We would like to hear from you.

10/4/2017

Allan Pryor

10/4/2017 12:35:16 pm

I created this page for those who have been to the Cuesta Fire Agate Mine. We would like to hear from you and to let others know about your experience at the Mine. Thanks

allan pryor

10/5/2017 02:52:07 pm

I spend a lot of time there during the winter. It's a great place to spend digging for Fire Agate. Don is a very nice helpful person ,who makes sure you know what to look for and removing the Fire Agate off the Host Rock Rhyolite.

Allan Pryor

10/15/2017 09:56:56 pm

We made it 3 days ago to Needles. Visited Don at Cuesta Fire Agate Mine today. Had a look at the nice Fire Agate he collected over the summer. He got some real nice Agate showing nice colour. Then we went up to the claim and had a look at how much the hole has grown. Lots of Fire Agate has come out of the hole. I can't wait to get back in the hole and see my first Fire Agate for the season.

Alan E

11/29/2017 09:17:05 am

My wife and I spent the day at the mine on 11/22/17 and had a great time. We chiseled in the rock all day and came away with some really nice pieces that I can't wait to work on. Don was an excellent host and spent the day with us giving us advice on where to look to collect as well as tips for processing the fire agate. We enjoyed learning about the history of the mine and the area. We can't wait to come back. Thanks Don!

Allan Pryor

12/31/2017 08:17:02 am

I was at the Mine yesterday. Don and I started working in the New Hole. After removing a couple good size rocks. We found a nice pocket, where there was some really nice pieces of Fire Agate. One nodule we got showed some nice green under the top layers of red. That was one piece we got approximately 20 nice pieces of Fire Agate and a couple pieces of Druzy Crystal.Over all we had a great day, including leaving some nice nodules for others.

Anatoly Bitny

1/10/2018 09:05:34 pm

My girlfriend and i spent two days at the Cuesta Mine and are very satisfied with our experience! We drove here all the way from Pennsylvania in hopes of digging Fire Agate at a premiere locale and well, mission accomplished! This mine has amazing material if your willing to work for it. “It wont just hop in to your pocket” as mine owner Don Nelson said! You can find nice chalcedonys in the tailings and basically everywhere around the site but its definitely worth the extra $20 to dig in the hole they have opened up and for the experience of chiseling a piece out yourself! Don and Allan were a great help and spent some time to show us how to dig for it. Super nice guys and we felt very welcomed. We highly recommend this site and will be back again!

Jeremy

1/12/2018 02:35:57 pm

Visited the mine back in November. Don and Allan were both very helpful and knowledgeable in fire agate. The pieces they pulled from the hole they've been working on were fantastic. Had a great time moving dirt and finding very good pieces of fire agate. Would definitely go back next year. Thanks again Don and Allan!

Bill Sherry

3/17/2018 06:56:48 pm

I stopped by in February and visited with Don and Allen. Don had just gotten back from the doctors getting his shoulder put back in. I bought some of the Fire Agate he had and plan on making a trip out to mine some for myself. Beautiful place just to sit and enjoy the beauty. The weather was perfect I just didn’t have time to dig. I look forward to digging this winter.

Allan

3/31/2018 09:50:04 am

Good Morning Bill, It was nice meet you. I just talked to Don, and his shoulder is doing good. Hope to see you next winter as we are back home on Vancouver Island and will be back by the end of October. I have been working some of the pieces I got this year and they are turning out real nice. Hope you enjoy the pieces you got. If you have any questions on working the pieces you have please contact me for assistance. Thanks and from Don and myself.

Bill Sherry

3/31/2018 12:27:35 pm

I plan on returning this fall/winter. I hope to spend a couple days mining. I plan on driving and the wife will fly to Laughlin. I’m in the process of setting up a couple benches I can carve at. I keep finding more things I think I need to work the stone with.

Paul and Jodie Zaborny

6/18/2018 10:08:26 am

My wife and I spent a duration of our honeymoon out there in November 2016. Don is awesome and the mine is awesome. We are hopefully going to come back soon! Kids take away all free time!

Allan Pryor

6/23/2018 10:17:25 am

Thanks for the comment. Yes I understand, Hopefully your kids are getting into Rock Hounding and maybe some day you will have the opportunity to come out again and have some fun digging.

