Looking Glass Rock (Nearby Agates)
Utah
Find: Agates (vibrant orange/purple/yellow chalcedony)
GPS: 38.29167, -109.42358
Nearest city: Moab, UT
Recommended Vehicle: 4x4
Summary:
If you’ve ever driven on Utah’s highway 191, you’ll witness some fantastic scenery. Most noteworthy are the arches, such as the Wilson Arch on the way South to Monticello.
Slightly further off the beaten path is Looking Glass Rock, which is another arch nearby. However, many don’t know that in the public BLM land nearby, there is some fantastic agate to be found. Colors can be muted or vibrant, ranging from a warm color palette of oranges and yellows to an almost cosmic shade of purple.
I would argue that chalcedony would be a more accurate description for the material here than agate. However, I did find an exceptionally colored piece complete with a small pocket of banding in the area.
You’ll want 4x4 to get in here comfortably and it would be expect to find patches of mud if there’s been rain recently.
Video Guide
Check out the video for a better look at what can be found when exploring this spot.
If I could only bring 3 tools…
Gad Bar
A gad bar is my favorite tool for both prying and breaking rock.
3lb Hammer
Pair the gad bar with a 3lb hammer for the perfect lightweight combo to walk around with and investigate which agates are worth cutting or collecting.
Rubber Tip Gloves
Gloves will be handy - pun intended. Fractured agate is essentially glass, so it can be quite sharp even when covered in dirt.