) OREGON WELCOMES rock hunters to ROCKHOUND RULES the Agate State.... Oregon is a collector's paradise, but Collectors of every age enjoy the thrill of even in a paradise it is wise to follow a few discovering a flawless gem or a rare fossil, and simple rules ... certainly they will tend to Oregon is the place to find them. assure the best possible success. Come on out and try your luck in one or all of the state's many rich deposits. However, don't be disappointed if you fail I. Select several sites within a to "strike it rich" on your first outing ...it took fairly small area to avoid spreading the residents of Canyon City, in central Ore valuable collecting time too thin ... gon, I 0 years to discover they had paved their become informed on the material streets with gold-bearing gravel! available and its exact location. 2. Don't hesitate to ask local col lectors for information about se lected sites ...check with rockhound clubs wherever they are found. 3. Bring along the proper tools and equipment-including boots and sturdy clothing-for field work ... depending on the material sought, you may find use for a rockhammer, shovel, prybar, sledge and chisel, or light pick mattock. 4. Make special preparations for seasonal weather conditions-can teens, C?PS and sunglasses for the pesert, warm jackets for the moun 0 tains, etc. 5. Obtain permission of land owners before entering private property ... don't leave campsite debris scattered about and BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE. 6. Take care in entering aban doned mine shafts-you enter at your own risk. 7. Don't throw rocks from cliffs and endanger persons who might be below ...use proper care in handling tools. 8. Take only the material you will use and leave the rest for other col lectors.
Published by TRAVEL INFORMATION DIVISION OREGON STATE HIGHWAY DEPT. SALEM, OREGON MINERALS, FOSSILS
Agates & O als 0 p � b -banded c:> Petrified wood c -carnelian � Quartz crystals I -IriS � m -moss 0 Thunder eggs p -plume Plant fossils s -sagenitic $
= Animal fossils - Jaspers � t-..�arine fossils � Obsidian ® Garnet, Oregon ''jade'' 0 Metal minerals, ores " A -antimony � -aluminum AI � c -copper Cb -cobalt Ch -chromium G -gold I -Iron L -lead M -mercury Md -molybdenum N -nickel s -silver T -tungsten u -uran1um z -ZinC
AND WHERE TO FIND THEM ... similar to the "wonderstone" of Utah-in thunder eggs ...directions may be obtained at the Prineville Chamber n SOUTHERN OREGON BEACHES-Gem quality provides easy access to the creek bed ... the Medford of Commerce. agate, jasper, petrified wood, serpentine, Oregon "jade" Chamber of Commerce has a listing of other locations. m GLASS BUTTES-Obsidian ...this site is found (grossularite garnet) ... Merchant's Beach and Whiskey Ia GREEN SPRINGS MOUNTAIN-Banded blue on Rlghway 20 between Bend and Burns ... black, Run produce agatized myrtle and other woods, blue and grey agate, crystal-lined geodes ... best locations are on 66 variegated and silver sheen volcanic glass is found just white banded agates, flower jaspers: located off Seven Highway about nine miles east of Ashland ... nodules short of mile post 79, south of the highway ... red and Devils Road, between Bandon and Charleston ...Oregon are found in place in a basalt seam exposed by a highway gold sheen material in great abundance may be located "jade" and serpentine are found in the gravel bars of cut, on the left ·side of the road going uphill ...various by continuing east to mile post 81, turning south toward the Rogue and Illinois rivers, and on the beaches near road cuts near Ashland contain fossil shells of Cretaceous cinnabar mine and driving two to three miles on the right Gold Beach ... Eocene marine fossils are found in the marine life. hand fork of the road ... prized rainbow and double sea cliffs at Cape Arago State Park, near Coos Bay ... 