Allan

6/21/2018 08:04:26 am

Hi Tony, I sent you a reply, but your email address came back, not found. You will find all you need to know about a dig on the site. if you could reply back to me with a different email address, i'm more than willing to answer all your questions. Thanks Alln

Allan Pryor

10/1/2018 04:46:43 pm

Good Afternoon Folks, My wife and I will be in Bullhead City again for the winter. We are leaving here in a week and staying in Bullhead City, til middle of March 2019. I again will be spending a lot of time at the Cuesta Fire Agate Mine, helping Don the owner out. During that time im also willing to assist people on how to work Fire Agate. I've been working Fire Agate for over 5 years now and of all the gems I have worked Fire Agate is the hardest to work but the results make it all worthwhile.

So if your interested in how to work Fire Agate I would be more than willing to work some out with you.
Allan Pryor

Bill Sherry

10/1/2018 08:40:11 pm

I’m not solid on the date but January or February I will be out to do some mining. I would like you to show me the ropes when I get there.

Allan Pryor

10/3/2018 02:57:54 pm

Good Afternoon Bill. I will be there and as always Don the Mine Owner will be there. Between Don or Myself would be happy to help you out. Please let us know a few dates ahead of the date you will be there. Thanks Allan

Bill Sherry

10/4/2018 07:40:37 am

I would like to see a map of the claims so I stay within the claims. Do you have one or a web site that shows it?

Allan Pryor

10/4/2018 11:19:07 am

Hi Bill, there is a place on the claims a person could stay on the claims for a day or 2, but there is no services at the claims. With prior permission only please email me at tranquilitybase@ilandwyte.com for details

Thanks Allan

John Warning

2/3/2019 03:01:37 pm

I had a great time at the fire agate mine. I was there last year and met Don. This year I got to meet Allan. I received more information about digging and finishing fire agates. My wife was with me as a non-digger and she enjoyed the weather and Allan’s great information and stories as much as I did. Thanks again to Don and Allan

John and Sue Warning

Jake Bartlett

4/3/2019 06:41:03 pm

My girlfriend and I just spent 9 hours digging on Monday, came away with lots of sore muscles and a bucket full of fire agate and even a beautiful crystal rose. Don was with us for most of the day, offering advice, helping us dig, moving rocks and helping with the whole process. He put us onto a great hole and we found beautiful stuff. We can't wait to go back, asap!

Thanks Don!

Jake and Maya

Elizabeth Keenan

2/10/2021 06:16:33 pm

What an amazing experience! I have to say that I have been anticipating a trip to Don’s for about a year and boy oh boy it surpassed my expectations by a long shot. Not only was he a wealth of knowledge and information about fire agate but life in general! I cannot with words express my gratitude.
My fiancé and I called a couple days before and I left a message when I was on my way. When we arrived Don came out to show us his impressive collection of specimens so we would have an idea of what we were looking for (these stones are also for sale and choice colors). Then we followed him up to the claim and parked near the hole he was letting us get into! Not only was there guidance in extraction technique but also guidance in where would be the most productive. We were able to pull some really nice pieces out even on my first time! Don also gave me a REALLY beautiful piece to take home on top of my findings. This man is the true gem!

Until next year, I’ll be counting down!

Carol Miolonczyk link

3/23/2021 07:02:36 pm

I was disappointed. Don was very knowledgeable in regards to Fire Agates. My husband and I paid for 2 full days. Don drove us to a site that was right next to the road where we were to dig. Don said he would check back with us later. We dug in that spot for 4 hours and nothing except cars buzzing by. Don really never explained where we could go on the property or where the mine itself was. We never saw Don after that. Later on we decided to walk around only to find out the majority of the land was BLM land and open to the public. I feel as though we were duped for $200.00. Do your homework before going out. I wish I would have. Don did give us tools which I left in his driveway on day 2.

Elizabeth

3/23/2021 09:52:10 pm

FYI Carol that is mineral trespass, per the mining law. While it is public land (BLM) Don OWNS the rights to ALL minerals on those specific plots. Be aware, those actions are felonies on the federal level. Be respectful of mining claims and the claim filers. To alleviate yourself from the burden of claim jumping, do your research.

Rob

1/27/2022 10:24:06 am

Took my Mom out for a Sunday dig and we had a blast! We met Don at his site and he gave us a great overview of the area. We are a new rockhounds so it was awesome to see his whole collection and to ask him about pieces he has found. After that we went to his claim. There was a hot spot on one corner where we seemed to find one after another! We even found several good pieces in the overburden above the site we were in. I cant wait to come back and dig again!

Cuesta Fire Agate Mine
Would like to hear your Story of your time at the Mine