Agate
Banded chalcedony documented at four BLM and state-park sites across Arizona, California, and New Mexico — usually alongside jasper rather than as the sole draw, which makes it one of the more reliably present materials on this site's rockhounding pages even when it isn't a site's headline attraction.
Agate — banded chalcedony — shows up as a secondary or co-equal find at most of the sites documented here rather than as any single site's headline material. That pattern is itself useful: it means agate is one of the more reliably present finds across this site's rockhounding coverage, showing up in red, yellow, and banded varieties across open BLM desert in Arizona, wash float in California, and a dedicated collecting trail in New Mexico.
Sites where agate is documented
| Site | State | Verdict | What's notable there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartzsite (BLM) | Arizona | Allowed | Common across the La Posa Plain in red, yellow, and banded varieties |
| Alamo Lake (BLM) | Arizona | Allowed on BLM ground only | Found throughout the area regardless of the copper mineralization the site is otherwise known for |
| Wiley Well (BLM) | California | Allowed | Banded agate nodules, less common at this site than the hollow geodes that are its main draw |
| Rockhound State Park | New Mexico | Allowed | Agate in various colors, found alongside crystalline rhyolite fragments |
Verdicts and notes reflect each site's own published page as of this writing. Confirm the exact boundary and limit on the specific Site page before collecting.
Where Agate Is Documented
Quartzsite BLM Open Desert
ArizonaAllowedCommon across the La Posa Plain in red, yellow, and banded varieties.
Alamo Lake BLM Area
ArizonaAllowedFound throughout on BLM ground; check adjoining state park and NWR boundaries.
Wiley Well District / Hauser Geode Beds
CaliforniaAllowedBanded nodules, secondary to the site's hollow-geode main draw.
Rockhound State Park
New MexicoAllowedVarious colors, found alongside crystalline rhyolite fragments.
Each site’s own page is the source of truth on current rules and limits — this page only gathers what’s already documented there. Verdicts shown reflect that site as a whole, not this material specifically, since a single site can allow one material while restricting another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is agate collecting free at these sites?
At the BLM sites documented here, agate falls under each site's standard personal-use collecting rules with no separate permit. Rockhound State Park in New Mexico applies its own state-park daily limit. Confirm the exact figure on the specific Site page.
Related Materials
Disclaimer
Information is provided for general guidance only. Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with the official jurisdiction before relying on this information for legal decisions. Permitted Pursuits is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Report an error.
Last updated: 2026-08-20