Gypsum is a common mineral, and one thats more important to the modern world than many realize. The Cady Mountains are located next to Barstow and have incredible basalt formations that attract rockhounding enthusiasts worldwide. The old mill, a brewhouse, and a few other neat establishments make up the small community. However, its not very close to town. After youre fully prepared for your trip, try to find old wash throughs and stream outcrops. Here are our favorite spots to hunt rocks, crystals, and fossils that you should check out if you are visiting the area. Rockhounding in Southern California reached its height of popularity during the late 50s. Benitoite is a rare minerals best known to be the official Californian state gemstone. Potato Farm or Field. The Mojave Desert is home to the most precious rockhounding sites in California. The area is somewhat remote. The rockhounding site has a good collection of chalcedony, agate, petrified wood, chrysocolla, and malachite specimens. The site has different types of rocks and minerals, so you might find valuable samples there. 2 pit, Red Rock, Lassen Co., California, USA. How to Stabilize Ethiopian Opal (Step-by-Step Guide). So, you dont have to go spelunking to lug home some beautiful specimens. Big Sur. As a result, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) highly discourages the use of asbestos portions in this location. The most famous of these sites is called the Hauser Geode Beds, which are located at Wiley Well in the northern region of Imperial Valley, CA. Sometimes called Coon Hollow, this site is located deep in the Mule Mountains not far from Palo Verde, CA. In this article, weve listed some of the rockhounding locations of Southern California, including the types of minerals that can be found in each. The mine has an extraordinary variety of gemstones and crystallized minerals, such as quartz specimens, amethyst geodes, agates, jaspers and more. Remember! Start your search a few miles outside of town. From the Wiley's Well exit on Interstate Highway 10 located some 16 miles west of Blythe, California, drive 2.9 miles south to the end of pavement at a stop sign at 3334.183' N and 11453.882' W. The paved road turns right to two state prisons, Chuckawalla Valley and Ironwood. If you like to have a physical book in hand (like when theres no cell service), heres a few popular options: Rockhounding California: A Guide To The States Best Rockhounding Sites, Smithsonian Rocks and Minerals Identification Guide. Good luck, and have fun! The dry Fish Lake Valley is nearly entirely on territory owned by the BLM and is free to exploration. Theyre located in desert land, and theyre usually mixed in with large rocks. Crescent City and the surrounding area of Del Norte County is home to some very nice prospective rockhounding locations. You can find many exciting crystals there, including amethyst, garnet, quartz, and chalcedony. Poke around, dig some, and you just may find a nice geode. Ultimate Guide To Tourmaline | What It Is and Where To Find It! Similar to the location above, the Marble Mountains is a classic trilobite fossil site. The list of places to go rockhounding is endless, but these are some of our favorite destinations. On rare occasions, it will show a bit of blue and on even rarer ones youll see a light green color. What is Benitoite Mineral? Heres a brief overview of the mine if you decide to check it out. The mineral breaks in a way that its always sharp which makes it ideal for this kind of use. The geodes tend to be a much lighter brown than the other rocks in the area. The Opal Hill Mine is located in the Mule Mountains District of Riverside County in the state of California. The amethyst stone can be found in pockets and veins of quartz further up on the eastern slopes of the mountain range. Colorado Desert in Southern California by Delmer G. Ross Many of those who have dug for thundereggs at the Colorado Desert's famous Hauser Geode Beds or Potato Patch are also aware of the existence of the nearby Cinnamon Beds. In winter, the average high is 65F, so it might be best to visit during spring or fall. So its no surprise that rock hunters come from all over to take advantage of these opportunities for discovery. Afton Canyon, which locals call The Grand Canyon of the Mojave, is the best place to prospect for gems and minerals near Los Angeles, California. Some examples of these are jade, agate, and jasper. (Find Of a Lifetime! Amethyst. Some of the links on our website are affiliate links. Known for its dramatic geological formations, the Afton Canyon, also known as The Grand Canyon of the Mojave, is the only location in Southern California where the Mojave River flows year-round above ground. Required fields are marked *. Gold, hedenbergite, jaspers, quartz, and chert specimens are in abundance. Where can I Rock Hunt in Northern California? We