A Guide for Rock Hunters by Eben Schoeman
Saffordites are rare stones found only near Safford in Southeast Arizona and in this guide, we tell you how and where to find them!
You do not need special tools, a 4WD vehicle, or a permit! Come prepared to spend a few hours in the hot (or cold) Arizona desert and you will be rewarded with a handful of these very handsome little stones!
If you cannot visit Safford, please look at the Saffordites in our online store. Every stone in our inventory was found by us on public land as described here.
Saffordites – Valuable or Not?
YES, Saffordites are valuable for at least three reasons:
- They are mysterious rocks of dubious origin that, for some reason, are only found near Safford in Arizona. This limited geographic distribution makes them desirable for rock collectors worldwide.
- Exhibit-quality Saffordites are increasingly more difficult to find and expensive to buy. A quick search on Etsy, Amazon, and eBay produced only a few stones over 15 grams. Most of the stones in our collection are under 6 grams. We get excited to find stones between 6 and 12 grams and are thrilled with nicely shaped, translucent Saffordites above 12 grams. Finding a Saffordite over 20 grams calls for a celebration!
- Saffordites are rare and unique and their popularity as gemstones and spiritual tools has increased. Even smaller Saffordites are in demand because they are perfect for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings.
Spiritual Influencers value Saffordites for their strong, fiery energy! Some say these are the most powerful stones they own! They all think Saffordites have healing qualities and help manifest purpose.
Hunting for Saffordites in the Arizona desert is a fun activity for the whole family, yet it can also be a rewarding business opportunity.
Saffordites – The Geological Opinion
Terrestrial or Extraterrestrial
Meteorites and asteroids are extraterrestrial and Saffordites are nothing like them. Research shows that Saffordites are terrestrial but how were they formed – by impact or from a volcano?
Tektites or Obsidian
- If Saffordites were formed by a meteor or asteroid slamming into Earth, they are Tektites.
- If Saffordites were formed when a volcano erupted, they are Obsidian. A growing majority of academics with access to advanced analytical tools believe this to be the origin of Saffordites, but the ancient source volcano has not been identified.
Either way, it is now widely accepted that Saffordites were created on Earth from Earth materials during a rather violent event! Strangely, some Saffordites have features that mimic tektites, hence the nonsensical term “pseudo-tektite” was created for marketing (and financial) reasons.
Scientists do not currently present Saffordite as a Tektite. The North American Tektite strewn field is nowhere near southeast Arizona. Instead, this area is very volcanic so it is sensible to link Saffordites to Obsidian.
Geologists view Saffordites as rare obsidian pieces from an unknown volcano, shaped by nature over tens of thousands of years.
- Perhaps the eruption of a stratovolcano hurled obsidian bombs into the air that cooled and hardened.
- Perhaps the volcano was more docile and obsidian was formed when the flowing lava cooled and hardened.
We do not know where, when, and how this volcanic event happened. Still, water, wind, heat, and cold transformed the obsidian into tektite-textured, pitch-black, velvety, often translucent, very durable pieces of rock called Saffordites!
What an incredible and mysterious journey through time.
Dear Beautiful Rock
Eben
When were you created?
Where have you traveled?
What have you seen and experienced?
How did you survive millions of years?
Why did you become more beautiful and unique over time while other rocks faded and broke down?
Who held you thru the ages, admired you and wondered about your powers?
Saffordites – The Spiritual Opinion
Saffordites and the Cintamani Myth
A long time ago, a galactic event caused a planet in the Sirius orbit to explode. Sirius is the brightest star in our night sky – thought to be 25 times brighter than the sun!
A few fragments of the planet reached the earth and were possessed by noblemen who recognized and guarded the power of these star stones. Ancient spiritual traditions called them “Stones of Enlightenment” for they brought enlightenment, happiness, and prosperity.
Today, “Cintamani” is a common way to refer to these special stones that fell from the sky. There is a highly spirited and passionate historical debate over their existence.
It is fun to note that Saffordites are specifically mentioned in some writings about Cintamani! My partner, Melinda, is fascinated by Cintamani and its mystic association with Saffordites! Please read her article about Finding Cintamani Stones in the Desert.
