Here are some photos of what are called Payson Diamonds. They can be mined or harvested from the earth right here in the Arizona Rim Country.
There are designated dates to dig between October and February and it's limited to hand tools with a max area of a cubic yard. The forest service requests that all holes and areas be back filled with your till. Unfortunately, it looks as though some over the months and years have not completely honored this request.
It's also requested that the digging be 6' from any Ponderosa Pines and oak trees. This is so the root systems are not disturbed.
There are various ways of trying to find the pretty quartz. I've sifted through some fill dirt where others have already done some digging. Sometimes they miss the pieces because they can be coated with mud. The rocks have an entirely different shape, so those get tossed to the side while you keep looking. I like to use a garden tool and move the soil back and forth. I have even been walking and seen a big crystal partially out of the ground. The rain or melted snow give them a nice cleaning. It's so fun when one makes an appearance!
I was sifting through some soil in an area and decided it was time to move along. I thought the area was not very good. I leaned back to gather my tools, turned my head and saw a really large crystal partially uncovered. I dug it up and there are usually more than one in an area, so I did find another.
They will range from super clear like glass to milky looking ice cubes. Some will have nicely terminated tips and some will be rough or chipped. The inclusions vary and I found some that have waves of rainbow colors inside them. One of the larger ones I found looks like it had little hair like fibers on the inside. It's really great to find a dual terminated one that may more closely resemble the shape of a Herkimer Diamond. You will see a dual terminated, large one in the center of my photo.
Some have facets and tables like cut gemstones and a good majority will have healing areas on them. It just depends how much room they had to grow 250 to 500 million years ago. I guess there is just no way to tell for sure how old they are. I'm no expert, but a novice here.
They will need a good soaking, scrubbing and cleaning. I've been experimenting with ways to get some of the dirt out and a firm brush is helpful. Some of the fractures may take on the stain of iron and almost give some a citrine type tint.
We talked to several people who said they looked, but didn't find any. It depends if they were walking and looking to collect them off the surface of the forest or if they are willing to dig and spend some time, meaning hours on various visits.
It's important to remember that you are essentially out in the wild looking to harvest natures sweet little gems. I like to keep obvious gear on and with me at all times. I'd make sure car keys are secure because you may be up, down, leaning this way and that way. If you dropped them in the forest, good luck retracing your steps and finding them!
It can be really fun treasure hunting, but I would be aware of time spent and time of the day. You've hiked in and give yourself time to get back to your vehicle before it gets dark.
Some other things I considered were to listen and be aware of your surroundings. I warned someone to pay attention to the low hanging branches. Of course, I was so busy looking at the ground at one point, I walked into some myself. I came upon a jagged rock pile, my foot wobbled and I dropped some supplies and hand tools. We also saw an area that looked level, but had been dug down on the other side creating a drop off. Just be aware of various terrain because it's not a paved path.
I wear gloves and like the extension the hand tools give. You're out in nature, so I did see various spiders, worms, small centipedes, etc. I did bring something to sit or kneel on vs. sitting directly on rocks.
So far, I've been out a handful of times and it was a blast. I try to harvest the crystals carefully, tread with care and leave the surroundings not too much different than how I found them.
