Rockhounding Arizona: A Guide to 75 of the State’s Best Rockhounding Sites
Discover Arizona’s Rocks, Minerals, Gemstones and Historic Collecting Areas
Explore one of America’s most geologically diverse states with Rockhounding Arizona: A Guide to 75 of the State’s Best Rockhounding Sites by Gerry Blair. This field guide directs beginning and experienced rockhounds to productive collecting areas throughout Arizona.
The book covers well-known destinations, commercial collecting sites and lesser-known locations. Readers can learn where to search for jasper, turquoise, petrified wood, mineral specimens, gold and other Arizona treasures.
Inside This Guide
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Seventy-five Arizona rockhounding destinations
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Maps and directions for locating featured sites
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Descriptions of rocks, minerals and gemstones found at each location
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Collecting and specimen-preparation advice
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Information for beginning and experienced rockhounds
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Directions to museums and rock shops
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Coverage of public lands and commercial collecting locations
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Background information about Arizona’s geology and mining regions
Featured Collecting Interests
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Jasper and agate
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Turquoise
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Petrified wood
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Quartz and mineral crystals
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Gold-bearing areas
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Historic mining districts
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Desert rocks and minerals
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Fossils and prehistoric material for lawful observation
Ideal For
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Rockhounds
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Mineral and gemstone collectors
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Gold prospectors
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Families planning outdoor adventures
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Arizona residents and visitors
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Geology students
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Treasure hunters
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Lapidary enthusiasts
Book Details
Important Collecting Information
Land ownership, access routes, regulations and collecting restrictions can change after a guide is published. Always verify current conditions with the appropriate land-management agency or property owner before visiting a site.
Obtain permission before entering private property. Follow all federal, state, tribal and local regulations, and never remove specimens or artifacts from locations where collection is prohibited.
Whether you are planning a dedicated collecting trip or simply want to explore Arizona’s remarkable geology, Rockhounding Arizona is a useful field companion for finding and understanding the state’s mineral treasures.
Rockhounding Arizona includes more than seventy of Arizona’s best rockhounding sites and their emblematic activities, from jasper hunting in the historic mining district near Bagdad to searching for gold in the Superstition Mountains and digging for turquoise at the foot of the Hieroglyphic Range.
Rockhounding Arizona covers popular and commercial sites as well as little-known areas. It describes where to view mineral specimens and prehistoric artifacts at Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest national parks, as well as on tribal lands. Brimming with advice on collecting and preparing gems and minerals, this handy reference also includes maps, and directions to each site as well as to museums, rock shops, and major tracts of public land. For the beginner, it offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby. For the expert, it is an outstanding guide and sourcebook.
