Thought I'd tranfers this fine link of USGS database wider exposure
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2704

I find it fascinating because the database alos lists possible mineral location For instance I found locations for AZ Blue Opal
Good specimens of that can be as valuable as gold

Here's the link to the database

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds/find-mrds.php

Remember you hunter seekers
I barter, trade, craft, and even pay cold hard cash for the good stuff
especaially blue opal which as been rumored to be found in the Supers
Just laying on top of the ground for easy picking
Keep your eyes open
and contact me
roc

Roc,

I believe Tom K. would be a good person to ask about blue opal's in the Superstitions. Seems to me we had a discussion about them lying on the ground in there. Sorry, can't remember the details. From what I can recall, it was not too encouraging.

He will probably be at this year's Rendezvous.

Take care,

Joe

Ya know Joe
this is sort of interesting discussion

Just what type of cuttable rock,
suitable for lapidary purposes, would be in the Superstitions?
I’m pretty new to rock hounding and am by far a novice!
But I have read many gem trail books.
The interior of the Superstition
are barely mentioned at all. If ever!

Is this because there are no gems type material there ?
Or is it an avoided area to the rock hound because of the
tough landscape and superstitious lore of the mountains?

I have done some rock hounding in few areas and I do mean very shallow.
I found lots of rhyolites and marbles.
Interesting stuff - but not particularly fabulous to polish.
Obviously the outlying area of the Supers
has incredible mining and wealth of minerals.
But the interior remains a rock hound mystery.

So I remain very skeptical that blue opal would be easily lying about.
I’d like to be proved wrong.
What little I know about opal is that its
usually dug out of mountains base
or underground.
But that not to say that with weathering
it couldn’t break loose
and become placer like?

I look forward to the Rendezvous
take care
Ed

again anyone who can prove me wrong
please post pictures and gps coorindates
mucho gracias
roc