COLLECTING GEODES, QUARTZ NODULES,
SEPTARIAN NODULES AND AGATE
NEAR PAYSON, ARIZONA

by Ray Hill

In February, 2002, I flew out to Phoenix, Arizona to attend the wholesale shows in Quartzite and Tucson. While there, I took a day off to do some rock collecting. I had gotten three collecting guides prior to my trip 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 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.)

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 very productive.

Then I walked up and down the road looking for 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 them lying all over the place!

Here are 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 are 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 specimen 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 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 too. You will see where folks before you have broken nodules open looking for the hollow ones. They're lying 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.

Even with 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.

Ray Hill
Great South Gems & Minerals, Inc.
www.greatsouth.net
888-933-GEMS

Note: Only rock clubs have permission to print this article but must give credit to the author, Ray Hill, and Great South Gems & Minerals, Inc. For everyone else, please email us for permission.

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