Desert Minerals And Geology
Rocks and Minerals
Rocks are all around us. They make up the backbones of hills and mountains and the foundations of plains and valleys. Beneath the soil you walk on and the deep layers of soft mud that cover the ocean basins is a basement of hard rock and minerals. Below is a listing of the many factors that make up the deserts of the Southwest.
| The Desert Environment | & Geological Terms |
Animals - Wildlife | Wildflowers-Plants | Minerals - Geology | Desert People
DesertUSA Articles & Location Information
- Rockhounds and Their Rocks
- Hunting Desert Meteorite Treasures
- The Racetrack Playa of Death Valley NP
- Caving in the Desert Southwest
- Caves of the North American Deserts
- Death Valley Geology Field Trip
- Desert Varnish & Lichen Crust
- Entrada Sandstone & Arches of Utah
- Fish Creek Walk
- Fossil Canyon & Painted Gorge
- Fossil Hunt At Yuha Basin
- Gold Fever in The Desert
- Little Ice Age
- Quest For Fire at Opal Hill
- Cinnamon Geode Beds
- Hauser Geode Beds
- North Black Hills Geode Beds
- Kyanite ore Cargo Muchacho Mountains
- Inselbergs: Unique Rock Formations
- The Love and Life of Sand Dunes
- Nature's Palette Revealed in Painted Canyon
- Rockhounding at the Himalaya Tourmaline Mine
- Rockhounding, Treasure Hunting & Prospecting
- Underground Grandeur of Grand Canyon Caverns
- Francis Marion "Shady" Myrick
- San Andreas Fault
Other DesertUSA Resources
Gem Trails Guides Books
Related Books & Gifts - Trading Post
Desert Rocks, Minerals & Geology Index
Desert Survival Primer
Desert Survival Kit
DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Sign up now. (It's free.)
| THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT | |||
| The North American Deserts | |||
| Chihuahuan Desert | Great Basin Desert | Mojave Desert | Sonoran Desert |
| Glossary of Desert & Geological Terms | |||
Animals - Wildlife | Wildflowers-Plants | Minerals - Geology | Desert People
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Mitchell Caverns Video- Mitchell Caverns are limestone caves that feature a wide variety of formations. Trips through the caverns are conducted by guided tours only and last about 1 1/2 hours. Although the tour is not strenuous, there is a half-mile walk to the cave entrance from the visitor center and another half-mile walk throught the caverns on uneven ground. The area became a California State Park in 1956 and still contains the only limestone caves in the California State Park system. Watch Video...
Opal Hill Mine Video - Tucked deep into the Mule Mountains not far from Palo Verde lies Opal Hill Mine, well known for its beautiful and rare fire agate, opal eggs and quartz crystals. The mine is not a deep shaft or dark tunnel - it is a claim on a hillside which contains rock outcroppings and holes where agate has been found. You can go there yourself, and for a small collecting fee, look for your own agates - take a look at the video and see how to get there! Watch Video...
Barry Storm's Jade Mine Video - Joshua Tree National Park - DesertUSA researches Barry Storm, the author of Trail of the Lost Dutchman, first published in 1939. In 1957 he came out to California and was wandering around in the desert near Joshua Tree National Park. He chipped off the corner of a rock and discovered it was jade. Thinking he'd found the source of the ancient Mayan's jade, Storm mined and lived in that area for the rest of his life. Join us on our road trip to see Barry Storm's Jade Mine. Watch Video...
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Take a look at our Animals index page to find information about all kinds of birds, snakes, mammals, spiders and more!
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desert?Click here to see current desert temperatures!
DesertUSA is a comprehensive resource about the North American deserts and Southwest destinations. Learn about desert biomes while you discover how desert plants and animals learn to adapt to the harsh desert environment. Find travel information about national parks, state parks, BLM land, and Southwest cities and towns located in or near the desert regions of the United States. Access maps and information about the Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, Great Basin Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert.
