An Arizona gem: Inside the Four Peaks amethyst mine

An Arizona gem: Inside the Four Peaks amethyst mine

With its distinctive deep purple color, Kurt Cavano knows the stones coming out of his mine are “really, really special.” He holds the claim to the Four Peaks Amethyst Mine, nestled in an area around 7,000 feet between the third and fourth peaks.

3 Comments

  1. Ron Lawrence on December 31, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    You can hike all the way from the parking lot at the trailhead to the actual mine. Although you better be in great shape and you better hide water along the trail for the return trip.
    I never went down into the mine which, at least 30 years ago, had a huge welded gate keeping people out.
    But here’s the crazy part….(at least back then) you didn’t need to go down into the mine. Years ago, some previous owner got the bright idea to mine the amethyst using explosives. So literally, there was amethyst lying around all over the place outside the mine. I also remember seeing one massive boulder lying outside the entrance that still had the bases of about a dozen or more massive crystals still stuck to it. I assume someone had busted the crystals off, leaving just the bases still attached to the boulder. To the best of my recollection, some of those crystral bases were 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter. Colors were deep purple as well. I can only imagine how beautiful those gems must be wherever they are in the world right now.
    Anyway, 30 years ago the owners didn’t care enough to prosecute anyone visiting the mine, but I don’t believe that’s true today. I don’t know that I’d be willing to violate whatever "Keep Out, No Trespassing" signs the current owners have up warning people to stay out.

  2. FearLess10k gaming on December 31, 2022 at 4:45 pm

    How do I get a job with them

  3. Jennifer Thomas on December 31, 2022 at 5:00 pm

    Where is this at?

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