Where to Find Apache Tears in the United States
6 mapped apache tears spots across 3 U.S. states. Apache Tears is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.
Learn about apache tears: properties & identification →Map showing where to find apache tears across the United States, with 6 mapped spots
Top states for apache tears
States ranked by number of apache tears spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused apache tears-in-state list.
Every apache tears spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarloaf & Ruby MountainsCR 300 | Chaffee County |
| 38.7602, -106.0722 | Public |
| Fish Lake | Esmeralda County |
| 37.7418, -118.0542 | Public |
| Scotty’s Junction | Nye County |
| 37.2329, -116.9761 | Public |
| Mule CreekHarden Cienega | Grant County |
| 33.1381, -109.0336 | Public |
| Santa Fe National Forest | Santa Fe County | 35.6998, -106.2160 | Public | |
| Los Lunas | Valencia County |
| 34.7575, -106.8935 | Public |
Apache Tears rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find apache tears in the U.S.?+
New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado have the highest concentrations of apache tears in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many apache tears rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
6 mapped spots across 3 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect apache tears on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like apache tears is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify apache tears in the field?+
Field identification of apache tears comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt apache tears on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
