Canyon to N of road 1 mi. S of Apache Nat. Forest: Blue Agate & Carnelian Rockhounding in Greenlee County, Arizona

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Greenlee County

State

Arizona

Nearest road

Coronado Trail

Coordinates

33.15503, -109.37369

Geology at Canyon to N of road 1 mi. S of Apache Nat. Forest

This spot sits on volcanic rocks, mapped as basalt, andesite, and dacite that formed roughly 41 to 7 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit

volcanic rocks

Age

41–7 Ma (Late Eocene to Late Miocene)

Rock types

basalt, andesite, and dacite

Elevation

5,330 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Canyon to N of road 1 mi. S of Apache Nat. Forest

Best months: September to May. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 55°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 29°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CLIFTON station (8 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

• BLM Arizona, Recreational Mineral Collecting
• Arizona Geological Survey
• Arizona State Land Department recreation permits
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Canyon to N of road 1 mi. S of Apache Nat. Forest

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

• Blue AgateEncyclopedia →
• CarnelianEncyclopedia →