RockHoundR
Back to map

York Area: Fire Agate & Banded Agate Rockhounding in Greenlee County, Arizona

Public accessBest spot4 mineralsGreenlee County, ArizonaUpdated June 2026
Minerals reported
4
Elevation
3,530 ft
Best months
October to May

Fire agate is the reason the York and Duncan country earns the first Arizona slot: BLM identifies the nearby Round Mountain area as a public rockhounding destination, and its Arizona brochure lists fire agate as a notable Safford Field Office gemstone. The broader York area adds banded agate, carnelian, and jasper, so the site represents southeastern Arizona's volcanic chalcedony ground rather than a single-mine specimen stop. Reported finds include fire agate, banded agate, carnelian, jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

State
Arizona
Get directionsView on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: BLM Safford Field Office region near Duncan and York. Stay on public land, avoid active claims, and follow posted rockhound-area rules.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit York Area

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: October to May. Typical highs run 98°F in midsummer and 61°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 26°F. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DUNCAN station (11 mi away).

Geology at York Area

This spot sits on ground mapped as conglomerate and sandstone that formed roughly 20 to 2 million years ago. Tough silica like agate, jasper, and chert typically weathers out of beds like these and collects as float in drainages and on deflation surfaces.

Age
20–2 Ma (Early Miocene to Pleistocene)
Rock types
conglomerate and sandstone
Elevation
3,530 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Today's weather

Is today a good day to go?

The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for York Area.

Get the app

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified:

Found at York Area

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of York Area.

  • 1 mi. N of old Three-Way drive-in theaterGreenlee County, Arizona · 5 mi awayFire Agate, Chalcedony
  • Ward CanyonGreenlee County, Arizona · 11 mi awayRed Agate
  • W of Mulligan PeakGreenlee County, Arizona · 13 mi awayNodule
  • N of Mulligan PeakGreenlee County, Arizona · 13 mi awayPurple Agate
  • Limestone GulchGreenlee County, Arizona · 13 mi awayAgate
  • Foothills of Sunset PeakGreenlee County, Arizona · 16 mi awayAgate, Blue Jasper, Black Jasper
  • Both sides of Mule Creek RoadGreenlee County, Arizona · 17 mi awayChalcedony Geode
  • Mine dumps along Coronado TrailGreenlee County, Arizona · 17 mi awayChrysocolla, Turquoise

Across the state line from York Area

York Area is close enough to the Arizona border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

York Area FAQ

Where is York Area?+
York Area is in Greenlee County, Arizona, at 32.89402, -109.21288.
What rocks and minerals can you find at York Area?+
York Area is reported to produce Fire Agate, Banded Agate, Carnelian, Jasper.
Is collecting allowed at York Area?+
Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
What tools should I bring to York Area?+
Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.
When is the best time to visit York Area?+
The most comfortable months at York Area are October to May. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.
How do I get to York Area?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 32.89402, -109.21288 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Arizona

See all 62 Arizona spots →

Open York Area on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
QR code that opens RockHoundR in your phone's app store
Get directionsDirections