Arizona — Turquoise, Fire Agate & Peridot
Arizona is arguably the top rockhounding state in the country. The San Carlos Apache Reservation produces most of the world's commercial peridot. Opal Hill Mine yields vivid fire agate. Multiple ghost-town areas yield turquoise, chrysocolla, and malachite from copper deposits. The state's BLM land is extraordinarily accessible.
Montana — World-Class Sapphires
Montana is the only state that produces significant gem-quality sapphires. Yogo Gulch produces the only naturally unheated cornflower-blue sapphires in America. Gem Mountain near Phillipsburg offers rainbow sapphires in pink, yellow, teal, and blue. The Missouri River alluvial deposits allow public gold panning.
North Carolina — Rubies, Emeralds & Garnets
Franklin, NC is the "Gem Capital of the World" — dozens of fee-dig operations offer sluicing for ruby, sapphire, and garnet from the Cowee Valley corundum belt. Hiddenite is the only place in the world where hiddenite (green spodumene) is found. Maine pegmatites yield tourmaline and aquamarine.
Oregon — Sunstones, Thunder Eggs & Obsidian
Oregon produces its state gem (sunstone) on free BLM land in Lake County. Thunder egg collecting areas dot the high desert. Glass Buttes is covered in rainbow and mahogany obsidian — free to collect. The Oregon coast has excellent agate beach collecting.
Colorado — Aquamarine, Amazonite & Gold
Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks host some of the richest pegmatites in the world. Mount Antero yields aquamarine and topaz. Lake George produces world-class amazonite and smoky quartz. The South Platte and Arkansas Rivers still carry placer gold. Creede and other historic mining districts yield excellent sulfide mineral specimens.
Use Our State Pages for Detailed Guides
Each state has a full dedicated page on We Lick Rocks with maps of documented locations, permit rules, local clubs, upcoming gem shows, and community field notes. Visit the Rockhounding by State section for the complete guide to your target state.