Kingston Range
California
Find: Amethyst, quartz clusters (smoky quartz, milky quartz) possibly citrine as well.
GPS: 35.77626, -115.89875
Nearest city: Las Vegas, NV
Recommended Vehicle: Any, but be careful as the paved road can easily wash out here.
Summary:
The Kingston Range is an incredibly vast area littered with exceptional crystal clusters that occur within pegmatite veins as you explore the mountain sides.
I began finding crystals the more South I went, especially as I climbed the slopes.
You can get to the wash (where I marked the GPS coordinates) with any car, but you’ll have to hike in. The roads to get here from the nearby town of Baker are a little beat up, but they’re paved.
Video
Check out the video for a better look at what can be found when exploring this spot.
3 Helpful Tools
Gad Bar
This is my favorite tool I own. It is useful for both chiseling and extracting crystals from pockets. I want to return to this location to do a proper dig soon.
Hammer
I prefer a 3lb hammer for best all-around use. After trying many different weights and sizes, the Estwing is my favorite and is very comfortable.
Water Bladder
Whenever I’m in the desert, I use a 3L water bladder. Just a cheap one that’s dishwasher safe works great.