Visiting the mine was a thrill for me and I could tell that others on my tour were just as giddy. Fortunately, for those of us who want to see the mine, Cavano uses helicopters twice a year to carry in supplies and bring the amethyst out, so you can hitch a ride to explore the mine. The couple lives there without electricity or running water and mines the amethyst with only hand tools. Miner Mike and his wife work for the Cavanos and hike in once a month. Today, Cavano and his wife operate the mine and, in much the same way as in Diamond Jim’s time, there aren’t a lot of options for getting in and out. It wasn’t long before Cavano became the new owner of the Four Peaks Mining Company. In 1997, New Jersey businessman Kurt Cavano joked at the Tucson gem show that he wanted to buy his own mine. Back in Diamond Jim’s day, the only way in or out of the mine, which sits at 7,200 feet above sea level on a rugged mountainside, was on foot or by pack mule.Ĭommercial mining began in 1942, but there were always challenges because of the remote location. While he was disappointed he didn’t find diamonds, generations have been thrilled with the gorgeous purple stones. The amethyst mine went largely unknown until the early 1900s when a curmudgeonly miner-Diamond Jim-uncovered the vein. Historians can trace the first use of Arizona’s amethyst to Spain’s crown jewels, carried back to Europe by the earliest explorers. Arizona is one of only two places that produce this dark purple, gem-quality amethyst. What’s even more shocking is that you can visit the mine (albeit only a few times each year) via helicopter, creating an unforgettable experience.įour Peaks Amethyst Mine offers some of the most sought-after gemstones in the world. I was thrilled and surprised to discover, after 25 years of living here, that Four Peaks Amethyst Mine sits high up on its namesake peaks. Just over the city’s eastern border, past the town of Fountain Hills, are the majestic Matatzal Mountains, dominated by Four Peaks.
As you wander Scottsdale, you’ll notice beautiful mountains surround us. I can shop in cosmopolitan stores, enjoy fine dining, luxuriate in spas or hike the wilderness of the Sonoran Desert. Scottsdale is a place of extremes-that’s why I love it so much.
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