Directions: In Gem Trails Deming Agate is identified with the “Big Dig” site 25 miles southwest of Deming proper. This area has been producing amazing agate for over 50 years. It is a private claim and only accessible through the Deming Gem and Mineral Society in conjunction with their annual Rockhound Roundup held each year in March (check http://dgms.bravehost.com for info). To participate, you must sign up, pay $10 per person and be escorted to the site. In 2009 there was a 25 lb/person limit.
Date: March 2009
Notes: Although our trip to the Dig was something of a circus, with about 75 vehicles and over 100 diggers, we were very pleased with our 50 lb haul. Two trenches had been excavated and there was a bit of a mad dash to stake out territory in the trenches and the piles of excavated ashy overburden.
Busy morning at the Big Dig.
We saw one spectacular 100 lb rock dug out of a trench wall, but we settled for digging through the gunky ash pile with rock picks. It was necessary to chip corners off of the rocks to expose agate, since roughly half of the solid material was not of good quality. It helped to have a spray bottle too to clean exposed surfaces. We obtained several 5-10 lb cutters, tumblers and a few nice specimens all with red, blue or black agate, some with gold mossy inclusions and others with drusey or quartz crystals.
Our 50 lb of Big Dig agates.
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