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Arizona

TREASURE HUNTING IN ARIZONA
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Arizona

What this area is known for:
  1. Copper - Largest copper mine in the world, Morenci AZ
  2. Diamonds - Southeast AZ, most notably Duncan AZ
  3. Fire Agate
  4. Gold
  5. Petrified Wood
  6. Peridot
  7. Turquoise
  8. Garnet
  9. Opal
  10. Quartz Crystal - various colors
  11. Fluorescent Chalcedony
  12. Amethyst
Biggest finds in this area:
  1. The mines of Peridot Mesa are the world's largest source of this lovely green gem.
  2. Arizona has been a major supplier of turquoise as a by product of copper mining and from turquoise mines.
  3. Royal purple amethyst from Four Peaks Mine near Phoenix
Local appraisers: Name, contact info/website Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs:
  1. http://www.amfed.org/club.htm
  2. http://www.sedonagemandmineral.org
Best time of year to go: For most of Arizona vacationing is best in any season but summer. It is dry heat but it is heat never the less. Prospecting in the heat of the desert sun isn't very fun. I love winter and early spring in the southern deserts. The mountains are cooler and is more pleasant in the summer. Other helpful resources:
  1. "Rockhounding Arizona" by Gerry Blair The book contains 75 sites for gems, minerals, and fossil wood.
  2. "Minerals of Arizona A Field Guide for Collectors" Neil R. Bearce
  3. "Minerals, Fossils, AND FLUORESCENTS of Arizona" Neil R. Bearce
Have a question about treasure hunting or geocaching in this region?


THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT
Regions can have multiple good spots to go add details to build a complete guide.
Location #1: The Asarco Mines

http://www.asarco.com/AMDC/mine_tours.html

General description: Copper Mine tours. Piles of Azurite, Malachite, and other copper ores are visible in the massive open pits. A rockhound could go nuts just looking but fortunately at the end of the tour the collector can rummage for samples in a tailings pile. Great tour.
How to get there: Drive south from Tucson on HWY 19 and take exit 80 Pima Mine Road.

If you have never been to the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil shows in January and February, you life as a true lover of earth treasures is incomplete. There is great prospecting around the Tucson area.
http://www.tucsongemshowguide.com/
Grade this location: (A to F): A for a mine tour but the amount of specimens is restricted. However, I have great specimens of Azurite, Malachite, and Chysocolla from Asarco. GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1. Not much is needed
2. Camera (see the pictures at the bottom of the page)
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers: There is a nice gift shop that has quality specimens for sale. The gardens adjacent to the shop is a perfect for pictures.

Location #2: Burro Creek

General Description: Burro Creek is a well know collecting site with a wide variety of materials including, patterned jaspers, obsidian, purple chalcedony, opal with dendrite inclusions, and pink pastelite.
How to get there: Burro Creek campground is 25 miles from Nowhere, Az Population (5) ; 50 miles North of Wickenburg and if you are wanting to get away from the Big City - this is it. http://www.arizonalodging.com/attractions/burro_creek.html

Also explore the creek at HWY 93 Bridge 60 miles from Wickenburg.
Grade this location: (A to F): A GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along:
1. WATER
2. Tools - pick, rock hammer
3. Good shoes or boots
4. First aid kit - Arizona has a particularly nasty snake called the Western Diamondback
Helpful notes to newcomers:
The land is owned by the Bureau of Land Management. Follow the rules for collecting on public lands.
http://www.blm.gov/az/outrec/rockhounding/limits.htm
Carry your trash out.The next visitor deserves to enjoy the scenic beauty as much as you have. The veiws are spectacular but the camping is not.. If you want it you better bring it.

Location #3: Petrified Forest National Park


General description: Brilliant colors of reds, oranges, yellows, blues paint massive logs piled upon each in a long done past. What would a rockhound vacation to Arizona be without a stop at the Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert.
How to get there:
The two parks are next to each other off I 40.
The link gives directions and information to plan your trip:
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/
Grade this location: (A to F): A coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1. Camera
2.
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers: You can not collect petrified wood in the park! However, Location #4 gives information on collecting near the park

Location #4: Woodruff

General description: A large area around Woodruff, Arizona gives a collector ample opportunity to find nice pieces of brightly colored wood.
How to get there: Turn south at Woodruff on the Silver Creek Road. Search either side to the road for several miles.

I was lead to this site by Gerry Blair's book
"Rockhounding Arizona."
Grade this location: (A to F): A GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1. Hammer
2.Collecting bag or bucket
3. Hand pick
Helpful notes to newcomers: Look for a what looks like a small piece pocking up from the dirt. It might be just the tip of a much larger piece.

Location #5: Black Mountains

General description: The Black Mountains are a source of chalcedony pieces that have eroded from the matrix and washed down the slopes and washes. Some of the pieces contain the flashy fires of gold and green that collectors call "Fire Agate".
How to get there: The Black Mountains are in Northwest Arizona near the town of Kingman. From
I 40 take the Oatman road for about twenty miles. The mountains are visible on your left.
Grade this location: (A to F): A GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1. Buckets or Rock Bag
2. Rock Hammer
3. Small hand pick
Helpful notes to newcomers: The material is scattered over a wide area and will require some diligence in finding good pieces.