0 CLACKAMAS RIVER-Cinnabar, petrified wood, flow obsidians also are found. Pliocene-Pleistocene fossils are found in the cliffs south of jaspers ...the river bed above Estacada produces gem LAKEVIEW-Thunder eggs, agate, jasper, nod the Cape Blanco lighthouse, near Port Orford. quality cinnabar, a variety of petrified woods and dark 1n1 ules, agatized wood ... Bullard Canyon and parallel 0 CENTRAL OREGON BEACHES-Quality agate, green bloodstone, often associated with common opal Deadman Canyon, on the east outskirts of town, produce jasper, Oregon "jade", petrified wood ... beach at ...good to fair roads parallel the river for many miles. blue and purple agate, agatized wood, jasp-agate and Road's End produces colorful jaspers ... excellent m SUNFLOWER FLATS-Banded agate, crystal lineCJ"'geodes, jaspers ... area is located on the Wapinitia orbicular jasper ...highly prized blue agate is found tumbling material is found from Oceanlake south to New 395, port ... prized sagenitic agates (containing needle-like cut-off southeast of Bear Springs Forest Camp, between near U.S. Highway from two to five miles south of inclusions), bloodstones, and other jaspers and agates are the Maupin road and the Warm Springs Indian Reserva Lakeview ... the Crane Creek area south of town con- picked up on the beaches between Yachats and Heceta tion ... hillsides and creek beds produce fine material ... tains agate-filled thunder eggs ...Kelly Creek produces Head-especially near the mouths of Big, China, Cum digging is necessary in most spots. agate, jasper and thunder eggs ...agates are found in mings, Ten mile and Squaw creeks ...Miocene marine m CLARNO-Fossil nuts, leaves and prehistoric quantity in the vast Dry Creek area west of town ... fossils, including shells and the bones of whales and sea mammals, blue agate nodules, petrified wood, jaspers, directions at Davis' Rock Shop in Lakeview. lions, are found in the cliffs at Beverly Beach State Park, zeolites, barite crystals ... the world-famous Clarno fossil m HART MOUNTAINS-Quality agate nodules, near Newport. beds are located a few miles east of the John Day River, fire opal, crystals of various kinds, sunstones, jasp-agate 101 NORTHERN OREGON BEACHES-Variety of off the road between Antelope and Fossil ... amateurs similar to Morrisonite ... sunstone locations are on the 'jaspers and agates, petrified wood, Oregon "jade" ... may collect specimens in the vicinity of the Oregon desert flats west of the mountains ... nodules and jasp- beaches near Oceanside contain fine material, including Museum of Science and Industry's Camp Hancock, but agate are found in mountain canyons ... fire opal is colorful jaspers and sagenitic agates ... large specimens the mammal beds are reserved for scientific exploration found on the high peaks of the west rim ... inquire at are found on Tillamook County beaches ... cliffs border- . an outcrop behind the high school at Fossil contains Plush or at Davis' Rock Shop in Lakeview. ing Tillamook-Bayocean road contain Miocene fossil shells. excellent imprints of cones, leaves and Metasequoia In OPAL BUTTE-Opal-filled nodules ...area is 35 II CLEAR CREEK-Carnelian and plume agates, needles. locateel about miles south of Heppner, via State High 1fJ 207 jaspers ...Clear Creek is located near the Nehalem ANTELOPE-Moss agate, jasp-agate, massive way and forest roads. River southwest of Vernonia ... fine material is found botryo1dal agate, geodes, agatized woods ...the Ante ID GREENHORN-Fossils, variety of gem_ material in the gravel bars of the creek bed and on the hillsides lope area is one of the best known producers of gem ... sections and fragments of fossil Cretaceous fern above the creek. grade agate in Oregon ... large boulders of moss agate "trunks" (Tempskya) may be uncovered about a mile north g WILLAMETTE RIVER-Gem quality agates ... in vivid shades of red, blue, green and yellow are found in east of the ghost town of Greenhorn-several miles north 26 the oest material comes from river bars and gravel the creek bed at the east edge of town ...agatized of U.S. Highway from Austin ... best location is company dredgings, especially from north of Salem to wood is found four miles east of town on the hillside to east of the abandoned IXL mine, toward Olive Creek ... south of Corvallis ...agates may be found even in