What gems and minerals are found in Arizona?
The best known gems found in Arizona are turquoise, garnet, peridot, chrysocolla, azyr-malachite, malachite, agate, chalcedony, amethystine quartz, diamond (meteoric) dioptose and topaz.
Where can I dig for gems in Arizona?
Below you’ll find some of the best places in Arizona to find the gems, stones, rocks, and minerals you are looking for:
- Burro Creek BLM Land in Wickenburg, Arizona.
- Santa Cruz County outside of Nogales, Arizona.
- Arizona Amethyst Mines in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
- Petrified Forest National Park in Northeast Arizona.
What is the official gemstone of Arizona?
Turquoise
Turquoise was designated the official gemstone of Arizona in 1974. It’s a blue-green, waxy-surfaced stone used for centuries in Southwest Indian Jewelry. It can be found throughout the Southwest and is composed of hydrous oxide of aluminum and copper.
What minerals are mined in Arizona?
Arizona leads in copper production and is a major producer of crude perlite, molybdenum, silver, & zeolites. It also produces bentonite, cement, common clay, construction & industrial sand & gravel, crushed & dimension stone, gypsum, lime, and salt.
Are there diamonds in AZ?
A: This turned out to be pretty interesting. There is indeed a wide spot on the road near the junction of U.S. 160 and Arizona 118 called Diamond Fields.
Which state produces the most minerals?
Nevada
Number 1: Nevada Much of the value of Nevada’s mineral industry comes from its precious metal production, as it leads the Nation in gold mining.
Where is the most gold found in Arizona?
Much of the active placer gold mining in Arizona is around the town of Wickenburg. Areas of high gold potential are located north of Wickenburg in Yavapai county, and south-southwest in Maricopa county.
What are Arizona State colors?
Maroon
Gold
Arizona State University/Colors
Is it legal to look for gold in Arizona?
Arizona is one of the best states in the US for gold prospecting. Not only is there a lot of gold here, but there is also good access to public lands that are open to prospecting. Gravity causes gold to concentrate in rivers, so they are always one of the best places to look for gold.
Where can you rockhound in Arizona?
The best places to collect rocks in Arizona include the areas around Phoenix and Tucson, as well as smaller towns such as Cave Creek, Clifton, Morristown, and Kingman. These locations offer a diverse array of rock and mineral specimens such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, turquoise, and copper.
What is the official state gemstone of Arizona?
Arizona Law. The law designating the Turquoise as the official Arizona state gemstone is found in the Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 41 (State Government) Chapter 4.1 (HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND STATE EMBLEMS) Article 5 (State Emblems) Section 41-858.
Where can you find gemstones in Arizona?
The gemstone is often found in areas near large copper deposits, which are also abundant across Arizona. These veins of turquoise often break the surface and can be found by rockhounds in the low desert to mid elevation ranges in several areas across the state.
Where can you find gems in Arizona?
Head to gem shops in the Phoenix area for peridot, which is a bright yellow-green or lime-green stone that is mined in nearby San Carlos, about 110 miles east of Phoenix. The largest peridot mine in Southern Arizona is on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, which supplies many of the area’s retailers with the gems.
What is Arizona’s State stone?
Turquoise is Arizona’s most important gem material. It ranks first in value of production and is the most widely known of Arizona’s gemstones. In 1974 the Arizona Legislature designated turquoise as the official state gemstone.
