Tea Time in the Mineral Industry

Guest Editorial from Justin Zzyzx

Hot Juicy Gossip!

One of my favorite quotes has always been “Hell is Other People”. You could find it inscribed on buttons, bumper stickers, t-shirts, of course, now it has gone the way of the “Kilroy was here”. For the younger audience, I’m just waxing nostalgic. Of course, after many years of being alive and consuming Sartre’s play NO EXIT, I understand the quote was much more than that basic quote. The story of four people locked in a room with no exit, which turns out to be hell (sorry for the spoiler), the quote is better extended. “Hell is Other People’s Opinion of You”. Much worse, much more self reflective. Possibly something that only comes with age and insight into one’s self. Are people allowed to change? Or must we always look at them with the view we once established?

During my 20+ years in this industry I got to meet a veritable “Who’s Who” in the club of mineral dealers. Mostly lovely people, enjoying this fine hobby. Some of them retired school teachers and professors, some ex-geologists, mixed in with some plain ol’ capitalist merchants. Indeed, there is always the train of gossip that swirls around, but you CERTAINLY, well, ok, RARELY, found anyone in the hallways of hotel shows, or in the middle of arena just shouting obscenities and showering the show with bad tidings. If there was, or when, those sellers would not find themselves in the graces of the general buying public. Then, the internet came along. The dark, evil internet. Nobody has really painted as beautifully dark a picture of the internet as Bo Burnam.

A certain protest group on the internet that was anonymous in nature liked to say “None of us are as awful as all of us”. Truly, the disconnection from the real world has fueled this mean nature that comes part and parcel with the internet and the dealings online. Name calling, rudeness, casting aspersions, airing private drama, not only in words, no no, full on LIVE videos filmed in the moment of heat!

There is a whole group of internet dealers who sell minerals via live video who literally create a Cult of Personality, where customers and fans follow them as pseudo celebrities. These parasocial relationships are fueled by the drama, the group hate and the nature of “who knows what they will say or do” that keeps them coming back for more. Boss bitch, mean girl crew. I understand it personally. I would much rather the mean nasty girls LIKE me, rather than use me as a target for their cruelty. In fact, having the mean girl umbrella over you gives you the chance to lash out, to abuse a target, all the while, the umbrella cheers and prods with you. Even better, they might console you if the target dares to strike back. Bullies come in all sizes and flavors. What flavor do you choose for your life? Are you full of spite and hatred, or do you find that off putting and flavorless?

In the past year I have taken part in many live sales, witnessed dozens of 3rd party sellers and worked for a couple that is so toxic, it is beyond words. In the end, it boils down to one simple fact. Be cruel, be wildly mean, cast aspersions, punch down. Share your ups and downs, your baby momma drama, your cruel intentions and you’ll have a HUGE following. Cast that off, be pleasant, be kind, be fun and informative, stay below 100 viewers. On the internet, being a bully is money. The algorithm loves and promotes it. The internet is an awful place now. Human nature is cruelty. Might is right, as long as you support it.

Many years ago, from 2008-2014 I made my living giving lectures and writing about minerals. I traveled around the Southern California area, flew away to the east coast to give lectures and so on. With over a dozen lectures on things like Palos Verdes Barite, Agates of the Western USA, Rockhounding 101 and such, the talk that put butts into seats was my talk on Fakes and Forgeries.

Here is that lecture, in fact, redone in 2023 for a new life on the internet. I had joined a group of sellers on a private facebook group and they were asking for lectures. I presented this lecture, on fakes and forgeries and the person running that group told me that it was the most watched and most rewatched videos of the lecture series.

Why? Why is it always that lecture that gets so many viewers? It is all about the DIRT! The Gossip! The juicy 2 minute hate that we get to throw at the scam rocks. We get to come together and let bully Justin cast aspersions and accusations at the rocks.

Yes, sadly it is 2023 and hate is paramount on the internet. The floodgates are open. We are, collectively, a rubbernecker’s delight.

The poet Jello Biafra once said something that rings true to this situation

We don’t destroy society in a day
Until we change ourselves first
From the inside out
We can start by not lying so much
And treating other people like dirt
It’s easy not to base our lives
On how much we can scam
And you know
It feels good to lift that monkey off our backs

There is so much going on behind the scenes with the people who enwrap you into this chaotic world of hate sales. If they can devote a half hour feed talking absolute horror about someone else, or putting others down, either other sellers or their own suppliers, what do you think they say about you behind the scenes? Do you really think they think of their customers as anything but suckers? Maybe stanning for trolls isn’t the hot thing. Or the right thing. Or the ethical thing. Maybe that support helps to spread more discontent and ill will into the world. Does this world need that?

Hell is other people’s opinions of you. Those who live a life of hate, greed and mistreatment of others, as a society, we should give them hell. Maybe they will change, let’s let people change. However, if you run into a live seller of minerals who is being cruel, promoting drama, exposing deeply personal and unfavorable public life, maybe you might want to hold your support for that seller. There are dozens upon dozens of pleasant, happy, joyful, educational sellers out there who need your support. Your money speaks. Make your voice strong and positive. Be a part of the solution.

Of course, these are just my personal thoughts on the issue. I’ve seen too much of this behavior being rewarded. I understand the desire. I simply hope that one or two people read this and become aware of these issues. We all want to be good people, I imagine, at least most of us do. Let’s support good people, if we can.

Collecting Ribbon Barite around Quartzsite Arizona

cut ribbon barite from arizona

A favorite place of mine to visit has been the barite deposits West of Bouse Arizona, referred to as the Burro Barite Deposits.
This network of shafts and inclines can be 100% avoided, but the colorful chunks of Barite, Quartz, Hematite and Fluorite sure can hop into your bag!

We will show you a map to a great big deposit of ribbon barite you can collect, if you are in the Quartzsite, Parker, Bouse or Wickenburg Arizona area, but first, lets learn a little bit about Barite.

cut ribbon barite from arizona

This is a sample of the typical barite found at the Plomosa Road Barite Ridge deposit.

Barite, also known as baryte (for those of the English persuasion), is a mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO4). It is a dense, white or colorless mineral with a Mohs hardness of 3-3.5, which means it is relatively soft. Barite occurs in a variety of forms, including tabular, prismatic, and fibrous, and it may have a wide range of colors depending on impurities present in the mineral, such as blue, brown, gray, or red.

Barite is found in a variety of geological environments, including sedimentary rocks, hydrothermal veins, and as gangue mineral in metallic ores. The largest deposits of barite are found in China, India, and the United States. Other significant deposits can be found in countries such as Morocco, Turkey, Canada, and Mexico.

Barite has many uses, primarily in the oil and gas industry as a weighting agent in drilling muds. It is also used as a filler in the manufacture of paints, rubber, and plastics, as well as a component in the production of paper and ceramics. Barite is also used as a flux in glassmaking and as a radiation shielding material in medical and scientific applications.

Barite is generally considered to be non-toxic, but it can be harmful if ingested or inhaled in large quantities. Therefore, proper handling and disposal procedures should be followed when working with this mineral.

Barite is an interesting and versatile mineral that has many characteristics that make it a great addition to any mineral collection. Here are some reasons why barite is a good mineral to collect:

Firstly, barite crystals have a unique and striking appearance. They can come in a variety of colors, including clear, white, yellow, blue, and pink, and can have a variety of crystal habits, including tabular, prismatic, and fibrous. This means that barite crystals can be both beautiful and diverse in appearance, making them an excellent mineral to collect for aesthetic purposes.

