Where to Find Chalcedony in California

California chalcedony shows up in the desert agate districts and along the coast. The Mojave fields (Wiley's Well, Cady Mountains, Lavic) yield blue, white, and pink chalcedony in basalt and rhyolite. The San Diego County pegmatite belt produces chalcedony in association with tourmaline at the Himalaya and Stewart mines. Coast chalcedony turns up at Agate Beach in Marin County and Jade Cove in Monterey County as tide-tumbled pebbles. Smaller showings of dendritic and moss chalcedony occur in the Coso Range and the Argus Mountains. Field specimens clean up with a quick rinse in mild acid to remove desert caliche.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

Map of 12 chalcedony collecting spots in California

Standout chalcedony spots in California

Hand-picked from the full list below, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for chalcedony in California

Ranked by the number of mapped chalcedony spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Every chalcedony spot we track in California

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

Before you go

Read the chalcedony identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Chalcedony in the encyclopedia.

Chalcedony in California FAQ

Where can you find chalcedony in California?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Kern County County, Los Angeles County County, and Modoc County County. Known collecting areas include Wiley's Well district (Riverside County), Himalaya mine area (San Diego County), and Agate Beach (Marin County). Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.
How many chalcedony spots are mapped in California?+
12 spots across 7 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect chalcedony in California?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 12 of the 12 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find chalcedony

More minerals to hunt in California

Hunt chalcedony in California with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.

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