Fire Agate Rockhounding

Sites and Mineral Locations

Fire Agate is a natural precious gemstone with deposits found only in certain areas of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States (primarily Arizona, California and parts of New Mexico). These fire agate gemstone deposits fall within two general locations. The first, the Sonoran Desert region, stretches from the southwestern United States to northern Mexico. The second area starts north of Mexico City and lies between the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges. If you are looking at where to find fire agates then we hope this page will be a good starting point with a list of open public rockhouding sites.

Fire agate gemstone deposits were formed in these particular regions approximately 24-36 million years ago when the areas were subjected to massive volcanic activity during the Tertiary Period. Geological conditions within these different regions vary which produce differences in the type and style of fire agate found in each region. The agate formation, size, color and fire layer thickness all vary within these different geographic locations.

Fire Agate Gemstone Mineral Locations

Black Hills Fire Agate Public Rockhounding Site

Here is a listing of some of the many different Fire Agate gemstone mineral locations. A few of these sites are open to public rockhounding and others are private mining claims or are located on restricted public lands, or tribal lands, where any type of mineral collection is prohibited by the general public. Some of the mine owners such as those at Oatman and Opal Hill do offer a 'fee to dig' service.

Please respect the rights of private property owners and mining claims holders at all times, as well as respecting our public lands for current and future generations. Remember that it is illegal to go rockhounding to collect rocks and minerals off of the public lands for commercial purposes (you are not suppose to sell what you collect). If you have questions on this issue please contact your local Bureau Of Land Management office.

Black Hills, Arizona - BLM Public Rockhounding Site - This Arizona public rockhounding area makes a great day adventure for rock collectors. Non-commercial collecting of rocks and minerals is allowed on BLM administered lands within BLM collecting limits and as long as no one has an active mining claim on the site.

Oatman, Arizona - Cuesta Mine - Several pay to mone operations are located in this vicinity.

Opal Hill, California - Opal Hill Mine - Opal Hill has a long known history of quality fire agate production, having produced many wonderful gemstones over the years.

Round Mountain, Arizona - BLM Public Rockhounding Site - A popular rockhounding area located near the town of Duncan in eastern Arizona.

Saddle Mountain, Arizona - Outdoor Recreation and Rockhounding Site - Located west of Phoenix, Saddle Mountain is a ver popular rock hounding area. Non-commercial collecting of rocks and minerals is allowed on the BLM administered lands, subject to BLM collecting limits, and as long as no one has an active mining claim on the site.

Deer Creek, Arizona, Fire Agate Location - Most of the lands containing fire agates in Deer Creek area are active Federal mining claims, private property, or Arizona State Trust Land, all of which do not allow public rock hounding or mineral collection of any type. Please verify land status prior to any visit to this location to avoid possible propery rights problems.

Slaughter Mountain, Arizona - San Carlos Apache Mine - The fire agate deposit lies within the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Graham County, Arizona. Access to the mine is controlled and only members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe are permitted to mine the area, preserving both the cultural heritage and the integrity of the land.

Fire Agate From Joy Valley, Arizona - Rock & Gem has a good page that describes their visit to the fire agate mineral depost at Joy Valley. The locality is in the Whitlock Valley and west of the Peloncillo Mountains. The site is in the southeastern tip of Graham County on land administered by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and on Arizona State Trust Land. Collecting of rocks and minerals is allowed on BLM administered lands within BLM collecting limits and as long as no one has an active mining claim on the site. Mineral collecting on Arizona State Trust Land is not permitted and entry onto State Trust Lands requires a recreational permit.

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