Rockhounding Agate in the Jemez Mountains - HUGE Seam Agate Found!

[@todddaugherty110]

A stellar geologist/rockhound with great honor for sharing locations. When I was a heavy collector I had about 100 collecting locations that I kept secret. Unfortunately, it didn't occur to me how selfish that was until my health prevented any further collecting. I share ALL of those locations now. There is a lot of petrified wood in those mountains so you are probably right about that pretty red chunk. I found the "wood" to be harder to locate since it is all earth colors and is harder to see than the generally white agate and chalcedony.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you for the kind comment, I appreciate it! The way I figure it is, public lands are for everyone to collect from so why not share so other people can enjoy? Unless someone has a spot under claim, I’m happy to share so other people can have fun too. My hope is that people will only take a reasonable amount and leave some for others too. Did you ever find any ammonite fossils in any of the Cretaceous rocks around the Jemez? I’ve heard of people finding giant ones but never found any myself.

[@deminicastout8783]

Hi, could you please comment more precisely on the locations? Trying to plan a family trip up that way. Thank you so much for your videos

[@alaskajdw]

Glad I found your channel 👍🏼

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you, I’m glad you are here! Thanks for watching!

[@RockHoundingAdventures]

You weren’t kidding,that was huge. Definitely has some beautiful color. Thanks for sharing

[@GeoRockNerd]

I hope to polish one side of it with my wet angle grinder! Hope it turns out cool! Thank you for watching!

[@markolsen1096]

I was up that way today and found couple things, along with a Mohave green rattle snake, yep I stopped and threw rocks at it till it decided to leave so I could

[@GeoRockNerd]

Glad you didn’t get bitten! I’ve seen rattlers near Santa Fe but never in the Jemez!

[@406findings]

Nice finds I like the seam agates they have some nice color 👍

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you, I was so excited to have found such cool stuff out there! Thanks for watching!

[@cyndikarp3368]

Nice colorful seam agate. Always great to find the biggest one yet. There is a bigger one in the area. Thanks for sharing.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Yes I’m sure there’s a bigger one out there somewhere, if I find one I’ll have to do a video! It would be neat to find a huge seam in place still, just to see where/how it grew! Thanks for watching!

[@dustinfindsrocks]

I love the sound of the wind though the pine trees. Nice finds 👍🏼

[@GeoRockNerd]

Yes! It was so loud I had to quit filming most of my finds! It’s an amazing sounds though! Thanks for watching!

[@jennybetzful]

Thanks so much for taking us along with you. I will be in NM for work in late August and am planning to stay a few extra days to do some rockhounding. Your videos are super helpful. :)

[@GeoRockNerd]

Awesome, hope you enjoy your time here! August is the perfect time to escape to the mountains, it’s usually 10 degrees cooler up there at that time! Let me know if you find anything cool!

[@franciscotrillo8269]

Great vid, love the area and the rocks you found, thanks for the fun road trip and all of the coordinates and greetings from Northern California GOD Bless.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you so much!

[@BeachBushandBeyond]

What I'd give to spend a day out hounding with you! Love from Australia 🌏

[@GeoRockNerd]

That would be awesome, I love showing people my favorite places and what to look for! Thanks for watching!

[@BeachBushandBeyond]

@@GeoRockNerd maybe you could consider a sideline business 🤔 'Us' amateur rock nerds would certainly pay for a day out with you.

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@BeachBushandBeyond That would be awesome! Except I could never charge a fee, it’s too fun and awesome to show and teach people, I’d do it just for fun!

[@DotsoFit]

Thanks! So glad people share stuff like this.

[@GeoRockNerd]

You’re welcome! Everyone that wants to should get to enjoy our public lands!

[@theruggedrockhound]

Just saw your post on facebook and I am now subscribed to ya! Nice to meet you!

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you, got you subbed too and having fun exploring your content!

[@theruggedrockhound]

@@GeoRockNerd Same!

[@alaskajdw]

Super cool finds !!

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you! It’s a great place, so much to find and the forest is so beautiful and fun to explore!

[@chadatchison145]

I would love to see some of the cut pieces of these agate and any other stones in your collection. Thank you I really enjoyed this video. :)

[@GeoRockNerd]

Yes! I will share some, I made a video of some cut pieces quite a while ago but never finished editing it! Will have to get that done. Thank you for watching!

