Radical Rocks

Turquoise Grading and what’s it worth How to Guide.   (Part One) Turquoise is an alluring stone that has had much favor for many thousands of years in cultures around the globe due to its beautiful colors and what many have said are spiritual. Whether it was the Native American’s from South America to North America, or the Asian continent’s or the middle east as well as Europe and abroad, and from the ancients to the hippy movement when Jimmy Hendrix and Jim Morrison were adorned in the Gemstone to today Turquoise has been   and will ever continue widely loved and worn. Today we will discuss some ways to grade and compare today's values. Our disclaimer is that grading and assigning a value to turquoise is best done by a turquoise expert or a GIA certified gemologist. The TQI or The Turquoise Quality Index is a good way of examining turquoise to a detailed degree, TQI is an aid in helping to discern value and to compare rarity and quality of the stone examined. Much ...

Hauser Geode Beds in the Wiley’s Well District One of my first rockhounding field trips was with the Orange Belt Mineralogist Society (OBMS) This group has one of the longest history’s and ties to the discovery of the Hauser Beds. Joel F Hauser is credited with finding the Geode beds that bear his name today about 1934. Joel Hauser was also a member of the OBMS. (pictured below) This is a main reason that the OBMS was famous for leading the Wiley’s Well Thanksgiving rockhounding trips for many decades. Lately other clubs have also leading the yearly events, including the San Diego Searchers. My Son Zack and I would spend a week to 10 days dry camping, we were about as crusty as the rocks we were collecting, but it's always worth it. Camping out under the desert stars so bight you can touch them and truly see the shapes of the zodiacs. Gathering around the fire at the end of a tiring day of rockhounding telling and swapping stories of rocks and gems and old timers above. It’s t...

Arizona State Rock and Mineral Arizona is an awesome state when it comes to Rocks and minerals. Arizona is the rockhounding Mecca for all the rockhounds I know, largely due to the rock, gem and mineral shows and events that draw collectors, sellers and miners from all around the word, but also due to the variety of rocks and mineral that can be collected. This guide will look at the most well-known rocks and minerals and provide some locations and information. (please see our affiliate links to some great guidebooks for rockhounding in Arizona, it cost you nothing extra and helps us to keep rockhounding alive) History Arizona Gemstones rocks and minerals have been collected for over 1000 years, Turquoise was mined and used for jewelry and beads. Arizona has long been the major producer of turquoise and a top producer of peridot and other gemstones. We will look at the gemstones that Arizona is most famous for and a few other that are notable. Geology Igneous and metamorphic...