These states are some of the most common states to come across raw amethyst as a rockhound:. Quick Tip: By clicking on the links above you will get opened a full guide on what rocks and minerals are and where you can find them in each state.
You can find similar links for different states throughout this article. Amethyst is easiest for people to find in rock geodes, which are commonly found in creeks, streams, and rivers. Rock geodes appear similar to a normal rock, but they may have a more rounded appearance.
Upon cracking a geode, a rockhound may find an interior hollow decked with amethyst crystals. Moreover, other crystals show up in geodes as well. The quality of amethyst is usually judged on the color of the stone, which is preferably a rich, medium violet color. A popular way for amethyst to be collected and displayed is within the geode itself. Size also significantly increases the quality and value of an amethyst. Agate is a reddish or brownish stone that is known for its striped or marbled appearance across its surface.
While agates can be found in other colors such as green agate , reddish-brown agate is the most common type found. Agate can be found in many Western states in the United States but can also be found in any area where igneous rocks and old lava beds are found.
Agate can be identified by holding the stone up to the light. Agate is a relatively low-quality stone that is also inexpensive. Quality in agate is judged by size since larger pieces make it easier to see the patterns in the stone more easily. Agate that is more colorful or has a stronger pattern is also sold at a higher price than agate that is plainer in color or markings.
Topaz can be found in a wide variety of different colors since it often contains impurities that affect its color. The most common coloration of topaz is golden brown or yellow topaz, and topaz is often used in fine jewelry. It is especially popular as a less expensive substitute for diamonds.
Topaz is the official gemstone of Utah, but it can also be found in many other Western states as well as the following locations:. Topaz is also mined across Asia and central Europe. In contrast to lab-created topaz, natural topaz is often colorless or has a pale, yellow hue similar to citrine. It is much easier to find topaz embedded in igneous rock or veins than it is to find it on the surface, but they can still be found in your backyard depending on where you live.
The color usually dictates the quality and value of a natural topaz, but the rarest and most valuable form of topaz is pink topaz. Pink topaz has recently become popular in jewelry circles. Topaz often gets misidentified as citrine but is considerably more valuable. Opal is a precious gemstone best known for its oval shape and smooth appearance. These sparkling stones are opalescent—showing a rainbow iridescence —and may be considered one of the rarest crystals in their purest form.
Opals are formed from a combination of silicon dioxide and water. Here are some of the states that opal can be found:. They have a bright opalescent look that makes them unique and easier to notice. TIP: I wrote the ultimate guide on what gemstones and where you can find in California, feel free to read it here and maybe it helps you to find some opals:.
The flash of colors within the opal should be intense and highly vibrant. Most opals have a cloudy white appearance with shimmering rainbow undertones. The brighter these tones, the better the opal. Peridot is usually found in small pieces and flakes rather than larger crystals. As you can imagine, since quartz is one of the most common minerals on the planet, you can usually find it just about anywhere, including your own backyard.
Look for vacant lots or gravel driveways and parking lots. Roadside cutouts might be one of the best places to look for quartz crystals that are free to everyone. Another excellent place to look for quartz crystals are mine tailings. The rocks, dirt, minerals and other debris need to be removed from the mines and are poured out in piles near the mine. The mines will oftentimes allow the public to scour through these piles of debris. These tailings are many times rich in various rocks, minerals and gemstones including quartz, especially if the mining operation worked through a quartz vein or other major quartz deposit.
Another easy way to find quartz crystals is to go to a fee-mine or dig-site that is already known for finding quartz crystals. A quick search online should give you some ideas of where these sites are located near your area. Since quartz is so plentiful in nature and can be found pretty much anywhere, I always recommend rockhounds try hunting for quartz in free areas first.
Then use pay to dig if you need to find higher gem quality specimens or larger quantities of quartz. No problem, rock and gem stores abound in mass quantities on the internet. Just be careful when buying online and make sure you are buying genuine natural crystals and not man made synthetic quartz crystals. Quartz crystals are actually one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. These are the piles of leftover rock and debris from old mines that often still contain crystals that were tossed out with everything else.
The operators of the old mine tossed the baby out with the bath water, you might say. These tailings are some of the best places to look because most of the heavy lifting has already been done for you. Finding quartz crystals in nature can often be hard work because they can be trapped inside mineral veins inside solid rock. The mine tailings have already been broken up by heavy machinery or blasted to bits with dynamite, so the rock is just a pile of rubble instead of solid mass.
This makes it relatively easy to sift through the bits of rock to look for your quartz crystals. This is considered common courtesy among rockhounds. Sometimes this can really work to your advantage because other searchers may leave some finds in a more exposed area, making them easier for you to find. If you have heard about the site from other rockhounds they will hopefully also know who to contact for permission.
Tip: Always get permission from the land owner before searching old mine tailings. Also, please be sure never to enter old mine shafts. The mine tailings are relatively safe to search because they are above ground, but old mine shafts are notoriously unsafe. They are unstable and can collapse on you, and often contain dangerous gasses. Always be responsible and safe when rockhounding, both for your benefit and so as not to give other rockhounders a bad reputation.
Finding these old mine tailings is often the hardest part for aspiring rockhounds. In most cases, joining a local rockhounding group and getting to know your local rock shop owner will be your best bet for finding the best places to look. You can also search online or buy a local rockhounding guide book. One of the most exciting places to find quartz crystals is in quartz veins.
These veins run through various types of rock and can contain large, high quality crystals. Quartz crystals are generally hexagonal prisms that terminate on each end with a six-sided pyramid. The entire crystal may not be perfect, depending on the how the quartz formed. Your sample may have only the barrel of the prism, and one pyramid or the end pyramid may appear to have only three sides. Scratch the surface of the crystal with a pocketknife to test the hardness.
Quartz is harder than the blade of the pocketknife. Therefore, you should not see a scratch on the crystal surface. Rub the crystal on a streak plate to test for the presence of a streak and its color. Streak is the color of a mineral in powdered form. Quartz will streak either white or colorless.
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