I live in Virginia but love rockhounding in Arizona. I have three guides that have worked very well for me: Gem Trails of Arizona by James R. Mitchell, Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem and Mineral Guide by Kathy J. Rygle and Stephen F. Pedersen; and my favorite one, Minerals of Arizona: A Field Guide for Collectors by Neil R. Bearce. The first two books describe family friendly collecting sites, some are fee-to-dig, that are easy to get to with any type vehicle. The Minerals of Arizona book describes sites from easy access to 4-wheel drive a must all over the state and guide you to old mine dumps, railroad and road cuts, or just open ground. These books can be ordered from right here in Bob's Rock Shop, Amazon.com, or just do an Internet search for sellers.

If you buy the Minerals of Arizona collecting guide, contact me at jwskboyer@cox.net and I will help you decide where to go based on your vehicle type and distance to travel for the best results.

Regards, John

From John - June 16, 2008 at 08:03:56

Message: 66630