Secondly, barite is a widespread mineral found in many geological environments, which means it can be relatively easy to acquire specimens for your collection. The largest deposits of barite are found in China, India, and the United States, and there are many other significant deposits around the world. This means that collectors have the opportunity to obtain specimens from a variety of locations, adding to the diversity of their collection.

Thirdly, barite has many uses in industry and science, which means it can be an interesting and informative mineral to collect. Barite is used in the oil and gas industry as a weighting agent in drilling muds, and as a flux in glassmaking. It is also used as a radiation shielding material in medical and scientific applications. Knowing about these applications and the properties of barite can add to the educational value of a mineral collection.

Overall, barite’s unique appearance, widespread distribution, and versatile uses make it a great mineral to collect.


Minerals, Fossils, and Fluorescents of Arizona Book Cover
Minerals, Fossils, and Fluorescents of Arizona
by Neil R. Bearce

This book sets the standard for field guides everywhere. Amazing, full of great locations! A MUST own for Arizona field collectors, or those living in nearby states!
EBAY
  AMAZON


Minerals of Arizona: A Field Guide for Collectors Book Cover
Minerals of Arizona: A Field Guide for Collectors
by Neil R. Bearce

This is the first guide, of the two shown here. good idea to grab both
EBAY
  AMAZON

Now, you can find your very own Barite from lots of places in the world, but for this fun banded material, you’ll be going to hop onto Plomosa Road just north of Quartzsite and drive 12.2 miles to reach the gravel road to the northwest. Hop off the paved road and turn onto it, then turn left into the wash. You can explore all around that ridge that protrudes out of the wash. It runs for just about 2000 feet.

Years ago a video was made of this location, showing you the area. The audio was done by Rick Kennedy of Earth’s Treasures, in case you were wondering who’s sexy vocals those were.

Ebooks for Rockhounds – Information at Your Fingertips

Our portable electronic devices have memory that allows them to store thousands of pages of information in the palm of your hand. To a mineral collector a century ago, it would sound like total magic. By storing a library of field collecting sites in the palm of your hand on the Kindle or other device, you’ll never run out of places to go. Perhaps to your surprise, many great guides are available in digital format so you don’t have to bring stacks of field guides or a cumbersome library of dated, out of print texts with you when you get muddy. The rockhound ebook revolution is happening now. Let’s take a look.

Check out all the ebook field guides listed for sale on Amazon!

As you can see, there are some great choices for guides on Amazon. Just by searching “rockhounding” in the Kindle ebooks section of Amazon, I got 55 results, most of them being informative guides to collecting sites and prospecting methods. Imagine how much information you can have at your fingertips! Mineral collecting books tend to be really affordable, I had a hard time finding one that cost $20 or more. Although the feel of a paper text is nice, you can’t beat the price and field-usefulness of these ebooks.

Searching “mineral collecting” brings up less field guides, but still a lot of them. Notice a trend? Seems like digital versions of field guides are getting popular! Take advantage of this.

Searching “mineral collecting” brings up one of the best recent field guide for collecting minerals in Southern California — Rockhound Barstow: Mineral Collecting in the Mojave Desert by Justin and Brandy Zzyzx. This great guide to collecting a wide variety of material gives you tons of sites that are currently open to the general public where you can find mineral specimens and lapidary material! If you had read some field guides, they will provide directions and info on sites, but note that they are closed to collecting. This great guide gives you places in SoCal you can actually visit and dig.

Another thing to mention, are PDF files of old texts and surveys available for free online. Museums, universities, personal websites of collectors, and state and national government geological surveys are some places where you may find many old texts that have been digitized for your convenience. Looking at these types of resources is a good way to find old localities. These types of texts often include sites that the newer guides do not, and while they require a bit more fishing around in terms of actually finding them and acquiring permission, the rediscovery of an old site might produce some amazing results.

Here is an example: https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/gsu/documents/nh-mines1960.pdf

Screenshot of the PDF of this classic guide.

This classic guide by Philip Morrill, published in 1960 is notoriously difficult to find in print but known among NH collectors for the unique, often forgotten localities described within it. This book is something you probably wouldn’t want to bring into the field with you because it would be hard to get another copy. Now you can have the info in your digital library and bring it with you without trashing your copy

Ebooks and PDFs are a powerful tool for the collector looking to get themselves into new areas or sites. The advantages modern collectors have over previous generations due to the amount of technology and convenience available have allowed for a lot of new discoveries and rediscoveries of old localities. If you haven’t been using these resources and are itching to find a new place to hunt, then it’s time to step on board the digital library revolution!

Collect World Class Fluorite at the Walworth Quarry Open House in New York

Overview: The Walworth Quarry, in Walworth, NY is a world famous locality for exceptionally clear, perfect fluorites. Once a year, the quarry owner, Dolomite Products, has an open house where they give collectors the unique privilege to dig in their quarry for world class mineral specimens.

This quarry dig is my personal favorite out of the two offered. Although the dolostone rock is extremely hard to break, fluorite and other highly collectable minerals are very abundant in this quarry. I would say it would be difficult to not find any fluorite. Sometimes it is so incredibly clear, that it can be hard to spot. Your eyes have to get used to searching for it, but once they do you will spot them all over the place.There are definitely enough to go around. This is an amazing trip I highly recommend to anyone in the Northeast who wants to find crystals.

Amazing fluorites found by the writer’s collecting partner Alexander Kim at previous Walworth open houses (Check him out on Instagram: @dirty_minerals).

Many other beautiful minerals are found at this quarry, the most notable being gorgeous golden sphalerites. Sometimes there will be droplets of tar like petroleum coating specimens. The petroleum can be removed with a organic solvent, but I think sometimes it really is aesthetically complimentary.

Two specimens found by the author: 1) A floater golden sphalerite crystal that was rolling around freely in a pocket with a few others that were attached to the walls. 2) A peculiar fluorite with an elongated hair like pyrite inclusion, complimented by a big shiny droplet of petroleum coating the dolostone.

Geology and Collecting: The Walworth Quarry works a stromatolite bearing Silurian dolostone. The mineralization occurs in a layer close to the surface of the bedrock in the high bench of the quarry. Like with the formation of Herkimer diamonds, the stromatolites provided space and protection for crystals to form in vugs.

The mineralogy of the locality is fairly simple with the only collectible minerals present in abundance being fluorite, dolomite, calcite, sphalerite, celestine, and gypsum var. selenite.

Before you Visit: The quarry does not have an official page for the open house, but usually it takes place on the second weekend of October. Arrive at the quarry early- 6:45 AM to register for the dig. Hard Hat and protective gear required for this location. Check local Northeast mineral club pages for more info.

Show up to the quarry to register for the dig at 6:45AM. Once registered, the rules will be explained and you will be lead to the site. The dig ends at noon. This rock works similarly to the dolostone to the east in which Herkimer diamonds are mined, meaning it is extremely hard. Bring a crack hammer, chisels, wedges, and a sledgehammer. Use flat chisels or wedges to work the cracks in rocks. Power tools are welcome at this quarry.

