I can't help wonder if the Union soldiers and Native Americans during 1890s ever paid any attention to the white to gray agate nodules scattered around on the hills on both sides of Fort Cummings at Cook's Range. The fort was established in 1860s as a supply depot near a water spring for any people heading toward California and to guard against Apache tribe. The place was abandoned in 1880s, and the ruins can be still seen there.
    The two linear hills on both sides of the fort have chalcedony and colorless agates scattered throughout the the west sides. Few are found with black plume inclusions. Fewer agates have yellow to orange plumes. The reason why the agates are found only on the west sides of those two hills is that the basaltic hills were once a whole bed before it faulted into several blocks (normal fault type). It's okay to collect the agates on the hills, but please don't cross any fences nor collect around the ruins.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO SEE LARGER PICTURES

History Signs	Fort Ruins	Bits of agates all over
Agate-bearing basalt beds	Plume Agates  In-situ