[@chadatchison145]

@@GeoRockNerd That's great to hear, I'm looking forward to it!

[@Becky_Lewis_Awareness]

Another amazing find!!👍👏 We're near the AZ/NM border but I doubt if Hubby will allow a stop now, we'll see, LOL.. Anyway, just letting you know we're FINALLY headed back to Indiana. I sure was looking forward to meeting you. You're an Amazing Human Being and a Beautiful, Giving, Kind, Loving SOUL. THANK YOU for making such a good impact on me during this"TRIP'.. I can not find WORDS to express my Gratitude. In Love and Light, Blessings to You and Your Family ✨💐

[@GeoRockNerd]

Awww thank you Becky, you are so sweet! I hope you have a safe and UNEVENTFUL trip home! And if you do get to stop let me know! ❤️

[@Becky_Lewis_Awareness]

@@GeoRockNerd We're taking 40. Where about (general zone) are you located? It sounds like hubby might be open to it. He said to tell you we're taking 40 SOOOOO 😍💎 🙏🙇‍♀️😇 ⛏️

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@Becky_Lewis_Awareness Sweet! I’m in Santa Fe but go to Albuquerque often. What day are you expected to come through?

[@Becky_Lewis_Awareness]

@@GeoRockNerd Welllll, LOL, we're coming through this evening but can lay over in Albuquerque until tomorrow morning if you're up for it!😍⛏️🌟👏. It's a Dream come true! An actual hunt with known specimens by someone who KNOWS their Rocks!😇🙏 Sorry I didn't check soon enough, we got sidetracked in Sedona, LOL. Love and Hugs!💖🤗

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@Becky_Lewis_Awareness I’m going to try to private message you! Let’s work something out.

[@Cliffwalkerrockhounding]

Nerd! Soo awesome! Huge chonks! Awesome fortifications in those! You really upped your game on the video quality too, my friend. And you give away a spot of chonks like its no big, well played.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Ha thanks Jarrod! There is SO much agate on that hill, on every side of it too, it’s crazy! I don’t mind sharing a location like that, it’s too good to keep a secret! Plus it’s very remote and 4WD required, I figure anyone willing to go there deserves a reward! Thanks for watching, I appreciate your feedback!

[@outdooradventureswithfayde6832]

This video you uploaded was definitely worth the wait! Very cool intro! That is one awesome area to explore! You find the coolest places 😁 I'd be in houndin' heaven All that chalcedony you found lying around and the obsidian! You brought home some most excellent specimens! That silvery and the mahogany obsidian, the jasperized petrified wood, jasper, and that druzy quartz on top of chalcedony....dang! And then there is that AMAZING seam agate 🤩 Thanks for sharing this awesome video and telling us how to find it also. Really enjoyed this video. Take care, my friend 😊🤘

[@GeoRockNerd]

It was so fun, I never get tired of being out in the mountains! This place is about 2 hours from home and we pretty much try to go every weekend! There are SOOO many roads and trails we haven’t explored yet out there, it really is quite amazing! If you ever come this way let me know and we’ll plan an epic collab! Thanks as always for watching and your kind words, I appreciate it! 🤘🏻

[@outdooradventureswithfayde6832]

@@GeoRockNerd oh, I definitely would! That would be super awesome 😁

[@fatosedescobertas.meirelle6707]

Uau,beautheful agat,jasper,tanks for video,from Brasil.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@druzy77]

Very Nice Finds!

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you! One of my favorite places in NM!

[@minikin5569]

Thank you for your great videos!...

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thanks for your kind words! I appreciate you watching too!

[@sashalane8969]

Thank you for sharing.

[@GeoRockNerd]

You’re welcome, and thank you for watching!

[@RichBinell]

Love you. Love your channel. We seem to be following you around NM. LOL. Hope we can meet.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you so much, appreciate the kind words!

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

Yummy first agate score, you know it's going to be good when it starts out like that! I love agates that come out of the ground bigger than you think, so good. Very cool colors in the banding, pretty fancy. Wow, that piece in the end was amazing! Great video!

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you! Yes, I love the “rock-berg” specimens where they look small until you dig them out, so fun to find! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@upnorthadventureswithccc]

So many beautiful finds 👍 The agate at 8:32 is amazing looking. Enjoyed watching 😀

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you for watching and subscribing! Got you subbed and looking forward to watching your videos!