The best technique for splitting large boulders is feathering and wedging using a hammer drill to drill holes for wedges. A gas rock saw is also an extremely useful tool for extracting difficult specimens by slicing them out of the rock.

PPE is required on this dig. Bring a hard hat, steel toed boots, safety goggles, and gloves. The former three are a requirement. Remember also to bring plenty of water as well as snacks. There are restrooms on site but it is far away, near the entrance.

Special Thanks to The Dolomite Group for allowing the special privilege of mineral collecting in their quarries.

Sources:

https://www.mindat.org/loc-18146.html

http://fredmhaynes.com/2016/10/14/walworth-quarry-open-house/

Beryl and Pegmatite Minerals at the Simpson Quarry, South Glastonbury, CT

Overview: One of many abandoned feldspar prospects in Central CT, this particular location has been a popular beryl collecting site for several decades. This location is one of the most visited pegmatites in Connecticut if not all of New England and is somewhat of a local classic for beryl.

Large, sharp blue aquamarine beryls have been found both in the dumps and in solid pegmatite at this location. A variety of other minerals can be found at this site as well, including some rare species.

Conneticut Beryl Aquamarine Crystal

37mm tall beryl dug in 2009 by CT field collector Adam Berluti

Radioactive Mineral Torbernite found in Conneticut

2cm tall specimen covered with minute green Torbernite crystals. Roger Sedgwick collection. (Source: https://www.mindat.org/photo-494986.html)

This is one of the first sites many collectors in CT visit, and it is not hard to find something worth bringing home. The collecting status of this location is unclear (and with all sites featured on this website, you are responsible for obtaining permission and checking current property ownership), and as of early 2021 it remains unposted and is still frequented by diggers in the area.

Quarry dumps at the Simpson. Dig through these dumps to find nice aquamarine beryl crystals as well as many other pegmatite minerals like almandine garnet, schorl, torbernite, and columbite. (Source: https://www.mindat.org/photo-123808.html. Image copyright 2004 Peter Cristofono)

Quarry dumps with foliage down. Taken April 2nd 2011 by Matthew Kimball. (Source: https://www.mindat.org/photo-390478.html)

Getting there: This mine is easy to get to. Park at the end of Michele Drive in Portland, CT. You will see a small path through the woods to your left. Follow the path until you see the very obvious big quarry dumps approximately where the pin in the photo is. You will have to cross some swampy areas. The location is approximately a quarter of a mile northeast from where you park. A word of caution, the collecting status of the location is not officially known. Many people dig here though it may be private property. The locality has been frequented by collectors on a near daily basis for decades.

Location of the Simpson Quarry, and location of beryl crystals.

Collecting: There are two main approaches to digging this spot- dump digging and hard rock mining. At minimum you will want to bring a shovel, crack hammer and chisels to the location but other tools that may be useful are hand rakes, a sledgehammer, sifters, small bags, and a UV light. Many rare minerals are found at this site, some of which, autunite and hyalite, are highly fluorescent. The mosquitoes get terrible at this spot in the summer, be prepared with lots of bug spray. Pegmatite is an extremely hard rock and will take persistence to break. The mica and quartz can be extremely sharp so wearing gloves is a good idea. Do not get discouraged if you have a difficult time working the hard rock. Digging pegmatite takes immense skill and practice. It is something that experienced New England diggers take years to hone.

A large 6mm microlite dug at Simpson by Andrew Kruegel. A unique feature about this pegmatite is the abundance of this rare tantalum mineral. This example shows the typical form and color. A loupe can help you spot these more easily. (Source: https://www.mindat.org/photo-525514.html)

Geology and Mineralogy: This locality is very similar to the other Paleozoic pegmatite in CT. It is linear in shape and not very pocket rich. This pegmatite also contains a great deal of heavier rare elements. Collectors often visit this site only interested in beryl, but perhaps more notable to the mineralogist is the abundant microlite found in sugary albite. Microlite contains the rare element Tantalum. These microlite occur in brown modified octahedral crystals. If you are interested in them, familiarize yourself with them on mindat.org. Microlite is often somewhat radioactive and will produce a radiation halo, which is a good way to spot them.

Sources:

https://www.mindat.org/loc-29587.html

Sea Cliff Zeolites at Oceanside, Tillamook County, Oregon – A Zeolite Tutorial

Volcanic Basalt Lava is found all over the world. Often the host for beautiful minerals and crystals of quartz, calcite, agate and a host of zeolite minerals. The Amethyst deposits of Southern Brazil/Uruguay are considered the best quartz in basalt find, as are the fine Zeolite deposits of Southern India. Before India, many places were considered to be the world’s best zeolite deposits, like Scotland or Iceland.

It just goes to show, deposits of minerals in basalt rock deposits are well worth searching out in your local area. Consider the volcanic basalts of Oregon/Washington. Beautiful examples of rare and exotic minerals were once only known from these basalts, including, shockingly to some collectors, Cavansite!

Small Cavansite crystals on matrix from the type locality in Oregon

Specimen of Cavansite from the first place it was found, in Oregon. Zeolite deposits found in volcanic deposits are well worth inspecting for rockhounding possibilities!

Found in volcanic lava that has interacted with water, zeolites are beautiful minerals which are found in a huge diversity of different appearances. They are known to form where enormous volcanic events have occurred in the ancient past when lava flows into a body of water.

The lava instantly chills, creating a unique bubbly, rounded texture called pillow basalt where within spaces between the rounded “pillows” grow delicate crystals of zeolites as steam chemically leaches the basalts and forms new minerals.

Steam may rise through the molten lava as well, where the rock may solidify before it escapes. This type of rock is called a vesicular basalt. Many minerals tend to form in the “bubbles” or vesicles in this type of rock.

Pillow Basalt that zeolites are found in

A recently formed pillow basalt at the Galapagos Rift versus an ancient pillow basalt in the Bonin Islands, Japan. Zeolite minerals are found between the “lobes” of the lava.
A vesicular basalt boulder. The holes are known as vesicles and represent where rising gasses got trapped in the rock. Minerals often form in these vesicles.)

The Cape Lookout area is the remains of a volcanic island that emerged in the Miocene period, about 16 million years ago. Cracks in the earth formed, releasing lava into the sea which cooled on contact with the water, forming pillow basalts and bubbly vesicular basalts which further altered to form zeolite minerals in the pores.

Many rare zeolites are found here, not the ones you would typically see in the large, flashy specimens from India many collectors love, but equally as beautiful if you can appreciate tiny things. Minerals you may encounter are erionite, mordenite, clinoptilolite, and dachiardite. Often these are found with calcite and clay minerals, the latter can give specimens some nice color and visual depth.

Specimens from this area are typically small, but absolutely stunning especially under magnification. A good, readily available microscope to view your microminerals with is the Dino-Lite, which you can attach to your computer via USB.

A Dino-Lite digital microscope.

On this page, our focus is on two collecting sites you can visit, though exploring the beach may yield many more discoveries. Keep an eye out for sprays and nodules of zeolite minerals in the rock, much of which occurs in vesicular basalt, which looks like Swiss cheese.

The first area is Short Beach. There should be a stairway near a creek where you can access the rocky beach below. Here you will find boulders of vesicular basalt that you can break up to yield minerals in the vesicles.
Bring a pocket lens or loupe with you so you can more easily see minerals in the vesicles. They will be somewhat obvious, appearing as white puffballs and sprays, but some may be more hidden.