You may love Saffordites for different reasons but the writings and debates all add to the mystery of these precious little black stones!
About the Public Lands near Safford, AZ
Saffordites are found in a large area surrounding Safford, not just in one spot. As a result, we caution you to be aware of your location at all times and to avoid accidental trespassing.
Fortunately, there are huge pockets of public lands near Safford, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), that are available for Saffordite hunting. We recommend you study the BLM maps before arriving in Safford and also visit the BLM office in Safford to learn more about the restrictions, rules, and land boundaries.
Online Map
Online, look at the interactive map – BLM Interactive Recreational, and zoom to the Safford area. BLM land is shown in yellow.
Safford BLM Field Office
711 14th Ave. Safford, AZ 85546
You can buy paper maps for a small fee. The office staff is not a good source of Saffordite information – in our experience, it is not worth asking!
Maps and Directions
We highly recommend the Avenza Maps App!
Unfortunately, there are no maps for this area and we suggest you use this article for directions.
The most accessible Saffordite area is southeast of Safford along Haekel Road. From Safford, travel seven miles east on Highway 70. Turn right (south) on BLM’s Haekel Road and proceed towards the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area. Saffordites can be found anywhere along this 25-mile stretch of paved road!
What to Wear and Pack
Hunting for Saffordites is addictive and you may stay out longer than expected! Please come prepared for many hours in the harsh Arizona desert!
While walking, keep your eyes on the ground and listen for unusual sounds. Rattlesnakes are active from late March until November. Tap your hiking pole on the ground, be careful where you step, and look around before sitting down or picking up stones. Use your pole and not your hands around vegetation and large rocks.
The main things to worry about are dehydration, sunburn, rattlesnakes, cuts, bruises, and ankle strains. We take the following in a daypack:
- Water and electrolyte drinks
- Sugar snacks for quick energy
- Bandana (wet to cool down your head)
- Pepper Spray (for unwelcome humans)
- Sunblock
- Poncho (in case of sudden rain)
- Tweezers and a needle (to remove thorns)
- Bandaid (for bleeding cuts)
- Phone charging stick and cable
- Pouch (to store the stones)
- Strong flashlight (to check if a stone is translucent)
- Eye drops if your eyes are sensitive to wind and dust
We dress in layers to combat the heat and wear baggy long pants to deflect possible snake bites.
- Sunglasses (optional, the stones may be harder to spot)
- Wide sun hat with a neck flap
- Baggy pants – jeans are good
- Hiking pole
- Hiking boots with ankle protection. Running shoes do not protect against snake bites.
- Thick socks to prevent blisters
Our Recommended Hunting Area
For your first outing, park anywhere within 15 miles after starting on Haekel Road. You can park along any of the unpaved maintenance roads but do not block them.
In the morning, walk west away from the road. In the afternoon, walk east! The idea is to follow your shadow because the little black stones “pop” better with the sun over your back.
How to Spot Saffordites
The little black stones range from really small (smaller than a Tic Tac) to larger than a quarter. The small stones weigh less than 1g, while a rare, large stone may weigh 25g or more.
The stones appear as pitch-black, velvet-textured objects that “pop” very visibly against the bland desert background. They are most easily spotted in light-colored areas with little or no vegetation.
First, look for translucent or semi-translucent stones to be sure you have a Saffordite. Hold the stone against a flashlight to check. Some Saffordites are not translucent but you should see some transparency around the edges.
We think the small stones are easier to see on cloudy days. Keep the sun to your back on sunny days and try to go just before sundown.
You may find Saffordites everywhere – we found our largest Saffordites along Haekel Road less than a mile from U.S. 70! They may hide in a wash, on top of a mesa, or anywhere in between! Expect to find one here, one there, and so on. They are not generally found in clusters!
Do not get discouraged when you cannot find one! It took us 3 hours the first time! Once you spot the first stone, train your eyes on it; from then on, it will be easier.
If you do not see any stones even with a trained eye, go to a different area. Perhaps too many other folks tried the same area as you and all the stones were harvested.