the the right of the road ...obtain permissio;, to collect on clearly defined fossils are usually golden in color, some metropolitan Portland area. private land. times red ...Greenhorn fern is jasper-hard and polishes 01 SWEET HOME-Petrified wood, banded agate, Ill PRIDAY RANCH (COMMERCIAL)-Thunder well ...agate and other gem material is found in creek cariie!'ian agate, jasper, crystal-lined geodes ... the area eggs containing blue agate, plume agate, green and red beds and gold dredge +railings down river from Bates around Sweet Home was the location of a vast prehistoric moss agate, opals; polkadot ... this famed location is to Susanville ...digging is necessary in most areas. 15 1m1 forest, and an abundance of silicified fossil wood-some reached by driving approximately miles northeast of WARM SPRINGS RESERVOIR-Black dendritic 97, beautifully colored with clearly marked grain and ring Madras on U.S. Highway turning right on the old ancf"W'fiite plume agate ...gem material is found along 97 18 structure-is found here ...places to look include Ames Highway and driving for two miles to junction of road the west shore of the reservoir, located miles south of 20 171 Creek and the Calapooya River south of town, Crabtree to Ashwood, and following this road for almost nine U.S. Highway from mile post ... best time to Creek and the hills north of town ... the fields, woods miles ...attendants will direct you to the diggings, and hunt here is when the water is low, from late August into and streams of the area hold banded agates, crystal- a per-pound fee is charged for gem material. winter ...fossils of Pliocene plants are found in a road 20 lined geodes and fire-engine red jasper ... Chandler m PRINEVILLE-Thunder eggs, plume, carnelian and cut on U.S. about eight miles west of Juntura ... �11ountain is the location of large carnelians ... prized moss agate, nodules, petrified wood ...the Eagle Rock Pliocene animal fossils are found on the north side of the 15 Holley purple or Calapooya blue agates are found near area miles southeast of Prineville produces outstanding highway just west of Drinkwater Pass. Holley, southwest of town ...fossil leaves may be taken red and black plume agate ...the Maury Mountain area &I SUCKER CREEK-Thunder eggs, jaspers, petri . from the railroad cut on the hill above town. beyond Eagle Rock produces green, red, brown and fled �woods ... the area south of Adrian along Sucker U MEDFORD-Moss and dendritic agate, jaspers, golden moss agate and white plume agate, both "float" Cree to Rockville is an extremely productive rock hunting milky chalcedony ... many square miles of land in the and "in place" ... the Bear Creek area south of town locat1on ...thunder eggs may contain Pastelite or agate area of Camp White and Eagle Point produce an a produces red and green moss agate, nodules and agatized with inclusions of black dendrites, green moss or golden 19 bundance of gem material ... a county road crosses wood sections ... the Wildcat Mountain area northeast plume ... excellent site is miles south of Adrian, Antelope Creek a short distance east of Eagle Point and of town produces Morrisonite-a hard jasper-like material where the road and the creek converge. OREGON'S MINERALS . CLUBS, SOCIETIES
The state's metallic mineral wealth may Oregonians are aware of the scenic beauty of their be measured-at least in terms of collecting state, but many are aware also of the beauty which lies beneath the surface. by both the abundance and diversity of avail 50 able types. Topping the list are gold, silver, Oregon has nearly clubs and societies which exist because of this awareness. The members of these clubs copper, lead, zinc, mercury and iron. In addi are a friendly and enthusiastic lot and welcome inquiries tion, the only nickel mine in the United States · from out-of-state collectors. Contact any or all of the operates in southwestern Oregon. Commercial clubs listed below for tips concerning little-known localities grade uranium ore was discovered in south and "special" diggings. central Oregon in 1955 and is known to exist • Agate