Arizona · BLM
Arizona BLM collecting rules
Ordinary Arizona BLM land is open to hobby collecting by hand, for yourself, within a written weight limit. What trips people up is everything around it: State Trust sections, national monuments, claims and military boundaries.
The rule
- The national baseline: except on developed recreation sites or where prohibited and posted, you may collect reasonable amounts of “rocks, mineral specimens, and semiprecious gemstones” for noncommercial use (43 CFR 8365.1-5(b)). No “explosive, motorized or mechanical devices, except metal detectors” (8365.1-5(a)(3)). Anything for sale or barter needs a permit or contract (8365.1-5(c)).
- Arizona's number: BLM Arizona's supplementary rules for recreational mineral collection (63 FR 108, Jan. 2, 1998, effective Feb. 2, 1998) say: “Arizona BLM sets the ‘reasonable’ limits for personal use as up to 25 pounds per day, plus one piece, with a total limit of 250 pounds per year. These limits are for rocks, mineral specimens, common invertebrate fossils, semi-precious gemstones, and petrified wood.” A group can't pool yearly allotments to take a piece over 250 lb. Violations are punishable under 43 CFR 8360.0-7.
- Petrified wood: 25 lb plus one piece a day, 250 lb a calendar year, no pooling, no explosives or power equipment, no sale (43 CFR 3622.4). Pieces over 250 lb need a free-use permit (43 CFR 3622.2).
- Common invertebrate and plant fossils: 25 lb a day by hand or non-powered hand tools, negligible disturbance, no sale (43 CFR 49.810). The Arizona rule adds the 250 lb yearly ceiling.
- Meteorites (BLM Arizona brochure): surface collection only, up to 10 lb per person per year, personal use.
- Metal detectors are allowed on ordinary BLM land, but not in the San Pedro Riparian NCA.
Where you can't collect on Arizona BLM
- State Trust sections inside BLM country. The most common Arizona mistake. BLM Arizona: “Arizona State Trust Land is not public land… Rockhounding and metal detecting are not allowed on Arizona State Trust Land.” Details
- BLM national monuments. Agua Fria, Ironwood Forest, Sonoran Desert, Vermilion Cliffs, Grand Canyon-Parashant and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni. BLM Arizona's brochure says collecting in them is prohibited. Monuments
- Active mining claims without the claimant's permission. BLM reports more than 55,000 claims on Arizona public land, and BLM Arizona notes claimants “may have the right to exclude others.” Check MLRS.
- Developed recreation sites unless BLM says otherwise: campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads. Ask before collecting in a long-term visitor area.
- Wilderness, WSAs, ACECs and posted closures. BLM Arizona lists 47 wilderness areas and two WSAs. Overlays
- Artifacts, always: arrowheads, flakes, potsherds, old bottles and mine equipment are named in BLM Arizona's brochure. ARPA protects sites.
- Vertebrate fossils: permit only, to qualified researchers (PRPA).
- Military boundaries. Near Yuma and Gila Bend a BLM road can end at Yuma Proving Ground or the Barry M. Goldwater Range.
- Old mines. Never enter one. Report hazards to the Arizona State Mine Inspector (602-542-5971).
Where BLM Arizona says specimens occur
From BLM Arizona's rockhounding brochure. These are field offices, not open sites. Every spot still needs the land-status, claim and State Trust checks.
| Specimen | BLM field offices named |
|---|---|
| Quartz crystals | Hassayampa, Yuma |
| Fire agate | Kingman, Safford |
| Apache tears (obsidian) | Kingman, Hassayampa |
| Selenite | Arizona Strip |
| Petrified wood | Hassayampa, Safford, Yuma, Arizona Strip |
Named BLM rockhound areas
- Black Hills Rockhound Area (Safford Field Office). BLM: “The principal attraction for rock collectors here is fire agate.” “The site is open for digging by the public without fees or permits. Camping throughout the area is allowed for up to two weeks.” BLM's directions: “north side of Arizona route 191, between Safford and Clifton, about 18 miles north of Safford.” Summers can top 100°F. The Arizona limits apply.
- Round Mountain Rockhound Area (Safford Field Office). BLM calls it “a popular rockhounding area located near the town of Duncan in eastern Arizona.” BLM's directions go about 50 miles east of Safford on Highway 70 and “into New Mexico.” Verify with Safford which state the digging area is in and which limits apply.
Who to call
BLM Arizona State Office (Phoenix) 602-417-9200 · Arizona Strip 435-688-3200 · Lake Havasu 928-505-1200 · Kingman 928-718-3700 · Yuma 928-317-3200 · Phoenix District (Hassayampa, Lower Sonoran) 602-867-5400 · Tucson 520-258-7200 · Safford 928-348-4400. Numbers are from blm.gov office pages; confirm before you call.
Utah and Nevada comparison: Nevada BLM rules · Utah BLM limits · Colorado BLM basics.
Sources: 63 FR 108 (BLM Arizona supplementary rules, 1998); 43 CFR 8365.1-5; 43 CFR 3622; 43 CFR 49; BLM Arizona, Rockhounding in Arizona (BLM/AZ/GI-14/009); BLM Arizona recreation; Black Hills Rockhound Area; Round Mountain Rockhound Area; BLM rock-collection FAQs (Feb. 28, 2024).
Informational only — not legal advice. Rules, boundaries and seasons change. Confirm with the managing agency for the exact parcel before you collect. Last verified October 19, 2026.