Trip to AZ last week

by Boomrock on March 1, 2010

We had a chance to do some rockhounding using the Gem Trails of AZ book as the primary resource the 22nd – 26th of February. This was our first trip using the GPS so the coordinates to the parking area was very useful.  Here are brief notes about a few sites:

Maricope green jaspar site 73.

2/22/10   Easy to find the jump off point and an easy mile or so the collecting area. There was very nice material from light to dark green with some in large chunks up the hillsides. We did not need to do any hard rock work on the main deposit. To make things more interesting we reached the notch just in time to be hit by the edge of a large thunder cell so we had several minutes of cold rain, hail and strong wind to soak us through. The moisture really showed the color though!

Site 59.

2/23/10 Do not turn off the pavement at the first road marked by two rusty poles on the right at about the correct mileage. Take the next dirt road which is a much better path straight to the collecting site. The old Rowley mine is now controlled by a gentleman named Bob. He is letting a couple guys work the mine underground so there are some newer tailing piles with good specimens to be found. Due to a recent theft of fuel and equipment Bob has closed the property and posted no access. We called the number on the sign at the main access, 1.586.256.1223, introduced ourselves and asked permission. Bob allowed us to collect for the afternoon for which we were very grateful as there is beatiful material. We obtained all the featured minerals -  some in attractive  combinations.  The wulfinite crystals were not large but very nice.

 Wenden agate site 5.

2/25/10  Do not attempt this without 4 wheel drive. The section over the mountains has several very steep up and down loose rock sections. Very worthwhile trip however. Good quantity and quality of material and the site is scenic. Agate is the most plentiful. A small group of wild burros added to the experience.

{ 0 comments }

Bristol Mountain Onyx (S CA Site 31)

by Jerry on February 26, 2010

Directions: Mitchell’s map and directions will get you there, but it gets a little confusing about midway along the powerline road with the gasline road sometimes separating and crossing each other. At one point the gasline road gets lost in a dune. 4WD is mandatory. The 2 mile hike into the quarry is quite moderate, taking us about 45 minutes. When you can see the old cabin, you are nearly there.

Google Map

Date: February 2010

Notes: With the long drive on gravel roads and the hike, it takes almost 2 hours to get to the site from Ludlow, but it’s worth it. The strawberry onyx is mostly off-white with swirly pink patterns of varying shades. There is a lot of material available in the tailings and it wasn’t hard to dig out some nice sized cutting chunks from the hillside. There are some huge solid boulders, much too solid to try to break up. The main challenge was to avoid overloading our backs with too much nice onyx. There is a large amount of jasper available too, but given the choice of what to pack out, you’ll probably leave the jasper.

Tailings from the quarry - lots of good onyx

Tailings from the quarry - lots of good onyx

The old cabin at the quarry

The old cabin at the quarry

Huge block of strawberry onyx

Huge block of strawberry onyx

{ 0 comments }

Broadwell Dry Lake (S CA Site 32)

by JerryFebruary 26, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: We only had an afternoon available, so decided to try Site A, but we’re not sure if we got there. We had problems with Mitchell’s map and directions after the turn west away from the dry lake. There was a fork at 2.5 miles not shown on the map. Bear right as the left [...]

Read the full article →

Cadiz (S CA Site 25)

by JerryFebruary 24, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Mitchell’s map and directions to the site are misleading. The turn off Cadiz Rd is just before the 2nd curve where the road turns right to cross the railroad. From the parking area below the deposits, follow the trail left across the face, then around and up into the higher shale deposits on the [...]

Read the full article →

Chambless (S CA Site 26)

by JerryFebruary 22, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: We visited Sites B and C. Mitchell’s directions to the sites are generally accurate, however there is no street sign for “Mactull Ave”. It is the road just across the highway from the Chambless Water Company. A couple of blue painted cairns have been placed to help mark the road to site C. Use [...]

Read the full article →

Big River Agate (S CA Site 21, AZ Site 60)

by JerryFebruary 13, 2010 Arizona

Directions: We only visited Site B. Mitchell’s directions to the site are accurate. The site is clearly identified by the dome-shaped hill composed of red rhyolite, see photo.
Google Map
Date: February 2010
Notes: We stopped at 3 locations, the first 1.4 miles from Hwy 62, then 2 miles, and finally at about 3 miles. We obtained jasper [...]

Read the full article →

Cargo Muchacho Mountains (S CA Site 8, AZ Site 56)

by JerryJanuary 19, 2010 Arizona

Directions: We only visited Site B, on Indian Pass Rd. Mitchell’s directions are accurate. Rather than park at the designated site, we ventured a short distance further east and took a side road off to the right which led about 1/4 mile over and down to a wash.
Google Map
GPS: 33.001 N 114.778 W
Date: January 2010
Notes: [...]

Read the full article →

Yermo (S CA Site 47)

by JerryDecember 12, 2009 California - Southern

Directions: You should have no trouble following Mitchell’s directions to the sites. The “old pole line” road noted in the text for Site B is marked as BLM Rd 7640.
Google Map
GPS: Site B – N34.937, W 116.758; Site C – N34.943, W 116.771
Date: December 2009
Notes: Don’t bother with Site A, very little material, none above [...]

Read the full article →

Paul Bunyan Agate (S CA Bonus)

by JerryDecember 9, 2009 Bonus Sites

Directions: This site is located just northeast of Barstow, CA. From I-15 just east of town take Fort Irwin Rd north 7.1 miles. Turn left on Irwin  Rd and after 1/2 mile turn right on a minor dirt road. Follow it 1.9 miles north, then at the base of a small mountain take the road [...]

Read the full article →

Warm Springs (OR R3 Site 60 – GR)

by JerryOctober 5, 2009 Gem Trails by State

Directions: Garret’s directions and map will get you there and get you to the various sites. His GPS coordinates are accurate. We came from the Burns side and found the roads to all the collecting sites in very good shape (until it rained).
Google Map
Date: October 09
Notes: Our rock club (Central Oregon Rock Collectors) made a [...]

Read the full article →