[@user-pp4nd7vw8m]

Fantastico finds! I have seen seam agates like the big one you found but often times, it has been reduced to just the seam part. Thanks for sharing your lovely areas and finds as always! :D

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thanl you! It was really cool finding an intact seam agate, usually like you said they are fragmented! Thanks for watching!

[@tfccolorado]

Great finds! I was in the Jemez Mtn area the past few days from CO but didn’t really know good places to go. Downed trees on different roads that had some room to drive around but left me wanting for a better back road SUV than mine. I fished at the Las Conchas trail you mentioned and found a few little pieces in the water. All of the area was beautiful.

[@GeoRockNerd]

The Jemez Mountains are such a great place, glad you got out there even if you didn't know exactly where to go for rockhounding! We have cleared a few trees that have fallen across these remote roads, it's the only way to be able to keep exploring sometimes, which we enjoy so much! Thank you for watching, and hope you'll be back in NM for some more adventure!

[@tfccolorado]

@@GeoRockNerd I definitely will. My friend saw my pics and begged me to take her there. Thanks for your videos.

[@John_Mcclain007]

Awesome! You want to go rockhounding sometime? I live in New Mexico.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Unfortunately I moved for a job and no longer in NM. Hope to come visit family sometimes though, I miss it so much!

[@John_Mcclain007]

@@GeoRockNerd awww ok

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@John_Mcclain007 New Mexico is so great for rockhounding, I realized once I moved away how extremely lucky we are in NM! Where I live now is a mining area so you can find sulfides on old mine dumps, there’s gold in the creeks and garnets in various streams, but back in Santa Fe I lived within minutes of petrified wood beds and ammonite fossils!

[@dustinfindsrocks]

You were finding lots of stuff like I find in Missouri! I feel super blessed to be near a spring fed creek on my last hunt finding some similar material. Rockhounding and swimming 🏊🏻‍♂️ 💎👀🤣 good times! I love the druse!

[@GeoRockNerd]

I totally thought of you when I found the druse, you’re really lucky to be in a place with a lot! It’s pretty rare out here - and no water to rockhound in, sadly. All streams are ephemeral in this area and springs are super rare. We’re having a terrible drought, for many years now.

[@corycampbell5913]

I went out there yesterday. Not sure if I found the same spot you did (GPS was a little off, but it got us to the vicinity) but we did find BIG agates and a lot of them. I have lived in NM forever and I don't think I had ever been to that part of the Jemez. Really nice out there. Thanks for the directions!

[@GeoRockNerd]

So glad you went out there and found good stuff! The entire hill where the agate was has agate on all sides, so even if you weren’t in the exact spot the stuff is abundant in the area! We found another spot for great agate too, working on editing a video! Thanks for watching!

[@corycampbell5913]

@@GeoRockNerd Awesome! I can't wait. My 3 year old loves going out and looking.

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@corycampbell5913 Fantastic! Gotta start them on the rock addiction young, I always say! 👍🏻😊

[@corycampbell5913]

​@@GeoRockNerd I am new to hunting rocks and have been trying to figure out HOW to determine where to look if that makes sense. Like, what are the geological indicators that agates would be present? I was looking at a geological map of this spot and the key indicated "Tnv- Intermediate to Silicic volcanic rocks". I also noticed that the entirety of Mount Tayor has the same classification. Do you think that Mount Taylor would be a good place to find agate also or am I way off base?

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@corycampbell5913 Agates typically form in gas bubbles in lava flows, or in seams and cracks in volcanic rock, but most lava flows aren’t agate-bearing. So you are on the right track, looking for lava that could be agate bearing, but the next trick would be to read the rock unit descriptions on the geologic maps of the areas to see if the geologists note agates/nodules/chalcedony in the rock. From what I’ve figured out, it is specifically the Canovas Canyon Rhyolite that contains agates in the Jemez, and there may be other sources too. If you look at the geologic map of the Jemez and Bear Springs Peak Quadrangles, available on the New Mexico Bureau of Geology’s map website, you can see where the Canovas Canyon Rhyolite outcrops at the surface. These will be the most promising places to look, especially in the arroyos and streams and areas around them.

[@carlwiedenhoeft2427]

Wow, what a spot! Thanks for the info. Some day,I hope to find spots like that. I will record the coordinates you gave and try to get there someday for sure. Beautiful material.

