GEODE HUNTING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

[VO3434]

ANYONE KNOW OF A PLACE NEAR LOS ANGELES, CALIF TO GO GEODE HUNTING ?
LOOKING FOR A QUICK FUN DAY TRIP WITH FRIENDS.
THANKS
-VO

 

[gollum]

There's nothing "quick", but there are a few places to go.

There are some well known geode beds though. Best if you have a truck (preferably a 4x4).

Hauser Geode Beds:

http://www.desertusa.com/magjan98/stories/hauserbeds.html

Potato Patch Geode Beds:

http://www.desertusa.com/mag06/jul/potato.html

Black Hills Geode beds:

http://www.desertusa.com/mag05/sep/rocks.html

Cinnamon Geode Beds:

http://www.desertusa.com/mag05/nov/cinn.html

Good luck and good hunting.

Best-Mike

 

[jcshayden]

I was just looking into the same thing a few days ago, theres not much near our area (technically I'm inland empire/ OC, but thats a helluva lot closer than those borderline arizona spots) but If you look for some gemhunting trail books written on a specified area (socal for us) they help alot. I found out about an old closed down opal vein near me via some ancient local newspapers. You just gotta look around.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

If that closed opal mine is in Kern County - just so you know - the people who own it still live there. (they will probably give you permission anyway.)

B

 

[Mackaydon]

At at least one opal mine in SD county is closed to the public, but still in operation: Gems of Pala (just off the '15'). But the shop is open (great video of the mine in operation by the owners) and piles of the original tailings are still available by the bucket.
Don...

 

[VO3434]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
WILL LOOK INTO IT

 

[MrLee]

Has anyone been out there lately? Is it still possible to get geodes?

 

[Ydivitsyawe]

Thank you for*your posts!*Very interesting!

 

[MrLee]

I visited Hauser, spent a day digging, found other people's diggins and that's about it. Unless you have someone pointing you to a sweet spot I wouldn't go out there and chance it. I hit 2 locations there and it has just been cleaned out. Better to stop by the Opal Hill mine and get some fire agates.