From the category archives:

Gem Trails by State

Kilbourne Hole Peridot (NM Site 81)

by JerryMarch 20, 2011 Gem Trails by State

Directions: Some of the area roads seem to have new numbers. Head for Santa Teresa airport via NM 136 and look for the railroad tracks. You should find county road A17 on the far side, paralleling the racks. From there the directions are good. The turn toward the hole is unmarked, but just past a [...]

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Geronimo Trail Geodes (NM Site 60, AZ Site 75)

by JerryMarch 8, 2011 Arizona

Directions: We came in from Animas on the NM side and had no problems finding the locale. We had directions to a dig site that were not listed in the book. At 8 miles from the start of Geronimo Trail, turn left (south) on a side road marked by a sign “Black CCC Dam.” Bear [...]

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Black Hills Fire Agate (AZ Site 71)

by JerryMarch 1, 2011 Arizona

Directions: Book directions are accurate, but the turn is unmarked on US 191, so be watching right after MP 141. Also, the Thumb Butte site is (we think) at MP 144.
Date: February, March, 2011
Notes: We stayed several days at the BLM Black Hills Rockhound Area. There are several good camp sites nearby and we had [...]

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Newberry Nodules and Agate (SoCal, R2, Site 36)

by pshiromaFebruary 21, 2011 California - Southern

Directions: The map will get you to the general location without issue. See notes section below.
Date: February 21, 2011
Notes: We were back in the Barstow area visiting another site and stopped at this location for about an hour. That’s simply not enough time to properly look through the area. Also, on further inspection, I realized [...]

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Wenden Dendritic Agate (AZ Site 5)

by JerryFebruary 1, 2011 Arizona

Directions: You may not find this site using the book directions. There is no stock pen. The road leading from the pipeline road is really a wash, but an easy one to travel. It is just beyond the red 45 mile pipeline marker, 12.8 miles on our odometer from Alamo Lake Rd. Bear right on [...]

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Field Road (SoCal, Site 50)

by pshiromaJanuary 30, 2011 California - Southern

Date of Visit: January 29, 2011
Directions: The location is easy to reach and the map is fine. We visited Site A.
Notes: As the book states, Site A is expansive. We parked at the end of the paved road and walked east towards the wash, going approximately 150 yards from where we parked. After all the [...]

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Jacumba Minerals (S CA Site 1)

by JerryJanuary 11, 2011 California - Southern

Directions: This site is easy to find. In-Ko-Pah is Exit 77 on I-8 at 3000 feet in the western Jacuma Mountains. From the end of the road you can drive another tenth of a mile before parking. There was a recent model trailer set up along side the road to Site B, but it appeared [...]

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Oatman Fire Agate (AZ Site 4)

by JerryNovember 28, 2010 Arizona

Directions: The Gem Trails directions are accurate for this site. Look for the claims sign on the north side of the highway and park in the area just below.
Date: November 2010
Notes: We visited the site from nearby Laughlin, NV, on a cool, sunny late fall day. There are multiple claims in the area, but we [...]

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Hallelujia Mountain (N CA Site 42)

by FishBonzSeptember 13, 2010 California - Northern

What a great location! Even without getting the hang of chiseling away the host rock and not finding any meaningful vugs of quartz crystals, I still managed to find some decent terminated quartz crystals just lying around in the dirt and under bushes. There is quartz everywhere here – just be sure to [...]

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Pulga Site B (N CA Site 35)

by FishBonzSeptember 13, 2010 California - Northern

Found “Site B” without too much difficulty. Although the guide indicates it requires a hike up Camp Creek Rd., it is currently driveable all the way to the diggings. It was sad to see that someone has hit the cliff side with what must be power equipment, to clean out what must have [...]

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