The Diamond Rim Quartz Collection Site
Arizona’s Diamond Rim Quartz Collection Site is located in Star Valley in central Arizona. Although the area is historically linked to the Grand Valley Mining District, it is now part of the Tonto National Forest.
This isolated area is about 115 miles south of Flagstaff or about 113 miles northeast of Phoenix. You’ll need to bring food, water, and toiletries to use during your time in the forest. The forest or park service may also be able to provide you with a good map of trails in the area. Phone service for T-Mobile is said to be good in the area.
The collection site is open to rock hounds year-round for surface collecting. But to protect the park’s wildlife, limited digging is allowed only from October through February.
To preserve the beauty of the landscape and the health of the trees that grow there, strict rules are enforced for collectors. A hefty fine or even prison time can result from failure to abide by the park’s regulations.
Some of the collecting guidelines include:
- Only small-scale digging–no more than one cubic yard may be excavated
- All holes must be backfilled
- Only small hand tools allowed
- Digging must be at least six feet away from the base of trees–Ponderaso pine and oak are the most common trees in the forest. The limits protect root systems from being damaged in a dry climate.
- No digging allowed from March through September
Related: Tips for Rockhounding In Arizona
The Best Places to Search
The best places to search out crystals are in dry washes or stream beds or near any permanent water features. While there are plenty of crystals around, there are also lots of rockhounds visiting every year, so it may take some time and patience to unearth a treasure of any significant size for your collection.
Finding the best crystal specimens may require some hiking. The best time to go is late spring or early summer after the snows have melted but before the season of extreme heat. However, digging is not allowed during most of the milder weather seasons. If you really want to dig deeper, come as early in October as possible to avoid snow or other inclement winter weather.
Related: Quartz: Ultimate Guide To Collecting Quartz
There are several locations that are popular for crystal collection. Check U.S. Forest regulations for acceptable methods of collection. There is a mineralization location in the forest, about 4 miles southwest of Tonto Village or 8.5 miles northeast of Payson.
You can park almost anywhere along Diamond Park or rim road and step into the trees. Look for one of the dry washes off the road. You will see where rocks have collected in the lower areas. This is an excellent place to locate loose crystals, especially if there have been recent rains.
You can also search in random places under the trees. Use your hands or a small garden rake to clear away surface debris and scrape out embedded crystals. Milky and clear crystals are the most common, though other colors may also be found.
Tools and Etiquette
Helpful tools for collecting crystals at Diamond Rim include a hammer and chisel for breaking crystals out of other rock outcroppings and a short-handled rake for uncovering crystals hidden beneath tree debris and shallow dirt. If you’re going to dig, you may bring a hand trowel or short-handled shovel for both excavating and backfilling. No larger tools are allowed.
For the sake of preservation and the enjoyment of other rockhounds, try to leave as little evidence of your comings and goings as possible. Remember to watch for wildlife, such as snakes, and avoid getting too close to delicate tree roots.
The California Site
There is also a Diamond Rim Quartz Collection Site in California’s southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. I mention it here so there’s no confusion.
The California site is located on private property, open only by appointment. For diehard collectors, the site is known for unique, rare, and sometimes very large crystals, up to 6 feet long.
