About Peridot Mesa
The Peridot Mesa, located on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Gila County, Southeastern Arizona, produces about 80 to 95% of the world's Peridot used in jewelry, beads, mosaic arts, and other gem products. It was suspected that Cleopatra of old wore emerald jewelry, with traces of Peridot in them. Arizona is the major source of US peridot, and the US is one of the highest contributors of Peridot in the world.
Exploring the beauty of peridot fields in Peridot Mesa, Arizona, is one fulfilling rockhounding experience.
What Can Be Found at Peridot Mesa, Arizona
The Peridot Mesa is dominated by deposits of Peridot around the volcanic rocks of the San Carlos field. Peridot is a gem variety of Olivine, a magnesium-iron-rich silicate mineral, yellowish green or pure green in color. This gemstone is suspected to bring success, peace, and good luck to the wearer. It is popularly known as the August birthstone.
Peridot occurs as individual grains in a basalt, 3 to 35 meters thick, and is found at the top of the rocks of Peridot Mesa. The volcanic rock that makes up the Peridot Mesa is grey vesicular phonotephites of the Peridot Mesa. Mesa flow emptied during the Middle Pleistocene about 500,000 years ago to make up the peridot found on the rock. It is usually acquired through drilling and blasting to retrieve this peridot in sizes of 6 to 13mm.
You can find large deposits of peridot stones on the San Carlos Volcanic Field, San Carlos Apache Reservation, southeastern Gila County. This Reservation is open to visitors for a fee. The place is now owned by a private owner whom you have to gain permission through the San Carlos Reservation and recreation office, with a fee, before you can go to the field. Your permit will determine if you can collect rocks or not.
Another place to find peridot is at Buell Park, 265 miles north of Peridot. Located on the Navajo Reservation land close to the New Mexico border, 16km north of Fort Defiance. Although closed, much of the area is still open to the public. You can find deposits of peridot in the volcanic rock and soil southeast of the peridot ridge. Before going to the Buell Park, you have to get permission from the Reservation office to tour the area and collect peridots, and to know how many rocks you can collect from the reserve.
Even though recently, visitors have not been allowed to collect rocks from the reserve, only the Natives are allowed to do any mining or collecting from the reserve.
Aside from peridots, the Peridot Mesa is also a good place to find beautiful wallflowers, usually during the winter period when the wildflowers are in bloom. So while you are out hunting for peridots, take out time to admire the beautiful wildflowers in the fields.
Peridot
Location of Peridot Mesa, Arizona
To locate the San Carlos reservation, housing Peridot Mesa, take Highway 60 out of Phoenix to Globe. Highway 60 after Globe takes you to Highway 70. From Highway 70, you can reach Peridot. But first, stop by the San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Office for your permit before going back towards the Globe past mile marker 269 to an unmarked dirt road on your right that takes you right to the volcanic fields.
Rockhounding Laws and Tips for Peridot Mesa
Rockhounding Tips for Peridot Mesa
Before driving to Peridot Mesa, take note of these important rules guiding visitors to the reserve.
- Get a Permit: Before going to the main volcanic fields where you will find peridots, you have to get your permit. Stop by the San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Office to get your permit for $10 and pay $35 to tour the fields.
- Go in a Group: Peridot Mesa is best visited in a group or rockhounding club. If you go with a club, you will be able to pay your fees as a group.
- Go with a camera to take lots of pictures and videos. You are only allowed to collect as much as the permit allows, or nothing at all. It is better to take lots of pictures and keep memories than to leave with nothing at all.
- Stick to established trails: Only stick to established paths meant for visitors; going off the established paths is prohibited.
- Take nothing: Collecting peridots is highly prohibited; stay on the safe side by not collecting anything. Or ask the staff when you want to collect your permit, how many of the peridots you can collect.
Recommended Gear
Visiting Peridot Mesa, Arizona, does not require much gear or items because you will not be collecting any rocks. But here are a few items you should go with:
- Water: To keep yourself refreshed while driving or walking through the trails.
- Snacks: You can get some snacks to help you stay less hungry and feel energised while touring.
- Camera: Since collecting rocks is not allowed, you can go with your camera to take pictures and videos. Keep them as memories of your visit.
- Guidebooks/Maps: Go with guidebooks or a map, which will help you navigate the trails.
Recommended Gear
Other Sites in Arizona
Arizona also has other interesting sites you can explore for rockhounding purposes. Here are some other sites you can explore for gemstones and crystal rocks.
Guidebooks For Arizona
Arizona is famous for its beautiful gemstones like peridots, jasper, peridots, as well as other gems. If you want to dive deeper into the state's unique rockhounding history and gemstones, these guidebooks are excellent resources