Where to Find Obsidian in California
3 mapped obsidian rockhounding spots in California, across 3 counties. Obsidian is volcanic glass — usually black, sometimes mahogany, snowflake, or rainbow. California offers a remarkable spread, from gold-bearing rivers in the Mother Lode to jade beaches on the central coast and the agate-and-jasper hills of the Mojave.
Map of 3 obsidian rockhounding spots in California
Obsidian by county in California
Counties ranked by number of obsidian spots in our database.
Every obsidian spot in California
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem Hill | Kern County | 34.9249, -118.2218 | Public | |
| Amboy CraterAmboy Crater Trail | San Bernardino County | 34.5448, -115.7924 | Public | |
| Glass Mountain | Siskiyou County | 41.6015, -121.5044 | Public |
Obsidian in California FAQ
Where can I find obsidian in California?+
RockHoundR tracks 3 obsidian spots in California, spread across 3 counties. The strongest concentration is in Kern County.
Is collecting obsidian legal in California?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like obsidian is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in California, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.
What is the best obsidian location in California?+
Kern County has the most obsidian spots in our database for California. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for obsidian
Other minerals to find in California
Hunt obsidian in California on the map
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