found some quartz specimens with beautiful inclusions and pyrite cubes scattered on the ground during our visit to Lake Cachumas south shore trail. Amethyst. Just north of Pebble Beach is the more remote Kellogg Beach. In this article, we'll look at how to make the best of your trip to the Hauser Geode Beds. Dedicated rockhounds can hope to find quality specimens of minerals including Jade, Nephrite, Serpentine, and Rhodonite. Geodes Geodes are hollow rock formations that contain crystals, generally in a round or potato-esque shape. Crescent City, California is the location of Kellogg Beach. Now, the area is open to the public, and it has become a popular spot for rock hounds. Beck Mine [1], Kingston Peak, Kingston Range District, Kingston Range, San Bernardino Co., California, USA. Rockhounding enthusiasts love Chambless because it has many interesting sites to discover rocks, crystals, and fossils. Where can I find rocks to tumble in California? It is also your responsibility to verify and gain permission to visit each collection site that is mentioned on this website. . ). This reduces our competition for hot rocks. Bring along the same heavy-duty tools I told you to bring for Hauser, and make sure you have plenty of water since its usually hot. Where To Find Geodes In Southern California, Rockhounding California: A Guide To The State's Best Rockhounding Sites, The Uncle Sam Diamond: Unveiled After 40 Years (The Story Behind This Record Setting Diamond), One-of-a-Kind Discovery: Unusual Diamond Found with Another Diamond Inside, Ancient Amethyst Ring May Have Served as Hangover Prevention, Man Discovers 794-Pound Emerald Worth $300 Million, Rare Discovery Reveals Insect Trapped in Opal! Your email address will not be published. There are many easily accessible geode collecting sites in the western United States, including in California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. The Hauser Geode Beds are famous among geode collectors, and they're located in Blythe, California. RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. The Pinnacles is another great place we love visiting when rockhounding in California. To this day people still head to SoCal hoping to strike it rich in the rivers and streams of the area. Weather in Chamberless is extremely dry and hot, with temperatures ranging from 78.8F to 107.4F. Good luck, and have fun! Located in the remote Californian desert, this rugged site is a field of volcanic ash where untold mineral riches are still buried. These big igneous rocks can be seen everywhere around the mine. The mines are leftover from WWII. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. In SoCal, the main draws are gem-grade spessartine garnet and grossular garnet. These are large-grained stones, where the grains are usually crystals that range from a few centimeters to over a foot in length. Where is the best place to find geodes in Arizona? A friend recommended the Mojave Desert when asked about the best places to go rockhounding when visiting. One of the most popular rockhounding sites in southern California is the Calico Mountains. Crescent City, California is the location of Kellogg Beach. Slate Mountain is located in El Dorado County like Pino Grande. This area is home to some of the best rockhounding in all of California. The state is home to dozens of different places to go rock hunting, including as mines, quarries, seaside beaches, and stream beds. Where To Find Geodes In Southern California. It is a great location for rockhounding near Palm Springs. The Purple Heart Mine is located in the Kingston Range of the San Bernardino County in southern California and surrounded by large igneous rocks. In particular Ramona, California is known to produce the aforementioned gem-grade spessartine garnets. So you should be prepared with proper equipment before attempting the long hikes and rock mining through the rough terrain. The only nearby services are provided by Wiley Campground. Where can I find turquoise in southern California? When looking for geodes, you should seek for rocks that have a rough surface and are spherical or egg-shaped. Its an excellent place for hikers to seek out volcanic bombs and rocks. The flat desert floor has some exceptional specimens of fire agate and nice petrified wood specimens. We dug some large crystals and discovered some fossil strata. All Rights Reserved. Best of all, you wont have to travel too far. Gold is a huge part of Californias history, and while we generally talk about the Sierra Nevada region when were discussing the California Gold Rush theres also a lot of gold in the Southern part of the state. And we had to be careful when hitting and splitting shales to expose trilobites. What can I text my friend to make her smile? The geode cave is in places 35 feet in . The site may be popular, but its not a company-based location. Is it illegal to take rocks from the desert in California? Instead, most people seeking out gypsum formations in the Southern California desert are looking for the distinct shape of desert roses or the beautiful crystals of selenite. Geodes are round or oblong rocks that form inside holes and crevices of sedimentary rock or bubbles in volcanic flows. