can find these rocks on public land in many cases, and then search them for fossils. Fortification agates are often left in their rough form or simply tumble-polished. Agates can be transported great distances from where they originated, most commonly by glaciers, ocean currents, and rivers. If youre searching in good sunlight (especially in the morning or evening) the sun may cause the agates to show themselves more clearly. Having a GPS or map to ensure you are on public lands is a must.