[@GeoRockNerd]

The Jemez are full of spots like this, I found another one last weekend! Truly worth exploring if you can make it out there! Thanks for watching!

[@sanjuanprospector]

Thank you! If you like to come to our club and give a talk about the agate/geode video you have that will be great. Super great content in your channel. Thanks for the great information and sharing locations

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you for your kind words, appreciate that! I would have loved to give a talk to your rock club but I move to the northwest in 2021 for job and don’t make it back home too often, sadly!

[@sanjuanprospector]

@@GeoRockNerd Wow! That is exciting. All the best. Hope to see more videos of rock hounding in the area you are in now

[@puliendopiedrasdecostarica]

Nice video

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you!

[@stephaniehenslee438]

I would love to go to this area, unless maybe it’s all gone? I put the coordinates into google but nothing popped up?

[@GeoRockNerd]

Maybe put them into Google Earth and try that way? I’ve also had bad luck with Google Maps and coordinates, unfortunately. There is also a good app called Gaia GPS that a lot of rockhounds use, should work better with coordinates. Even if you don’t get to the exact locations in the video, I have found so many areas with the obsidian in between and many of the side roads have stuff to collect! Good luck out there and thanks for watching!

[@tersahansen5238]

Remove the "-" (minus symbol) from the beginning of the West coordinates. Should work

[@missnmyangel]

Is the jemez river a good place for agate? I'm still learning.

[@GeoRockNerd]

I haven’t checked out that area specifically, but I would say petrified wood, chert, jasper and the occasional agate are possible. Look for gravel beds, those are your best bet for hounding.

[@theruggedrockhound]

Those rock formations are also at Mount Taylor, so the volcanism must be very similar.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Mt Taylor is part of a volcanic field that produced both lava flows as well as tuff deposits, and is part of the Jemez Lineament, so yes, very similar volcanism indeed! Thanks for watching!

[@theruggedrockhound]

@@GeoRockNerd Absolutely! Thanks for the info!

[@propblast82nd]

Is that Forest Service road 138 ?

[@GeoRockNerd]

Part of it was in FS-138

[@John_Mcclain007]

I tried entering the coordinates for the agate but it wouldn't work in my maps? I was out in jemez today for a little road trip but couldn't find the spot

[@GeoRockNerd]

Take a look at the MVUM for the forest, link here. www.fs.usda.gov/r3/gis/mvum/Santa_Fe/SantaFe_Southwest.pdf

[@GeoRockNerd]

You need to go south on 137 from 266, then when 137 splits off to the right you stay left. There is obsidian in the arroyo right after the split. If you keep going towards 492, the intersection where it splits off and the area all around there is great for both the obsidian as well as agate. Up the hills in the area and along the road, all have the potential for good stuff. The seam agate area is on 138, also off of 266, but any area around can have the agate, drusy and obsidian.

[@John_Mcclain007]

@@GeoRockNerd On 266 east, do you have to climb up the mountain? It was steep with no guard rail at the edge of a cliff lol

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@John_Mcclain007 Yes but that section is very short at the beginning, and there’s not really other spots like that once you get through it! All the many many times we went out there we never met a vehicle going in the opposite direction that we had to back up from!

[@beowulf9710]

@@GeoRockNerd You need to be a bit careful as of May 2023. They are doing a lot of logging up 266 Monday to Friday. Also, this is not a road you want to try and use if conditions are dicy, i.e. rain, wet or snow.

[@Bearded_Rebel]

I'm normally pretty good with maps and directions, but seem to be having troubles finding this area.

[@GeoRockNerd]

Hey Cody! The coordinates are in the description, did you try any of those?

[@Bearded_Rebel]

@@GeoRockNerd wow! Thank you for such a quick response. I did indeed put in the coordinates and it's not bringing anything up. I don't do coordinate searches typically so maybe I'm just doing something wrong. Looking into that now.

