Hauser Geode Beds, Wiley’s Well District How to Guide

California Rocks gems and minerals

There are so many great rocks gems and minerals and many areas to collect rocks, gems, and minerals in California that we could probably write a book on it. Instead of writing a book we will cover some of the main rocks, gems and minerals with some details to get you started, and we will have links to references and guidebooks as well as all our links below. If you want to collect in the winter there is the beaches and deserts, you want to collect in the dead of summer, California has the mountains and the beaches, you can’t lose. The history of rocks gems and minerals goes back to the Native Americans, that dug up and used many of California’s beautiful, gemstones. Then in 1849 the gold miners came looking for gold and many other finds of gems and minerals continued for over a hundred years, with a few small discovery’s the last few years interesting rocks and some agates. Please remember to check status of areas and rules before collection on public lands, as rules and status for collection often changes. Also, some of the sites and minerals listed are not for collecting, but for viewing.

Agate

So many areas in California have agate, with the best know spots in the desert areas, but do not despair, agates are found in on a few beaches and in several mountain areas. The best bet is to get a good rockhounding guide. California rockhounding guide links near the end of the article.

Benitoite

Benitoite is the California state gemstone, sometimes called the blue diamond as it is very rare. Found only in San Benito county. The color is a dark blue to light blue and sometimes light purple or violet. Its crystals form in defined triangles.  It consists of barium-titanium silicate. Here is a link where you can pay a fee to collect benitoite. http://calstategemmine.com/index.html

Borax

Borax is a mineral that was in Boron California. It has been used as a flux for brazing and has been used in refining and working with silver and gold and is also used in making ceramics. The Boron twenty mule team was made famous as these mule teams moved wagon full or borax from the Death Valley desert to delivery since 1881. Boron is the largest producer and deposit of borax in the world. You can visit the Boron twenty mule team museum, here is the link. http://20muleteammuseum.com/  You can also see the open pit mine, that is the largest pit mine in California at the Borax visitor center, here is the link. https://www.borax.com/borax-operations/borax-visitor-center

Fossils

The state fossil is the saber tooth cat. In los Angeles alone some 2500 specimens have been collected. The Saber tooth cat was heavier than modern day lions and its two impressive saber teeth was 8” long! One famous spot to view and learn about fossils is the La Brea Tar Pits, many Ice age fossils have been found there. Here is a link to the La Brea Tar Pits. https://tarpits.org/  And here is a link to the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County. http://www.maderamammoths.org/ this is where a huge find at the county dump unearthed thousands of fossils including rare long horned antelopes, camels’ horses, giant sloths and saber tooth cats.

Ant Hill is north of Bakersfield, in Kern County were shark tooth fossils have been found. My son Zack and I was able to go dig the area before it closed other areas nearby may be worth a look, also just north of the old site there was a sign that said pay to dig shark teeth. Some of the teeth were several inches long, however many were small. Other areas for fossil shells, clams, and other finds are still to be found with one of the good guidebooks listed below.

Geodes

Geodes and nodules can be found at many locations in California. The most famous is Wiley’s Well District. We have done a detailed blog on this area with a map. Many nice geodes can be found here, as well as a long list of other gemstones and lapidary material.

Gold

So many areas throughout California have Gold mining history that it is known as the “Golden State” Northern California has the 49 highway that runs through the gold areas, rivers and creeks. The gold discovery in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill led to the California gold rush of 1849 tens of thousands came to California seeking their fortune and from 1850 to 1959 over 28 million ounces of gold were mined and panned at a value of over 10 billion dollars in modern times. Many areas are open for gold panning or digging recreationally. Some links below to good guidebooks. The natural History Museum of Los Angeles county has an impressive mineral collection and one of the largest gold displays. https://nhm.org/
  Also Marshall Gold Discovery state Historic Park, is a great place to learn about the California gold rush where it all started, here is the link.  http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484

Jade

Many areas have Jade of the nephrite type, the most well know area is Jade Cove, in Monterey County. The last time I checked it was still ok to collect a small amount from the beach, off the surface. This jade is treasured for carving and as art. The larger pieces are usually found by divers how have obtained the proper permits to do so.

Jasper

Jasper is found all over California, and again I would recommend you pick up a California rockhounding guidebook. But one area that has nice quality jaspers of reds, golds, and many shades, and patterns is found in Lavic in the Mojave Desert

Meteorites

The second largest meteorite located in the USA is California, named “The Old Woman Meteorite” weighing over 6,000 lbs. It was in 1975 in the Old Women Mountains, San Bernardino county. You can see the meteorite at the Desert Discovery Center, Barstow, California.

Meteorites have been found in many locations throughout California.

Moonstone

Moonstone is an opalescent, or cloudy stone, some have flashes of blue or other color, many seem to have a dull glow as the moon. One great location is Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California. I’m not sure on collecting status but heard even many years ago that the chances of finding one are slim to none.

Obsidian

Obsidian is a volcanic glass, its colors are commonly black, also some have white snowflakes, some have a silver or gold, or a rainbow sheen to them, also brown or mahogany, and other color shades have been found. One famous location is Davis Creek, in Lassen County, California were obsidian needles can also be found.

Serpentine

Serpentine is the California state rock, for good reason as it is found in 42 out of 58 counties in the state. Fine serpentine is sometimes mistaken as Jade. Serpentine can have a soapy feel, some say wax like. Its color is usually shading of greens but can vary black or even a blueish. It can be fine grained or granular, and even fibrous. Fibrous serpentine has asbestos in large amounts and has been mined for its asbestos, generally all serpentine has some asbestos in it, so keep wet if cutting and use the correct personal equipment.

Tourmaline

Many great deposits of gem quality tourmaline have been in California. Tourmaline was recently upgraded to the precious gemstone category for exceptional specimens. These well-structured crystals typically colored green pink or sometimes blue, also the watermelon[SRR1]  type is much sought after specimen. There is still one mine that has a pay to mine opportunity, who knows you may find a very valuable gemstone. Here is the link to the dig site. https://www.oceanviewmine.com/   

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·         Vinson Brown, David Allan, & James Stark, Rocks and Minerals of California (3d ed. 1987). 

·         David D. Alt & Donald W. Hyndman, Roadside Geology of Northern and Central California (2000).

·         Allen F. Glazner & Robert P. Sharp, Geology Underfoot in Southern California (1993).

·         Allen F. Glazner & Robert P. Sharp, Geology Underfoot in Death Valley & Owens Valley (1997).

·         Allen F. Glazner & Greg Stock, Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park (2010).

·         James R. Mitchell, Gem Trails of Northern California (2d ed. 2005).

·         James R. Mitchell, Gem Trails of Southern California (Rev. ed. 2003). 

·         Gail A. Butler, Rockhounding California (2d ed. 2012).

·         Katherine J. Baylor, California Rocks:A Guide to Geologic Sites in the Golden State (2010). 

·         Delmer Ross, Rockhounding the Wiley’s Well District of California:The GPS User’s Guide (2006). 

·         William Estivillo, Gems & Minerals of California:A Guide to Localities (1992). 

·         B.J. Tegowski, Easy Field Guide to Invertebrate Fossils of California (1995).

·         Allan W. Eckert, Earth Treasures Vol. 4A – Southwestern Quadrant (1987; reprint in 2000).

·         James Martin Monaco & Jeannette Hathway Monaco, Fee Mining & Rockhounding Adventures in the West (2d ed. 2007).

·         Kathy J. Rygle & Stephen F. Pedersen, Southwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide (4th ed. 2008).