Turquoise.
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.
What stone is Arizona known for?
The best known gems found in Arizona are turquoise, garnet, peridot, chrysocolla, azyr-malachite, malachite, agate, chalcedony, amethystine quartz, diamond (meteoric) dioptose and topaz.
What is the official gemstone of Arizona?
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.
Is Arizona known for crystals?
In Arizona, geodes can be found in many places across the state and contain a large diversity of crystals. Quartz geodes are some of the most common. Though Arizona has produced a dazzling array including brilliant purple amethyst specimens.
What mineral is Arizona known for?
Arizona’s is world-famous for its turquoise, peridot, petrified wood, azurite, and malachite; turquoise, azurite and malachite are copper-bearing minerals. Arizona also produces energy resources such as coal and small quantities of petroleum and natural gas.
Where can I find rare 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.
Is there opal in Arizona?
Opals have been found at the Burro Creek in Wickenburg. This is a well-known mineral producing area that will produce a wide variety of collectable minerals. The Southern Sky Opal mines are located in southern Arizona near Tubac in Santa Cruz County. These mines produce a soft blue opal that is highly desirable.
Which state has the most turquoise?
Arizona is currently the most important producer of turquoise by value. Several mines exist in the state, two of them famous for their unique colour and quality and considered the best in the industry: the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe ceased turquoise mining in August 2012.
What is the main mineral mined in Arizona?
Arizona’s copper production was 60% of the total for the United States. Copper mining also produces gold and silver as byproducts.
| Copper mining in Arizona | |
|---|---|
| Commodity | Copper |
| Production | 750,000 metric tons |
| Value | US $5.54 billion |
| Employees | 10,300 |
What is the most valuable gemstone?
Blue Diamond
1. Blue Diamond – $3.93 million per carat. The most expensive and rarest gemstone in the world is a natural blue diamond. That explains the price of $3.93 million per carat.
Is there any jade in Arizona?
Arizona Gemstones
Agate, amethyst, garnet, jade, jasper, obsidian, onyx, and opal have all been found in Arizona and used to make gems.
Is there aquamarine in Arizona?
Recently, some aquamarine crystals were obtained in the Santa Teresa Mountains of Graham County, including one excellent spray of terminated crystals approxi- mately 2.75 inches across, without matrix, that is now in the collection of Evan Jones, an Arizona collector/dealer.
What is Arizona turquoise?
Arizona Turquoise mines are world famous for their beautiful true blue Turquoise. Turquoise is Arizona’s most important gem material. This gem ranks top in value per production and is the most widely known of Arizona’s gemstones.
What are the top 3 things 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 rubies in Arizona?
Arizona Ruby
These garnets have been given the nickname “Arizona Rubies” because of their deeply saturated color. Even the small size of these gems doesn’t take away the gorgeous hue.
Where are garnets found in Arizona?
These include the Four Corners area in northeastern Arizona located on the Navajo Indian Reservation, at Garnet Ridge, 5 miles northwest of the Mexican Water Trading Post, and in Buell Park, 16 miles north of the tribal headquarters at Window Rock on the Arizona border with New Mexico.
Can diamonds be found in Arizona?
Diamond: The only diamonds found in Arizona are meteoric, and occur in meteoric iron found at Canyon Diablo, near Coon mountain, in the northern part of the state. The crystals are very small, and have no commercial value.
Where can I go gem hunting 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.
Where can I dig for opal in Arizona?
- Jay R claim, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, USA.
- State Route 75 opal locality, Duncan, Greenlee County, Arizona, USA.
- State Route 75 opal locality, Duncan, Greenlee County, Arizona, USA.
- Opal-AN, etc. Cochise Mining District, Little Dragoon Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, USA.
Is Amethyst found in Arizona?
Amethyst is actually rather rare in Arizona. Nevertheless, in this state’s rockhounding paradise there are still elusive finds to be made. There is one mine that continues to turn out world-class gems and others with their own unique specimens.
What rock is opal found in?
In Australia, precious opal is found in Cretaceous age sandstones and mudstones. These sedimentary rocks were deeply weathered and this weathering released silica into the groundwater. Small faults and joints in the rocks formed pathways for movement of the groundwater as it penetrated downwards.