There is said to be better collecting even still at Tunnel Beach, down the road to the south.

North of the tunnel, you will see pillow basalt cliffs. Formed as lava was ejected into the sea, these cliffs and the surrounding boulders are rich in zeolites and offer some of the best collecting in the area. Use the tunnel to access the beach.

Minerals: These localities are heaven especially to the micro-mount collector. Some beautiful photos of material from the surrounding area are on Mindat (these are copyrighted and we don’t care to hotlink, just click the links for some great photos).

Embed:
https://www.mindat.org/photo-750805.html
Caption: Found by Rudy Tschernich, famous PNW zeolite collector. 14 mm FOV Golden erionite hemispheres on a white backdrop, looking like a fried egg with a broken yolk
https://www.mindat.org/photo-750632.html
Tiny, bushlike mordenite in a tiny vesicle from Tunnel Beach. Found by Rudy Tschernich
https://www.mindat.org/photo-257230.html
About a 1 inch wide plate of green gray clinoptilolite on mordenite from Short Beach, collected by Bill Tompkins
https://www.mindat.org/photo-751603.html
Tiny, about 2.5mm vesicle of delicate golden erionite sprays. Found by Rudy Tschernich

Collecting Zeolites: To do the best job you can collecting these delicate specimens, you will need to be prepared to break the hard basalt rock. Use a heavy crack hammer and a chisel to smash the boulders open, revealing fresh material. Zeolites are extremely delicate and the freshest, nicest ones will be found unexposed inside the rocks.

As said above, loupe or hand lens will help you see what’s going on inside the tiny vesicles a lot better. Some of the most beautiful specimens from this location are extremely tiny so you may miss them without a lens.

Remember to wrap your specimens very carefully. Many of these specimens are extremely delicate to the point that even blowing on them may damage them. Do not wash anything very velvety, hairy, or puffy or even moisture can mat and destroy the crystals.

You will have to time your collecting with the tides at these locations. Be aware of the tides and weather conditions before you go to the beach and collect.

More Info:
https://www.mindat.org/loc-210854.html
https://www.mindat.org/loc-205422.html
https://www.netartsbaytoday.org/html/zeolites_of_oceanside.html

And, if the Cavansite deposit sends your imagination wild, check out this article:
https://www.mindat.org/article.php/964/Field+Trip+to+Cavansite+Type+Locaility

Digging Native Ruby and Sapphire at the Cherokee Mine in North Carolina – Pay to Dig

Red Ruby Crystal from the Cherokee Mine

A beautiful red ruby straight from the Cherokee Mine.

Digging your own precious native gemstone may sound too good to be true to a lot of folks. Many of the sluice mines in the Southeast “salt” their material, meaning they enrich it with stones from all over the world and this can be disappointing when you expected to find something right from the ground beneath your feet. The Cherokee Mine in Macon County, North Carolina offers awesome ruby and sapphire sluicing from 100% local, unsalted material right from their mine!

Though ruby, sapphire, and corundum in general are the focus, other minerals namely red rhodolite garnet, blue-white kyanite, and metallic red brown rutile can be found with them too. This material is alluvial, meaning these crystals weathered out of metamorphic rock and tumbled around for thousands of years until they arrived at the mine, so given this, the ore is in the form of soil that contains the weathered-out gemstones. It is up to you to screen through the material and identify what is a gem, and what isn’t… but the kind staff is more than willing to help you!

While at the time this is published, Feburary 2021, the mine is closed for winter and the Covid Pandemic, however, we are all looking forward to a re-opening of this location, hopefully, in summer 2021, if life works out well.

Check out Bryan Major digging at the Cherokee Mine video below to get an idea of what the experience there is like!

The Cherokee Mine is a fee dig site, meaning you pay to dig their material, but they supply a lot of the equipment you need to go through the gravel!
From their website:

$20.00/Per Person – Includes One (1) Pre-Filled Bucket of our 100% Unsalted Gem Ore. ( * See below for explanation of this change)
Age 5 and under: Free Admission with an accompanying paid miner (no mining screen or bucket of gem ore provided – Li’l Miners get to “assist” an older accompanying miner).
Only paid miners are permitted to sit on the flume line, other than Li’l Miners as noted above.  Other non-mining members of a group are welcome to enjoy our picnic area and lawnchairs.
Do not take Coon Creek Road.

Group Rate (20 people or more): $5.00 discount Per Person

Includes One (1) Pre-Filled Buckets of our 100% Unsalted Gem Ore.

Active U.S. Military and U.S. Military Veterans: $5.00 Admission Discount
(Military ID Card is Required Upon Admission)
One discount per customer. Discounts cannot be combined, conjoined, transferred, conferred, or multiplied.
$5.00 per additional bucket of our 100% Unsalted Gem Ore.
CASH ONLY.

Open May through October
Monday-Saturday: 9am to 4pm*
Sunday: Noon to 5pm*
*Weather Permitting
At the mine, you will be shown specimens of the gemstones so you know what to look for before they let you loose. Then they will provide you with a bucket of material to bring to the flume. The flume is a channel of running water used to clean the dirt off your gemstones, which you screen in it and carefully examine to sort the gems from the leaverites. They provide the screen.
Keep in mind that some of the gemstones might be extremely tiny or obscured by surface coatings. You might want to bring a magnifying device, tweezers, and plastic bags so you can extract tiny finds and save them in a place you won’t lose them. Mining can be tough on the hands so you might want gloves too. Bring sunscreen, water, bug spray, and food. Be prepared!
Directions:
For BEST results, FIRST please enter address of “4433 Bryson City Road” THEN enter address of “2586 Ruby Mine Road, Franklin NC 28734”. Any directions which state “Take Coon Creek Road” or “Flowers Gap Road” are INCORRECT! That will force you to turn back and start over.
4433 Bryson City Road is the intersection of Sanderstown Road and Bryson City Road (also known as Route 28). From that point you will proceed north to Cowee Creek Road, which is just after the Cowee Baptist Church, where you bear right. At the next intersection (1-1/2 miles), keep right at the “COWEE VALLEY” sign and the mine will be 2-1/2 miles on the left.
DO NOT TAKE COON CREEK ROAD or FLOWERS GAP ROAD.
DO NOT TAKE COON CREEK ROAD or FLOWERS GAP ROAD.
DO NOT TAKE COON CREEK ROAD or FLOWERS GAP ROAD.
DO NOT TAKE COON CREEK ROAD or FLOWERS GAP ROAD.

ADDITIONALLY:  It has been brought to our attention that the evil GPS will also try and lead you astray from the paths of righteous gem hunting, and try to tell you to turn onto RUBY KNOLL LANE, or onto GEMSTONE LANE.
IGNORE YOUR GPS IF THIS HAPPENS.  Please stay on Ruby Mine Road until you reach the Cherokee Mine.  Modern Technology is wonderful – especially when it works properly

See their website if you need more info.

Fluorescence of Ruby:
Ruby glows when exposed to green or blue laser light or UV light. It will fluoresce a brilliant, easy to notice orange color when exposed to the light. Keeping a laser pointer or pocket LED UV light can help you determine if you have a true ruby if you think you’ve found one. Take a look at this video where a green laser pointer is used to differentiate a natural ruby from a fake one:

The natural ruby on the right gives off a blinding orangey fluorescence. The rubies in your screen will do this too. It is due to the presence of chromium in the rubies and the ability for that element’s electrons to get excited and emit photons when they are exposed to the upper parts of the visible light spectra and the UV.
It is a good idea to buy a cheap green laser pointer or a tiny UV light to bring with you to this mine.
UV lights used to be expensive, but the prices have dramatically come down. Look at this great deal on Amazon for some pocket UV LED flashlights. This would be a great thing to bring to this mine.

The Cherokee Mine offers some of the fines, unsalted alluvial gem mining in the US. If you live in North Carolina or planning on travelling there, this is one of the finest places you can visit for gemstone flume mining. Few mines offer ore of high enough quality to catch the interest of locals if they didn’t salt it. For just $20.00 and a fee of $5.00 per extra bucket of ore, this is a great deal for the rockhound, gemstone, or lapidary enthusiast.

Holiday Gift Guide: What to Get for the Rockhound in Your Life

Rocks! (Or maybe more properly in this case: "Minerals")

The holiday season is rolling in quickly and that means it’s time for gifts!  But what do you get for that special rockhound in your life?  We’ve compiled a holiday gift guide for you!

Disclaimer: Every rockhound is going to be a little bit different, but here are some ideas for you to consider.  Once you’ve spotted the perfect item, we suggest a Google shopping search to find the exact model that will work for you.  We can make some recommendations of items that have worked well for us, but take a look around and shop smart!

1. Rocks.

Rocks! (Or maybe more properly in this case: "Minerals")

Rocks! (Or maybe more properly in this case: Minerals!)

Obviously.  Because what rockhound doesn’t want more rocks?  But let’s be honest, some of you might not have any idea WHICH rocks your rockhound will love.  We have good news!  Many mineral dealers, lapidary companies, and others in the mineral trade DO offer holiday gift cards and holiday promotions!  Take the trouble out of choosing a rock and let your loved one choose their own!

Yeah, yeah, we know that gift cards kind of get a bad reputation.  But from a true rockhound, the idea that I can go into a dealer’s inventory and pick out something I LOVE is definitely exciting in a way that a gift card to the local fashion boutique will never be.

So how do you find the right company to go through?

First, decide what kind of material you think your rockhound will love – some love mineral specimens, others love gemstones, and others love just rough lapidary material!  Find a company that deals in the material you’re looking for.

Next, find a company that has a great reputation.  Checking out Facebook and other reviews is a great way to establish whether a company has a good reputation amongst its customers.  If you know that your Rockhound has had good relationships with a company in the past, go with that one!  (And if there’s a small-time company in your area, think about sharing the love by shopping local!)

Finally, if the company you’ve found doesn’t have a posted notice about gift cards or holiday promotions – ASK THEM!  Shoot them an e-mail or a message to their Facebook page – chances are, whoever receives your message will be happy to work with you!

 

2. Tools.

Every rockhound needs tools.  Similar to a rockhound’s choice in rocks, a rockhounds choice in tools might be a little difficult to pin down.  We’ve got a few ideas for you though, so take a look at some of these items to see if any of these seem like they fit your rockhound!

The Rock Scoop

A rock scoop in use by the Apollo astronauts to collect lunar samples!

A rock scoop in use by the Apollo astronauts to collect lunar samples!  Because the suits worn by astronauts made bending over nearly impossible, the rock scoop allowed them to collect rock and soil samples for return to Earth.

Though your rockhound might not be likely to be collecting on the moon, this is a proven tool.  A favorite amongst those who do a lot of beach combing, the rock scoop is a handy gadget that lets you scoooooop up your treasures without bending over.  This saves your rockhound on back and knee strain!   Of course, this tool works well in places other than beaches too (you know, like the moon!)!  We wouldn’t recommend this for the rockhound that likes to hammer on rocks, but for the collector who likes to walk along and pick up treasures, this is perfect!  (It can also double as a walking stick!)

There are a lot of different models of this tool out there.  Some feature a scoop with holes to let smaller debris fall through.  Some are collapsible for easy transport.

The Rock Hammer

The Rock Hammer - the most essential tool of the Rockhound!

The Rock Hammer – the most essential tool of the Rockhound!

Now, for those of you who have a rockhound who likes to do some damage on your hands, there is no tool more critical than the rock hammer.  And even if your rockhound already has a rock hammer, check it!  These tools wear out over time, so a new hammer is never a bad thing!

There are a lot of choices in this department, but make one important distinction: NEVER think that a regular hardware store hammer is the right tool.  It’s not.  Be sure that whatever product you choose is labeled as a rock hammer or a geologists’ hammer.  (This author has had great experiences with the tools made by Estwing, but there are certainly other choices out there.)

Note: if you need a stocking stuffer to go along with your gifts, some eye protection is always a great idea when using these tools.  Throw in some safety glasses!

The Geo/Paleo Pick

The Geo/Paleo Pick - perfect for a competition over who's pick is the biggest...

The Geo/Paleo Pick – perfect for a competition over who’s pick is the biggest…

Now, some of you might have a rockhound who’s mastered the rock hammer and needs something bigger.  That’s where the Geo/Paleo Pick comes in.  This tool features a longer handle for maximum power in the swing.  It also has two tips: one pick-end for, you know, picking.  The other end is broader and flatter and makes a great tool for scraping away debris.

There aren’t many choices available for this tool, so Estwing is a solid choice.

The Gad Bar:

The Gad Bar - for poking and prying.

The Gad Bar – for poking and prying.

The gad bar is a tool with a little more subtlety than the hammers and picks, but it is incredibly useful.  This is the rockhounds version of the pry bar.  There’s a pointy end for sticking into crevices, and  a chisel shaped end for wedging into cracks.  This tool is great for working in areas where you don’t have the space to make big swings with a tool, or in situations where all you need is a little leverage.  (Note: this is the author’s favorite field collecting tool.)

 

3. Information

One of the most important things you can gift a rockhound is the gift of information!  Here are a few different resources you can tap to help your rockhound get more educated!

Field Guides

Fred Pough's classic Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals

Fred Pough’s classic Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals

Field guides come in all shapes and sizes.  Some will cover topics related to field identification of rocks and minerals.  There are lots of options in this department!  Pough’s Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals has long been a favorite of rockhounds.  The author also recommends Sorrell’s Golden Guide to Field Identification of Rocks and Minerals.

Others tackle the subject on a more regional level and will give your rockhound ideas about new places to go and what can be found there.  Check out our section on Field Guides for more regional guides.

Magazine Subscriptions

Rocks & Minerals Magazine

Rocks & Minerals Magazine

Books are a great gift, but several rockhound magazines are also available.  Of course, the major perk to a magazine subscription is that you get new information delivered monthly or bimonthly!  Several well established magazines are out there, including Rocks & Minerals magazine (offers a wide variety of topics at different levels, though primarily directed towards mineral specimens), Rock & Gem magazine (suited more for those interested in lapidary hobbies), the Mineralogical Record (specializes in mineral specimens) and the Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist (specializes in lapidary and jewelry).  Magazines are a great way to keep your rockhound regularly inspired by new information.

 

4. Technology

As we move into increasingly advanced times, technology is one of the greatest tools we have accessible.  Just because your rockhound is concerned with ancient, dirty rocks doesn’t mean they can’t be aided by technology!

The Dino-Lite Digital Microscope

The Dino-Lite Digital Microscope - for looking at small things.

The Dino-Lite Digital Microscope – for looking at small things.

The Dino-Lite Digital Microscope offers a series of microscope options, from handheld USB models to eye-pieces designed to convert traditional microscopes.  These tools allow your rockhound to examine the small things!  Microcrystals to wood grains in petrified wood, this is a tool that has a wide variety of applications that will allow your rockhound to nerd out at the highest of magnifications.

The Ultrasonic Cleaner

The Ultrasonic Cleaner - reduce the wear and tear on your household supply of toothbrushes!

The Ultrasonic Cleaner – reduce the wear and tear on your household supply of toothbrushes!

Ultrasonic cleaners are a device used to submerge an object in liquid, which is then vibrated with high-frequency sound waves.  These waves act to scrub the object of grimes, and hit all the surfaces of an object including pores and cavities.  Ultrasonic cleaners are often used for cleaning machining parts or jewelry, but they also work wonders on rocks!  Take away the burden of hours of tedious scrubbing by investing in one of these machines!  (Disclaimer: do not put your water soluble minerals in here unless you want them so clean that they’ve disappeared entirely.)

 

Handheld GPS Units

GPS Devices - help your rockhound know where they are and where they're going!

Handheld GPS Units – help your rockhound know where they are and where they’re going!

For those of you who have a rockhound who loves being out in the field, one of the greatest resources you can give them is GPS!  Handheld GPS devices can be used to navigate to a new digging spot, or mark an existing one for easy navigation later!  Many GPS units feature topographic maps and land status maps, which give your rockhound even more information about where they are and what they can and cannot do while they’re there.

 

Rock Trimmers

Rock Trimmers - for precision splitting of rocks!

Rock Trimmers – for precision splitting of rocks!

Rock trimmers are perfect for the rockhound who carries home boulders for a small vug of crystals on one side.  These tools can be tricky to find, but a variety of models are available – from small and simple, hand-crank units, to large, hydraulic-powered units.  All rock trimmers work off the same concept: a rock is placed between two chisel-tipped points and pressure is used to pinch the rock and split it.  This method of splitting is not without risk to specimens (sometimes it is going to split where you don’t want it to), but it offers far more control over beating on your rock with a hammer and results in a more natural finish to a specimen than a saw cut.  These units can also be adapted to be used in the field, which saves your rockhound the trouble of lugging that boulder home in the first place.

 

Bonus Section: Stocking Stuffers!

They say it’s the little things that count – so here are some smaller, but very useful items you can throw into your rockhound’s stocking!

Headlamps

Headlamps - for hands free lighting!

Headlamps – for hands free lighting!

Headlamps are an invaluable tool – whether your rockhound is out in the field or trying to organize a dimly lit garage, lighting is always helpful!  Headlamps allow your rockhound to have their hands free while still providing plenty of light.  These are available in many different brightnesses and light modes.

Chisels

Chisels - necessary, but always disappearing...

Chisels – necessary, but always disappearing…

Chisels are another indispensable tool for your rockhound.  Chances are they have some – chances are that they’ve also lost some!  These are easy to misplace, but the good news is they’re easy to replace too!  Be sure that you are looking at “cold chisels” when shopping for your rockhound – wood chisels, etc., are not the right tool.  Chisels come in a variety of sizes and lengths, and every one of them is necessary for a different situation!

 

There are an abundance of great gifts for your rockhound – please drop us a note if you’ve got an idea that we missed!

Irradiating Minerals – Hot Information For Some Cool Rocks

Part of the fun of learning about minerals is learning the various ways that they are different. Soon someone becomes intrigued with “How” these changes are made, and experiments are attempted. This is the way that we learn. And there can be those who detest such experimentation, but this is the way that so much has been learned in the past.

There are few ways to get a quick resulting change in a mineral that exposing it to high doses of radiation. In nature, this would happen over years and years of time. But with modern technology, some irradiation projects can literally be accomplished over night.

Quartz being irradiated

You’re getting my Aluminum Ions all Fired Up!!

I once talked to a collector of quartzes and natural glasses who got a night job working with someone who worked with an x-ray machine in a hospital. Now, I am not condoning abusing your job or misusing equipment, but his tenacity spoke of his strong desire to learn and see what was actually possible by way of radiation exposure.

The affect of light in revealing various minerals in certain formations was first suggested over half a century ago.

The affects of irradiation upon silica gel can effect various impurities or minerals within the substance. Many minerals have been observed to follow the same trends of silica gel. Brazilian agates and quartz both turn smokey when subjected to overnight irradiation because they both contain aluminium impurities in them.

The most reactive and sensitive to radiation is crystalline quartz. The ability to inject or introduce certain impurities into a substance truly alters the ability to manipulate color, and variance in a substance.

There are four main kinds of impurities that might be found in certain silicon agents.

A monovalent cationic impurity atom
A monovalent anion
Half an oxygen vacancy
A positive hole

The type of color that is revealed through irradiation depends upon what pre-existing defects that might already be present in the substance.

The study and knowledge required to be able to understand and even predict that types of minerals that can be introduced in the creation process of a mineral or quartz in order to have the desired resulting color is a remarkably intricate application.

These attempts at human intervention in the creation process of minerals should not be considered a forgery or an affront upon the abilities of nature, but rather a compliment of the abilities of nature to be able to create a more precise and more beautiful specimen.

I have always adhered to the belief that any of these experiments and achievements that are used to bring attention to and appreciation for rocks and minerals can only be viewed as a good thing.

When we are tempted to be put off by or offended by man’s desire to interfere or to arbitrate in the processes of nature we should see these attempt at imitate nature should be considered the purest form of compliment!

Treatment of Spodumene (Kunzite/Hiddenite)

Hiddenite is unaffected by irradiation but are made slightly lighter under UV; yellow or yellow-green are unchanged under Ra, or, if anything, made slightly lighter.

Studies have shown that X-rays make hiddenites slightly darker, whereas radium rays take on a slightly lighter color.

It has also been observed that hiddenites, when heated in oxygen, become pale gray but greener when heated in reducing atmospheres.

Kunzites, under X-ray turn green, fading quickly under light, and even more quickly when heated to 200° – 250° C (392° – 482° F); they have been observed to go green under UV, and from colorless to green under X-rays.

Under radium,Californiakunzite changes from variably from pink to colorless to green, and finally, blue, when heated or exposed to sunlight, before returning to pink – although darker than previous.

Kunzites when pink bleached at 500° C (932° F) and exposed to radium turned green, however when heated to 200° C (392° F) or exposed to sunlight, the pink returned.

The last pink did not bleach at all after heating for 24 hrs. at 250° C (482° F).

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show 2021 Canceled Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

The Tucson Gem and Mineral show is not going to be held in 2021. Some venues may be open, but, due to the fundamental lack of science in this nation, the nature of pandemics themselves and the leadership of the nation, trade shows are not safe to hold in this environment. This hurts so many people who depend on this, financially. It is also a major mental health issue, as many of in the industry only see each other a few times a year at these shows. I miss some of my buddies! Here is looking to a bright 2022…even that was sad to write…

October 26, 2020 Dear TGMS Members; In 1955, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society (TGMS) put on the first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® in a grade-school cafeteria. From such humble beginnings sprang what is now collectively called the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase, which occupies over 50 venues around town from mid-January through mid-February. [In case you’ve missed it in all the hoopla surrounding the commercial shows, our Show, the Main Show, takes place in the Tucson Convention Center.] The Tucson Showcase is by far the world’s largest gathering of gem, mineral, fossil, meteorite and related earth science collectors, dealers and museum scientists. The Arizona Department of Tourism estimates it annually brings about $130 million dollars to the Tucson economy making it our biggest tourism-related event. TGMS takes parental pride in the economic/commercial juggernaut the Showcase has become, but we remain a local, volunteer-based, non-profit, Earth-Science education-focused group open to all comers. [Please visit www.tgms.org for more info.] Our Show is TGMS’s annual gift to Tucson…it is the only show by and for Tucsonans and we are extremely grateful for the support we have always received from our community. We hoped and planned for the best during these difficult days of COVID-19 but find events have conspired to force us to the painful decision to take 2021 off and focus on bringing things back at a higher level in 2022! As members of the Tucson community, we feel we should explain the reasoning behind this decision while emphasizing our full support for the remainder of the 2021 Tucson Showcase in whatever form it takes.

Most importantly, TGMS does not want to be responsible for a single COVID-19 fatality or serious illness. Our Show is run by volunteers and many of us are in high-risk demographics…as are many of our participants and attendees. Consulting closely with the Pima County Health Department, the Mayor and City Manager’s offices and the good folks who run the TCC, it is clear that applying the mandated COVID-19 protocols to reduce risk would mean drastically restricted attendance and curtailment of many of our programs. Second, our Show is much different from the rest of the Showcase. We are the public show with a unique combination of exhibits, school children visits, educational programs, scientific networking and family outreach. We annually create a world-class museum that magically disappears forever after just four days. Our equally enthralling “gift shop” includes a cadre of superb retail gem, mineral, fossil, meteorite, book and jewelry dealers, who complement the exhibits. This unique combination sets the TGMS Show apart from all the other shows in town.

Third, we expect that our Show dazzles everyone with displays of exquisite minerals, gems, jewelry and fossils brought by the worldwide Mineral and Gem Community. Restrictive COVID-19 travel policies mean many of our major domestic, and most of our international museum exhibitors and friends either won’t or can’t travel here. This effectively eliminates both our exhibits and educational programs. COVID-19 related risks clearly make it impossible for TGMS to put on anything more than a shadow of our accustomed vibrant event. So, we’ve decided that it makes more sense to conserve our resources and apply them towards a Blockbuster 2022 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show®. We promise to pull out all the stops to bring you an unparalleled group of eye-popping fluorescent mineral exhibits, colorful minerals and gems from around the world, and some special surprises to shake everyone out of their post-Covid lethargy!!! See you in 2022!

Les Presmyk: TGMS President
Peter Megaw: TGMS Show Co-Chair
Richard Gottfried: TGMS Show Co-Chair
Patricia McClain: Executive Manager

So, with that, yes, one of our companies is REALLY sad not to be vending at Tucson, now our home city.
If you want some colorful minerals trapped in resin, come check out Parallel Power Products

Chemical Reactions – Chemical Reactions that Alter the Appearance of Minerals

Some minerals react with chemicals in ways that produce an altering appearance, which can lead to results both fascinating and terrible. Hazing, etching, dissolving and unwanted deposits are some of the results that you can expect with various minerals and you can find out more about those in another section, the subject of this page is minerals that can have an appealing altering of appearance due to a chemical reaction.

Calcite being turned into Malachite by Copper Solution

People might have laughed when I was just a lowly calcite, but now, oh yes, NOW, they will PAY!


A rich solution of Copper Sulfate and water is used to turn calcium carbonate crystals, both Calcite and Aragonite, into green and blue. As the crystals soak in the solution over the course of 2 – 4 weeks, the crystals will start to develop a blue coloring which then becomes a rich green, similar to fine Malachite specimens.

Sodium hypochlorite, or common household bleach, will turn several lead minerals into interesting shades, notably, the red color that is given to the skin of Anglesite crystals. The color change varies by time exposed to the bleach, as it will start to increase the red hue from duration of exposure. The color change is only on the surface of the crystal, as the sodium hypochlorite mixes with the lead to form a thin layer of the mineral minimum as an alteration.

Iron Oxyhydroxide Staining– It’s often desirable to remove iron oxyhydroxide staining on minerals to improve their appearance. These stains, often appearing as yellow, orange, or red coatings are composed primarily of iron oxyhydroxides such as limonite and goethite, and less commonly of iron (III) oxide (hematite) or potassium iron (III) sulfate hydroxide (jarosite.) Super Iron Out is likely the most commonly used commercially available reagent for removing iron staining on minerals; the primary active ingredients are sodium hydrosulfite and sodium metabisulfite which are both chelators and reducing agents. Sodium carbonate and citric acid are added as buffering agents. All other ingredients are decomposition products of sodium hydrosulfite and sodium metabisulfite. Check out the MSDS for more info: http://www.summitbrands.com/summit/downloads/msds/usa/MSDS%20Super%20Iron%20Out.pdf

The temperature, pH, and concentration greatly affect the potency and reactivity of Super Iron Out, although the buffering agents do help to slightly stabilize the properties. When testing out a solution of iron out to clean sensitive minerals, it is best to start with a room temperature, fairly weak solution at neutral pH. If more potency is desired, the concentration of Super Iron Out can be raised, the pH can be changed by addition of an acid or base, or the solution can be heated which increases reactivity but also quickly decomposes the active ingredients. If you want to get really technical with any sort of cleaning, I recommend development of a rough ternary diagram with the three axes being temperature, pH, and concentration (in weight/volume or molar) and points graphed being a numeric scale of “cleaning effectiveness,” which is sort of arbitrary, but you will notice the cleaning ability that certain temp-pH-concentration domains will have. It’s not wise to use Super Iron Out on phosphates, sulfides, transition metal sulfates, many carbonates, vanadinite, and evaporites as they will alter or discolor the surface.

Oxalic Acid is perhaps the most popular reagent used to clean iron staining from Arkansas and Brazilian quartzes. Oxalic acid cleans via chelation- it forms many highly stable complexes with transition metals- in our case iron. Oxalic acid can be purchased at hardware stores as wood bleach. Note that it is slightly toxic and needs to be handled somewhat carefully. It’s highly soluble in water and can readily be dissolved to make a fairly concentrated solution. If any acid soluble transition metal containing minerals (such as pyrite, siderite, malachite, cerussite) are present on the specimen you wish to clean it is best to stay clear of using oxalic- you can create a nasty pitting and prominent discoloration of the surface. The discoloration on iron minerals is mustard yellow which is the most common form of residue encountered from poor cleaning with oxalic acid.

Smoky Quartz and Granite Pocket Minerals- Marathon County, Wisconsin

Rotten Granite in Wisconsin

By Jeremy Zolan – follow him on Instagram Leaverite_Tycoon

Overview: Specimens of smoky quartz forming in granite are commonly seen from Colorado, California, Montana, or New Hampshire and not associated with Wisconsin! Surprisingly, there have been quite a few nice specimens of smoky quartz and feldspar found in Wausau County, approximately around the Rib Mountain area. Known mostly among locals, this area hasn’t gained much popularity among collectors, but has the potential for many future great finds.

9 cm smoky quartz from wisconson

Smoky quartz from the Nine Mile Pluton in Wausau County, Wisconsin. 9cm field of view! Photo by Al Falster : https://wgnhs.wisc.edu/minerals/quartz/


Aquamarine Crystal from Wisconsin

A beautiful, gemmy beryl from the Nine Mile Pluton in Wausau County, Wisconsin. Tiny crystal. 2cm field of view. https://wgnhs.wisc.edu/minerals/beryl/

Prospecting: Even though most of the locations that yielded the specimens above are likely private, there are probably plenty of other areas one could find to dig crystals since specimens are recorded as coming from a variety of spots within the area. See Mindat for more info: https://www.mindat.org/loc-24286.html

Locations in Marathon County for Minerals

Localities in Marathon County recorded to mindat.org

Viewing the image above, one can see there is a huge amount of localities in this area. Looking at the mineral list and description on Mindat, the location is known for extremely old rocks and nice exposures of them- “ Marathon County displays some of the best outcrops of Precambrian rock in the state. Many of the rock occurrences are of interest to the mineral enthusiast.”
Many of the ancient intrusions that blasted through the complex igneous and metamorphic country rock are of unusual compositions. Additionally, they are extremely weathered and “rotten” meaning they are very easy to dig through.
Granite when unweathered tends to be one of the most difficult rocks to work, and hard rock mining it is a laborious task. Due to the fact that that the granite has been decomposed to the point where it falls apart means no hammer or chisel would be needed to dig them. Perhaps just a shovel or pickaxe!

Rotten Granite in Wisconsin

Notice how this granite is just falling apart into pebbles. At this particulat quarry, the Beilke Quarry, a variety of minerals were found including Microcline, Smoky Quartz, and Phenakite. This location is private and reclaimed.

It seems like the rotten granite occurs around Wausau. I would try to find some sort of public land you could freely prospect, or contact someone with interesting rotten granite or an abandoned quarry on their land. Crystals may be loose in the dirt, or may be clustered up and held together with clay within the weathered granite. Minerals found in the boulders are also reported. Weathering and alteration often left “cores” of more resistant rock.
This granite is “miarolitic” meaning as it rose when it was injected into the continent, gases dissolved within it bubbled out as it depressurized. These bubbles often were trapped in the solidifying rock before they could diffuse, and crystals grew inside as the rock cooled and vapors interacted with quartz, feldspars, and micas.

The premier location in the area appears to be the Bielke Quarry in Wausau, which unfortunately is reclaimed and off limits, but yielded beautiful specimens of amazonite that are of notable quality for the US. See: https://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?loc=24286&min=2704

Rib Mountain, contained within Rib Mountain State Park may be a good area to start learning about the local geology. Mineral collecting is likely not allowed in the park, but one could look around for crystals to understand the geology, but leave them be. Crystals have been reported as coming from Rib Mountain, so searching for pockets in granitic rocks exposed there may be a good place to understanding how to find them where you could regularly dig for them.

Quartz Crystal from Rib Mountain

Searching around, I found a local talk about finding a large pocket of fine smoky quartz in his back yard. Props to this guy for having some nice collecting he can do so easily!

Quartz Crystal found in Wisconsin

As you can see, a gorgeous smoky. Check his other Wisconsin minerals out here! http://huntforgems.com/minerals/wi.html
He states he found 32 crystals so far and they were embedded in a red clay. Interesting to note what he found them in.
Tools: Unlike some miarolitic granites which are very hard, these Wisconsin granites are often weathered to the point where you would expect to use a shovel, pickaxe, or hoe to move material. Use a screwdriver, chopstick, or bamboo skewer as a probe when you see anything that looks like a pocket. Wooden pocket tools are the safest for removing the crystals undamaged.
Unweathered granite is present in Marathon County too, and this can be mineralized. For this kind of rock, crack hammers, chisels, wedges, and prybars are likely your tools of choice.
There are a diverse array of minerals in this area of Wisconsin, so you will need to be creative and adaptable.

Conclusion: Considering the abundance of specimens of Smoky Quartz and Feldspar from Colorado, other locations with the same kinds of minerals are frequently overlooked. This example of such an overlooked area with similar mineralization deserves more attention, as it seems to be slipping into obscurity. This article serves as a guide to get the mental juices flowing, to help perhaps inspire a collector to make an exciting, beautiful find in this area.

Dyeing Agates – Who wants to dye some agates?

Years ago there was a website called DyeingAgate.com and it showed information about how agates are dyed, how quartz is coated with metals, and other various treatments and alterations by humankind on minerals. It was such a fun website and the custom graphics that were produced were such a hit that they were constantly lifted and used in the graphics of various display cases around the world. Sadly, in 2018 the domain name lapsed and the site went off line. The information on the site was quality stuff, so we wanted to present it again, without further delay, here is the section on “Dyeing Agates”

Dyeing of Agates Explained Here!

We will explain to you the process of dyeing agates, how to prepare them and how to dye them, with chemicals and tints.

I Just GOT This CLEANED!

Dyeing Agates

To start, the word agate will be used interchangeably with the word “chalcedony”, as they are the same thing. A suggestion is to place a piece of material to be dyed into a solution of Potassium Chromate
overnight. If the stone is yellow in the morning, dyeing will be easy to accomplish.

Processing

First, ensure that the material has been cleaned, to remove any debris, and of course, best, to have already slabbed, cabbed, or polished the stone to be dyed. The oils must be removed from the stone entirely, which can be done as such. Bring to boil the agate in a strong solution of water and sodium carbonate.
Allow this to cool and remove the agate and place in a pot of clean water and heat to a near boil, then cool, which should remove the traces of sodium carbonate. Then, place the agate into cool concentrated nitric acid,
which will remove any iron compounds. Heat this material for 24-48 hours, bring to a near boil for several hours at the very end of the cycle, then after cooling, wash and heat to a boil the agate in a clean water bath three or four times, at which point you will have the most professionally prepared agate ready for dyeing.

How to Dye Agates Red

To dye agates red, the solution is as follows.

Place 1/4 pound of iron filings
into 1 lb of concentrated nitric acid. The resulting fumes are going to be a corrosive, poisonous brown fume, so this mixture must be done outside or under a lab hood. This stuff will bubble and heat up, allow to cool for 24 hours, then decant the clear liquid into another container. This is iron nitrate, the liquid needed for the next step.

Place the cleaned, prepared slabs into the liquid iron nitrate produced from the last step and allow to soak for between 1 to 4 weeks, depending on thickness. 1/8′ needs a week, 1/4″ needs 3 weeks and 3/8″ needs 4 weeks to dye. Remove the agate, wipe them dry and place into an oven to gradually heat. Bring the material up to 365 degrees and heat for 3-5 hours. At this point, it is time to soak the agates in the iron nitrate for an equal amount of time, repeating the drying step after soaking, but for a lot longer, 2-8 days, depending on thickness. This long drying is needed, in a roasting pan
, as the final step is to raise the stones to 450 degrees and the long drying is needed to make sure the stones do not explode when the stones are brought up to that temperature Allow to cool, then, remove from the roasting pan
You should have a deep red colored agate. