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I just got back from a rockhounding trip, I recommend this for beginners because it's almost impossible to not find anything.
>go to Globe/Superior, AZ (also near Oak Flat Campground, interesting for /out/doorsy peeps)
>line up tribal permits for San Carlos Apache Reservation and pay for a tour from Peridot Dreams
>a native guy named Joey, very nice, will take you to Peridot Mesa which can only be mined by tribal members
>you can find 7 lbs of material there
>he also sells his tumbled stuff
>all you need to do is line it up in advance and pay for it and the permit, he charges a fair price
Here's a screencap of the sand at his mine, it's literally green glass. There's also some interesting types of quartz at Devil's Pass. Quartz is lighter than basalt, so it bubbles up to the surface in weird agate-like shapes, like belly-buttons almost. There's also Apache Tears to be found in the same area on Perlite Road in Superior, and the legend behind those is sad, but they're beautiful and even prettier because of the stories I think.
The whole area, Miami, Superior and Globe, is famous for mining. You can see mines everywhere, with a lot of rockhounding shops. Just tell them you'll be in town for a week and were looking at getting into the hobby and they'll give you pointers.