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The counties of Riverside and Imperial include the greatest number of geode sites per square mile in all of Southern California. Its relatively untouched because it was incredibly difficult to find before modern GPS became standard on most phones and cars, and that means that not a lot of diggers have taken advantage of the site. Perhaps someone mentioned the name, or they may have seen it on a map. If youre fond of trilobites, you shouldnt miss Chamblesss Rock Collecting Area. How many championships do Wayne Gretzky have? As far as directions go, it would take pages upon pages of words to properly direct you to the site. Although the state of California, the state of Utah, the state of Nevada, the state of Iowa, and the state of Arizona are all famous for their geodes, geodes may be found in the majority of other states as well. Here, you can freely hunt, hike, fish, and partake in wildlife watching. But knowing where to go to find geodes is what can be extremely challenging. Plus, its easily accessible, and the parking area is close to where you can start your search. We learned that the area is a former gold mine. Its open to the public, and its a perfect place for both families and serious rock collectors. And as an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases after clicking on those links, at no additional cost to you. Northern California offers some of the states best rockhounding opportunities. The Opal Hill Mine is located in the Mule Mountains District of Riverside County in the state of California. Today, it remains to be one of the USs top locations for rockhounding. The only nearby services are provided by Wiley Campground. When you are searching, you should seek for rocks that have lumps in them. Hiding within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Crystal Mine can be found off of Long Valley Road and just before you reach Lookout Campground. Once you get to the geode beds, youll need some fairly tough tools. The dump features various rocks and minerals, including quartz crystals, geodes, jasper gemstones and more. We also found many quartz specimens and beautiful minerals that we kept as souvenirs. The Kern County mines are the only known sources of gem-fire opals in California, and one of only three recognized opal fields in the United States. Selling Rocks And Minerals (Tips on How To Sell Your Rock Collection), What Were Indian Arrowheads Made Out Of? San Diego is even known as one of the largest producers of gemstones. Jade Cove is a bit south of Big Sur, but its another great spot to find jade. I wanted to give you a few ideas on where to go in Northern California to find geodes on your own. 3 Siskiyou County. Thats why I put this article together. Within California theres a dizzying array of different types, it just depends on the location that they eroded from. Always respect private property! Dig the rounded geodes out of holes left by other miners, or start your own hole. There are no developed trails in this area. For the most part, Potato Patch is just like Hauser. Hauser Geode Beds. So, at least theres a spot nearby for you to camp if you plan a long trip. The river is dry most of the year, making it easy to collect beautiful quartz specimens that reflect stunning rainbow colors. The Mojave desert is a mineralogically rich area. The Oceanview Gem Mine and Pala Chief mine, found in Southern Californias Chief Mountains, is a fee-pay mine that allows you to dig for gems and the like. Due to its exceptional natural values, much of Turtle Mountain is widely recognized as the National Natural Landmark. The Sierra Pelona Mountains is home to the most diverse geology in California, making it one of the best places for rockhounding. Hauser Geode Beds. Potato Farm or Field. The most common mineral found within the geodes is quartz in various colors: clear (rock crystal), purple (amethyst), and pink (rose). In winter, the Marble Mountains is home to some of the year making..., Utah and Nevada have to travel too far a popular spot for rock.... In abundance from 78.8F to 107.4F exciting crystals there, including quartz crystals, and a few neat! Verde, CA and partake in wildlife watching deep in the Mule Mountains District of County! Go, it remains to be the official Californian state gemstone big igneous rocks can be found off of Valley... And pyrite cubes scattered on the ground during our visit to Lake Cachumas south shore trail in Chamberless extremely... 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