Gemfield
Honor-system digging on mining claims outside the old boomtown of Goldfield
- What you find
- Chalcedony in six varieties, agate, jasper, obsidian, quartz crystal, turquoise
- Where
- About 4 miles from Goldfield, Esmeralda County
- Open
- Every day, all year
- How to pay
- By the pound, cash only, honor system; sign the visitor log first
- Rock clubs
- Discounts for clubs and larger volumes
- Tools
- Picks, shovels and other hand tools allowed
- Services
- No restrooms; no fuel in Goldfield
Fee dig: pay to search the ground on site
Native material: you search the natural ground on site.
Season: Year-round.
Make a weekend of it
25 gem and mineral spots on open public land with no claim on record, within 50 miles.
There are more on the map, some of them with a possible mining claim.
About Gemfield
Gemfield is a rockhounding area on mining claims a few miles from Goldfield, the old mining boomtown on US-95 between Tonopah and Beatty, about three hours from Las Vegas. Travel Nevada singles it out for how much variety is packed into a small patch of desert: turquoise, obsidian, agate, jasper, quartz crystal and six different kinds of chalcedony.
Chalcedony is the main prize. The deposit is thought to be the largest of gem-quality chalcedony in the United States, in many colors and patterns, and it polishes well, which makes it a favorite for tumbling and cabochons. The ground is a patchwork of open pits in the sagebrush, with color turning up everywhere from blue-green to deep red and glittering black.
The claims are on BLM land, but the rocks and minerals on them belong to the claim owners and may not be taken without permission. At the entrance a welcome sign explains the deposits and how to find them. Visitors sign the log there, which doubles as a liability release, then pay for what they keep by weight, in cash, on the honor system. Rock clubs and people taking larger loads get a discount. The site never closes for the season.
Bring a bucket, gloves, a rock pick, a trowel and a spray bottle; picks, shovels and other hand tools are welcome. Park where you do not block the roads, stay on designated tracks and keep clear of fenced areas, which are old mine workings. A herd of wild burros grazes nearby, along with pronghorn, jackrabbits and coyotes.
There are no restrooms, and Goldfield has no gas station, so fill up in Tonopah, 28 miles north, and carry food and water. Afterwards, Goldfield's rock shops can help identify finds or sell finished pieces. Our pin sits on the named locality of Gemfield, so treat it as a rough guide and look for the entrance sign.
Clubs and places nearby
- Otteson Brothers Royston Turquoise Mine ToursPay-to-dig · 23 mi
- Oak Springs Trilobite SiteFree public dig · 142 mi
- Tule Gem & Mineral SocietyClub · 145 mi
- Merced River Recreation Area (Briceburg)Free public dig · 146 mi
- Mariposa Gem & Mineral ClubClub · 147 mi
- Indian Wells Gem & Mineral SocietyClub · 148 mi
Access
About 4 miles from Goldfield, on US-95 between Tonopah and Beatty. A welcome sign at the entrance explains the deposits. Park off the road without blocking it, stay on designated roads and keep away from fenced old mine sites. There is no fuel in Goldfield: the nearest is in Tonopah, 28 miles north. The map marker is the named locality Gemfield, an approximate position: follow the signs.
Technique
Picks, shovels and other hand tools are allowed. Bring a bucket, gloves, a rock pick, a trowel and a spray bottle to wet stones and see their colors.