Beach Agate • Newberg Gem and Mineral in other parts of the state. The list of metals Society, Toledo Club, Newberg includes tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, anti • Albany Rock and Gem Club, • Newport Agate Society, mony and chromium. Albany Newport • Ashland Mineral and • Nickel Mt. Rock Club, GEMS ... Gem Club, Ashland Myrtle Creek • Blue Mountain Gem • Oregon Agate and Mineral EXPLORING OREGON'S GEOLOGIC PAST Oregon is famous for its semi-precious Club, La Grande Society, Portland OREGON ABOUNDS with geologic gems. Agates, petrified wood, jaspers, opals • Camp White Rock • Oregon Trail Gem and Club, Camp White Mineral Society, Pendleton and thunder eggs are found in quantity in wonders, ranging in size from the towering e Clatskanie Gem and • Owyhee Gem and Mineral snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Range to many areas of the state. Also to be found in Mineral Club, Clatskanie Society, Nampa, Idaho gem quality are hematite, garnet, sunstone, e Columbia Gorge Rockhounds, e Pioneer Prospectors Club, the fossilized seeds and plant spores of the Corbett Toledo Clarno deposit. These features form a visible malachite and azurite, rhodonite, chrysocolla, e Columbia Rock and • Prineville Mineral Society, link between the present day and a history . obsidian and rock crystal. Native gold and Gem Club, St. Helens Prineville e 400 e Coos County Mineral and Rogue Gem and Geology which spans million years. cinnabar, when found in matrices suitable for Gem Club, Coos Bay Club, Grants Pass polishing, are used as gem stones. Oregon's • Corvallis Rock and Gem • Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral THE OLDESTROCKS found on the sur annual gem production is estimated at Club, Corvallis Club, Central Point face are the schists of southwestern Oregon • Deschutes Geology e Stonecrafters, $1,000,000. Club, Bend Joseph and the limestone formations of central Ore • Eugene Mineral Club, • Sweet Home Rock and Mineral FOSSILS .. gon. Among the newest are the scattered Eugene Society, Sweet Home e Hat Rock Gem Club, • Tektronix Employees Geology cinder cones and lava flows of recent volcanic ' Prolific fossil beds are located in many Echo Club, Hillsboro upheaval ... one eruption occured no more sections of the state. Of special interest are • Hi-Desert Gem and Mineral • Tillamook Rock Hounds, Tillamook than 250 years ago-a "fraction of a second" the John Day beds, first explored by Dr. Society, Bend • Illinois Valley Mineral • Trails End Gem and in geologic time. Thomas Condon, the "Father of Oregon Hobbies Club, Cave Junction Mineral Club, Astoria Geology." Fossils of plants and animals which e John Day Basin Gem and eTualatin Valley Gem OREGON'S CLIMATE has ranged be Mineral Club, Prairie City Club, Hillsboro existed 30 to 40 million years ago are taken tween glacial and semi-tropical, and as a result • Klamath Mineral Club, •Tyee Mineralites, from these beds. Clarno formation fossils, in Klamath Falls Dalles City (The Dalles) the fossilized remains of such dissimilar crea e Lebanon Geological e Umpqua Mineral Club, cluding many varieties of nuts and semi-tropi tures as the wooly mastodon and the crocodile _s.ociety, Albany Roseburg cal plants, have become world famous. Marine e Madras Gem and Mineral e Vernonia Gem and Fossil may be found today. Club, Madras Club, Vernonia beds in western Oregon contain an abundance • Morrow County Gem and •Willamalane Rock Club, SEMI-PRECIOUS GEMS are found in of fossil sea shells and occasional shark teeth Mineral Society, Heppner Springfield every section of the state, from the beaches and whale bones. Mollusks and rare specimens e Mt. Emily Gem and Mineral eWillamette Agate and Club, Brookings Mineral Society_,__Salem to the eastern border ... Oregon gems are of marine reptiles occur in Oregon's rocks of • Mt. Hood Rock Club, •Yamhill County Rock and "ageless", in that they are found among the the Mesozoic era (I 00 to 200 million years Gresham Hobby Club, McMinnville rocks of many geologic periods. ago). • •
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