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July 4th Agates
Butte of July 4th Butte, Maricopa County, Arizona
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    The agates found throughout the Butte of July 4th including teh "Chimney Beds" come in forms of amygdaloidal, and irregular/geometric nodules (filling in fissures/veins). The agates are white to gray sometimes wtih hues of ivory, purple and blue colors, and there have been some traces of red and yellow colors. The shadowing effect is somewhat common in the agates with a wide range of strength. That area is just one of several agate-containing places around Gila Bend Mountains. Some agates have been found with purplish red plumes and black calcite crystals and at least one pseudomorph agate has been found.
    Despite the fact that this area is known for many decades, very good agates till can be found by just patiently digging to find any irregular shaped (and sometimes amygdaloidal) nodules. The agates are found along the layer of rocky debris just below the surface and above the clay layer (in basin) or heavily weathered greenish basalt bedrock (on the sides of the hills). I did not find anything in the clay layer and there are some agate veins in the weathered basalt bedrock. There are at least two active claims marked by orange/white posts on the area where digging may be not allowed.

All of the agates below are dug by Jeffrey Anderson (that's me!)

JUL2008n34-$15, JUL2008n35-$10, a fracture
or $20 for the pair
JUL2008n33-$15 JUL2008n36-$50,
great shadowing effect