Best spot

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

Updated June 2026

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.

York Area photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

High Grade Slaughter Mountain Arizona Fire Agate Rough at York Area, Greenlee County, Arizona

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Greenlee County
State: Arizona
Coordinates: 32.89402, -109.21288

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.

Best time to visit York Area

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).

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.

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.

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: April 1, 2026

BLM Arizona — Recreational Mineral Collecting
Arizona Geological Survey
Arizona State Land Department recreation permits
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at York Area

Each chip 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.

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 53 Arizona spots →

Open York Area on the map

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