Sedona Crystal Source

Responsibly Hand Mined Payson Diamonds / Scepter Quartz / Opal
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Free of charge
 
Located North of Payson, Arizona. Diamond Point offers the experience of being able to find your own crystals. In most cases digging is required, but follow the rules.
 
From Payson head east on highway 260, going toward Show Low. At about 15 miles look for Tonto Village sign, turn left. Go past village and continue for 3 miles, watch for Diamond Point signs. Turn left and cross bridge, this is F.S. 65, go about 1 mile and watch for Forest
Service sign on right. Road continues for another 3 miles to the top of Diamond Rim. Crystal beds are found through out this area. Many crystals are found in the soils. The limestone that held them is evident in the area around the sign.

Tools for digging season: Pick, shovel, screwdriver, hammer, gloves and eye protection.
OTHER FREE OF CHARGE PLACES   
   
 
 
What is (36 cfr 261.53)?
 
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
 
TITLE 36- PARKS, FORESTS, AND PROPERTY
 
CHAPTER II - FORSEST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 261 - PROHIBITIONS
     
  Subpart B - Prohibitions in Areas Designated by Order
 
Sec. 261.53 - Special closures.
 
When provided in an order, it is prohibited to go into or be upon any area which is closed for the protection of:
   
   (a) Theatened, endangered, rare, unique, or vanishing species of plants, animals, birds or fish.
   (b) Special biological communities.
   (c) Objects or areas of historical, archeological, geological, or paleontological interest.
   (d) Scientific experiments or investigations.
   (e) Public health or safety.
   (f ) Property.
 
 
 
 
Sedona Sunset
Hi, my name is Steve
 
How it started
   It was a nice sunny day in Mount Vernon, Washington.
I had a couple days off from my job in the aircraft industry. Where should I go? Hmm, there is a section about rockhounding in my map atlas. Wow, Walker Valley is just a few miles from here. They have amethyst geodes there. Whats a geode? Well I guess I will  pack a lunch and go find out. I had no clue what I was getting into. So I get there and walk up the hill to the digs. Finding out when I get there, that the road goes around the hill to the top. Anyways, I meet a rockhound by the name of Thor, honest. Thor spent a couple hours explaining some of the finer aspects of rockhounding, like chisels and sledge hammers. I walked back to the car and drove up to the top. A claw hammer was the only tool I had with, so I began to break some smaller pieces of rock into even smaller pieces of rock. It was not long before I broke one rock and water came out of it, cool. Hey, Thor you didn't tell me about the water. When I looked at it, here was this small cavity filed with wet amethyst crystals. Next thing you know, I'm buying tools and spending all of my free time at the digs. Who new that in a couple years I would quit my job and become a modern day prospector.
 
   Over the course of twenty years of prospecting for crystals, I have been from the tops of mountains to the desert floor. Been bit by a Brown Recluse spider and most of every other bug out there. Run into by an 18 wheeler in Montana. I've sliced my finger tips raw on broken pieces of quartz. Been snowed on, rained on, burnt by the relentless sun. Hauled 150 pound packs down mountains. Have torn off two fingernails, beat my hand with a hammer many numbers of times, hit by pieces of flying rock and steel. I have collected when 5 degrees and 120 degrees. Sound like fun? It sure is. When you pick up a crystal in your hand and realize that you are the first person to hold it, all the pain seems to go away and no matter how tired you are, there is this renewed life that comes into you.
 
   As a collect0r first, and a mineral dealer second my goal is for the pristine crystal specimen. Which is why I collect using hand tools. Most quartz crystals are 100 million years old. If they survived that long unharmed, I am not going to be the one to do damage to them. A crushed pocket is a sad thing. I cringe whenever I hear the sound of metal hitting quartz. I've learned over the years that reclaimation is also important. Growing up on a farm in Wisconsin I have a very close connection to the earth. Mining can leave some nasty scars on this planet, but they too will heal, over time. I try not to scar this world we live in. People have sometimes looked at me and wondered why is he filling in that hole, well it is the right thing to do. By digging holes and refilling them with rock and dirt an environment is created for a number of critters. Tilling the soil helps the ground retain water and helps local plants.
 
   One of my other goals is to promote rock hounding. I am amazed at how much fun people get from the finding of crystals. Seeing that we live on a rock, rocks are not had to find. From Jade and Gold in California to Diamonds in Arkansas, we are never far from a source.
 
   
 
 
 
MORE TO COME
 
 
 
 
 
Sedona Rainbow
 
 
 
One of hundreds. Priceless, in the summer they go
thru 5 to 7 pounds of sugar a day.