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RAY'S RAMBLINGS
Ray Hill -
Rockhound Extraordinar
Collecting Geodes, Quartz Nodules,
Septarian Nodules and Agate near Payson, Arizona.
In February, 2002, I had flown out to Phoenix, Arizona
to attend the wholesale shows in Quartzite and Tucson; while there I took a
day off to go do some rock collecting. I had gotten three collecting guides
prior to my trip there and selected a couple of sites to check out.
(Arizona Minerals And How To Find Them, by Raymond Merriam.
Gem Trails of Arizona, by Bessie Simpson and James Mitchell.
The Rockhound's Guide To Arizona,by Gerry Blair.)
All three of the collecting guides listed an interesting site just
outside Payson, Arizona. Being within an easy days drive from Phoenix I
decided to check it out.
To get to this interesting and productive collecting location, take
State Highway 87 north from Phoenix about 75 miles to Payson, Arizona. Stay on
Highway 87 through the city and go about another 15 miles to Forest Road 64
which will be on your right. This is a well maintained road and should not
present and difficulty to most vehicles. From this point go east on Forest
Road 64 for a distance of 12 miles. (One mile past a small bridge that crosses
the road.) Park here.
Here's a photo taken along Highway 87 just outside Payson......
And here's a shot taken along Forest Road 64. Notice the snow bank. This
picture was taken the first week in February.
When you get to the site, one mile past the small
bridge, park and start checking out the area on both sides of the road. On
the north side of the road there is a small creek. When I was there the water
in the creek was crystal clear and very cold. I picked up a few nodules from
the creek bed, but, it wasn't that productive.
Then I walked up and down the road looking for the
geodes and nodules. Again, not very productive. Then I ventured up the hill
south of the road and came upon what looked to me like an old logging trail or
road. To my amazement I found that this small road was literally paved with
the geodes and nodules I was after. Wow! There were thousands of 'em! Laying
all over the place!
Here's a couple of shots of the geodes and nodules lying in
the trail/road........
About the only collecting tools you'll need at
this site is a couple of buckets and your hands, although a small shovel or
rock pick would be helpful. The geodes and nodules found here will run from
quarter size to softball size with an occasional football size specmen thrown
in, although the majority will be between two and three inches in diameter.
The specimens here have been called "Brainstone", Septarian
nodules, Quartz Nodules, and Geodes. They are of quartz with a tan to dark
gray "bubbly" exterior and a white creamy colored interior. Most of the
specimens found here will be solid with no cavity inside. Probably 90% will be
solid
nodules. But hollow specimens with crystal filled cavities can be found here.
You will see where folks before you have broken nodules open looking for the
hollow ones. They're laying all around. The nodules make nice display pieces
uncut. You'll also find, with a little more looking, a nice blue and white
agate at this location. Keep your eyes open for
this excellent cutting material. It's there.
I spent about two
hours collecting the geodes and nodules at this site and then lugged my buckets
back down the hill to the car, and, not even having to change the tire on the
rental car dampened my enthusiasm for this site.
Even stopping to get a snack and drink on my way back to Phoenix it only took
a hair under two hours to get back. I really enjoyed my trip to this great
collecting site. I know you will too. So when out that way, go check it out.
Ray
Ray Hill
Great South Gems & Minerals, Inc.
http://www.greatsouth.net
1-888-933-4367
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