Glass Butte
Oregon
Find: Obsidian - multiple varieties including mahogany, gold, and rainbow
GPS: 43.58966, -120.06711
Nearest city: Bend, OR
Recommended Vehicle: Any, off-road tires preferable
Season: Accessible year round, Winter is difficult with snow coverage and Summer is very hot with little shade.
Summary:
Glass Butte is a spot that probably shouldn’t be visited for rockhounding in Winter - which I discovered the hard way. Due to the snow coverage, I was unable to find more than a few palm-sized chunks near some trees.
This location has picturesque obsidian of many different colors and varieties. It has been enjoyed by both serious collectors and beginners for decades. The site is known for having fire, rainbow, mahogany, and silver obsidian present. There is some debate over how realistic it is to still be able to find rainbow obsidian, however.
I am unsure what the standard road conditions are to access this site without snow. Locals mentioned that the obsidian is sharp enough to cut down tires, so plan ahead with spare tires or repair kits.
Go easy on me if you choose to watch the unexciting video below… Glass Butte is on the list for a return visit!
Video
Check out the video for a better look at what can be found when exploring this spot.
3 Helpful Tools
Geology Pick
A geology pick is a helpful tool for prying embedded stones free from dirt and other stones.
3lb Hammer
A smaller hammer will be helpful for trimming pieces down when paired with a chisel.
Flat Chisel
A flat chisel is my preference for trimming pieces into more manageable pieces.
The roads were covered in deep snow when I visited in December.
This general region is known as Oregon's "High Desert" and the snow caught me by surprise.
You will have a better time than I did here if you plan around the season. Still, I found some pieces of both mahogany and regular black obsidian through the snow cover.