Location #6: The Grand Canyon


General Description: What can be said; one must see the canyon to understand its awe inspiring effect No other place is the earth's incomprehensible ages revealed. The Colorado river has cut over a mile into 1.7 billion years of our earth's past. Layer after layer the rocks speak to us of the ages upon ages. In the shear magnitude and utter spender of the canyon one is lost in creation and wonder.
How to get there:
The following links offer help in planning your trip:

http://www.nps.gov/grca/

http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/grandcanyon/

http://www.thecanyon.com/
Grade this location: ( A to F) It would be a travesty to rate the Grand Canyon GPS Coordinates:
Handy to bring along:
1. Camera
2. Adventuresome spirit
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers: Don't just see the canyon standing on the rim, although it will take your breath away. Go the extra mile; hike into the canyon, ride the mule train, float the river, fly over the canyon or discovery unique ways to truly experience the GRAND CANYON. It is truly one of America's greatest treasures.

Location #7: Black Hills Rockhound Area


General Description: The Bureau of Land Management has designated the Black Hills as a scenic, historical, and geological area. The main attraction for rockhounds is the fiery bling of Fire Agate. Chalcedony is plentiful but most is white. With a little work the flashy greens, reds, and golds can be found
How to get there:
Black Hills rockhound area is located on the north side of Arizona route 191, between Safford and Clifton, about 18 miles north of Safford. Follow the dirt road about 2 miles to the heart of the collecting area.

The Link provides information about not only rochhounding but other attractions:

http://www.blm.gov/az/outrec/rockhounding/blackhills.htm

The above link does not function, a valid link to the BLM site

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/rockhnd/locations/blk_hills.html
Grade this location: GPS Coordinates:
Handy to bring:
1. Rock Hammer
2. Water
3.Small hand pick
Helpful notes to newcomers: The road beyond the check in station is not regularly maintained. Travel by passenger car or travel trailer is not recommended..

Location #8:Bradshaw Mountains Placer Gold
The Bradshaw Range north of Phoenix has yielded thousands of ounce of gold to amateur prospectors. There are places to metal detect pan and sluice for gold.
General Description:
How to get there: Take Highway 17 north out of Phoenix, AZ. Highway 17 runs along the Brashaw Mtns. From south of Black Canyon City to Prescott.
Grade this location: (A to F) A GPS Coordinates: The gold is found over a large area and at several locations.
Handy to bring:
1. Metal Detector
2. Gold Pan
3. Digging Tools
Helpful notes to newcomers:

Map and More information on the Gold in the Bradshaws:
Bradshaw Montains Placer Gold

Location #9:
(Local beach, park, etc)



General description:
How to get there:
Grade this location: (A to F): GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1.
2.
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers:

Location #10:
(Local beach, park, etc)



General description:
How to get there:
Grade this location: (A to F): GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1.
2.
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers:

Location #11:
(Local beach, park, etc)



General description:
How to get there:
Grade this location: (A to F): GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1.
2.
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers



VIDEO FROM THIS AREA
Upload a YouTube or Google video of geocaching or treasure hunting excursions from this area.

National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures

About this video:

Video submitted by:

National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures

About this video:

Video submitted by:
National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures

About this video:

Video submitted by:
National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures

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PHOTOS FROM THIS AREA
Upload pictures of your geocaching or treasure hunting excursions from this area.

Asarco Mines AZ

About this photo: Azurite, Chrysocolla, Malachite and other copper ores from Asarco Mine - Dig In Everyone

Photo submitted by:Bill Reynolds


Arizona - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures
About this photo: Asarco Mine- a lovely lady in a small ore truck tire.

Photo submitted by: Bill Reynolds



About this photo: Amethyst Geode from Brazil - just one of thousands of spectacular gemstones to see at the Tucson shows in January and February

Photo submitted by:Bill Reynolds

A nice little amethyst geode



About this photo: This is a piece of Fluorescent Chalcedony it was found in the Superstition Mountains.

Photo submitted by:Thomas Contreras (AZrhound) Visit my Profile at http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/account/AZrhound
Fluorescent Chalcedony

More ARIZONA LOCATIONS

Phoenix >>>>>>


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Latest page update: made by gamaliel114 , Sep 8 2009, 6:08 PM EDT (about this update About This Update gamaliel114 Edited by gamaliel114


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Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
sandydattilio where is the best place to gem hunt in arizona? 3 May 30 2009, 11:56 PM EDT by Petronut
Thread started: May 30 2009, 8:04 PM EDT  Watch
This will be my husband and my first time doing this.
1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
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lorenasimon Want to pan for gold in AZ as well 10 Apr 1 2009, 4:02 PM EDT by lorenasimon
Thread started: Mar 11 2009, 3:03 AM EDT  Watch
I am also looking to pan for gold around surprise, AZ or an hour or more away is cool to
lorenasimon@cox.net. I can't wait to get started, thank you again for all your help
Lorena
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lorenasimon Want to hunt for gem stones in AZ Help!!! 8 Mar 27 2009, 1:31 PM EDT by dbsagates
Thread started: Mar 11 2009, 2:55 AM EDT  Watch
i live in Surprise, AZ are there any places close to hunt for gold and gem stones that do not cost alot of money. I need your help please.
lorenasimon@cox.net Also I am a first timer so also would you be so kind as to tell me what I need, like a pick ax and where I may find them if possable, if not I will find out some how.
I trully can not thank you enough for all your help and some is better then none.
Lorena
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Keyword tags: gems Gold prospectors Rubys
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