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@Bearded_Rebel From the Paliza Campground take 266 into the forest, it’s kind of steep going up out of the canyon. There will be an intersection with a road going off to the right which is marked as FS-132 but I also saw a sign for DP-10 in the area as well. This road goes through Jemez Pueblo land and back onto Forest Service land. Check the stream channel gravels along Borrego Canyon, there’s obsidian in them. If you continue on the road for some miles you get to 492 which is in the Forest Service MVUM - motor vehicle use map - so open to motorized use. The first location from this video is right before you get to the turn off for 492. There is obsidian in the road and hills here and chalcedony in the gravels too. If you stay on 266 and don’t turn off onto 132, you can get to an area from one of the rockhound guidebooks listed for Apache Tears, perlite and jasper. FS-138 is a turn off from 266 and that’s where I found the big seam agate field! The road is rough going though. Also there was a fire up there last summer so I don’t know the current status of the roads, they could be closed while hazard assessment/mitigation work is done. We have explored extensively in the area. There is obsidian and druzy/agate all over the Jemez complex! So even if you don’t find these exact locations keep an eye out, check the arroyos often and you’re bound to find some cool stuff!

[@Bearded_Rebel]

@@GeoRockNerd awesome, that k you so much I'll be looking into this for our first trip this season.

[@VT-vy9jv]

Damn I’m so sad i don’t have four wheel drive

[@GeoRockNerd]

Got any friends with a truck who would go with you? It's more fun with friends anyway!

[@clintnagel1668]

Would you trade some seam agate for some ricon Lace agate?

[@GeoRockNerd]

Is it rough lace agate or worked?

[@clintnagel1668]

Rough

[@clintnagel1668]

Large pieces

[@clintnagel1668]

My Facebook Douglas Nagel if want message me on Messenger I on group called Rock Swap on Facebook

[@clintnagel1668]

I can send pictures

[@lisaevancho532]

i'm pretty stupid when it comes to technology, but these coordinates don't seem to work at all on either google earth OR google maps. Help?

[@GeoRockNerd]

Check out the description on this video for road directions instead of coordinates: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4HbhXSpe7B1fNk

[@GeoRockNerd]

Here is a link to the Forest Service map that has the open roads on it: www.fs.usda.gov/r3/gis/mvum/Santa_Fe/SantaFe_Southwest.pdf

[@lisaevancho532]

Thank you so much! we found our way to obsidian hill! It was sooooo beautiful and the obsidian/apache tears are PLENTIFUL! We even ran into a man who had watched this same video, had the coordinates and was collecting too! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing the locations to your wonderful adventure. Because of your kindness, we were able to have a wonderful, AMAZING adventure too.

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@lisaevancho532 I love hearing that! Isn’t it an amazing area? I’m so glad you found the area and had success!! Thanks for watching!

[@brandonnugent6176]

I would have taken as many of those home as I could 😂, I haven't been able to find anything bigger than my palm In northern California

[@GeoRockNerd]

It’s so fun to find areas that no one has discovered/picked over yet, that’s the trick! Once other rockhounds start going out there, stuff is gonna disappear!

[@johnnynephrite6147]

Yeah that seamers a screamer.

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@johnnynephrite6147 Thanks, it’s the biggest I’ve ever found!

[@anthonyjbrostayshigh9422]

lol you pass my house in this video lol

[@GeoRockNerd]

Are you in Ponderosa?

[@anthonyjbrostayshigh9422]

@@GeoRockNerd yes

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@anthonyjbrostayshigh9422 You’re so lucky! I love the Jemez Mountains, one of the best places in NM!

[@anthonyjbrostayshigh9422]

@@GeoRockNerd the area fits the 3 things i enjoy doing fishing,stargazing and rockhounding lol and its quiet n peaceful for my family and I

[@GeoRockNerd]

@@anthonyjbrostayshigh9422 That’s awesome, lucky family! I’d love to live somewhere like that some day, I think I’d be in the mountains everyday!

[@rogerivens6893]

Would ya'll be interested in taking a Stranger Things actor rockhounding with ya'll??

[@GeoRockNerd]

That would be cool, but unfortunately I moved out of NM for a job and no longer in an area with great options for hounding, sadly. There’s a couple good rockhound groups in Northern NM though, bet they’d love to have you join them for some field trips! Let me know if you want some info!

[@weezerwookie]

famous jemez

[@GeoRockNerd]

The BEST!

[@clintnagel1668]

Assume video as always

[@GeoRockNerd]

Thank you!

[@michaeltaylor4984]

I was fishing just upstream of Battleship Rock last week. Never find anything cool there. Just other people's trash

[@GeoRockNerd]

That area isn’t far from the obsidian cliffs! I’ve found really cool welded tuff there that takes a polish when cut too. The trash situation in the wilds of NM is terrible. Whenever I go rockhounding I bring a trash bag to clean up after the trashy people. 😥