Garnets & Topaz at East Grant's Ridge - Rockhounding Near Mt. Taylor, NM

The topaz rhyolite tuff found near East Grant's Ridge, near Grants, NM contains tiny perfect spessartine garnets, topaz and quartz crystals. Most are very small - micromount sized - though I know of 1-2 cm topaz crystals being found here. In this video, I share some interesting facts about the geology, and how to look for the crystals in the boulders of tuff!

To get to this location, take highway 547 from Grants northeast towards Mt Taylor. The collecting area is 3.2 miles past the Cibola Forest boundary sign, on the left side of Lobo Canyon. You can park along FS road 450, on the left, and then walk back along the canyon bottom to where the boulders of rhyolite are. The topaz and garnets are found in crystal lined pockets in the rhyolite tuff. Most are micromount sized, but the topaz can range up to 2 cms. Lookout for Apache Tears (obsidian nodules) and perlite as well. Please note, there are often mining claims on Forest Service lands, so always be on the lookout for the markers and avoid trespassing on someone's claims.

Note: The East Grant's Ridge volcanic plug is just presented as an interesting spot, but please do not try to hike to it, as it is under claim and there is some private ownership in the vicinity that should be avoided.