Glass Buttes
Approximate — check official site before visiting
BLM area famous for mahogany, rainbow, and black obsidian. One of the best places in the US to collect obsidian. Bring collecting buckets.
🌐 Visit Official Site →🪨 What You Can Find Here
📍 Nearby Locations in Oregon
Thunder Egg Capital (Richardson's Ranch)
Madras, Oregon · Fee Dig
Oregon's most famous thunderegg collecting area. Richardson's Ranch offers access to multiple collecting sites. Oregon's state rock.
Sucker Creek
Jordan Valley, Oregon · BLM Land
BLM area in eastern Oregon known for beautiful agate, jasper, and petrified wood deposits. Popular rockhounding destination.
Sunstone Basin
Plush, Oregon · public-BLM
Hunt for Oregon sunstone (state gem) — a feldspar with brilliant copper inclusions. Both free BLM areas and private fee-dig operations available.
Polka Dot Agate Mine
Nyssa, Oregon · Fee Dig
Fee-dig mine known for unique polka dot agate (aka orbicular jasper). One-of-a-kind patterns not found anywhere else in the world.
Priday Agate Beds
Madras, Oregon · Fee Dig
Classic Oregon collecting site for blue agate, plume agate, and thundereggs. Located in the rich agate beds of central Oregon.
Richardson Rock Ranch
Madras, Oregon · Fee Dig
Oregon's most famous thunderegg collecting ranch. Multiple dig sites on the property. Pay per bucket. Oregon's state rock.
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Glass Buttes with the right equipment.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35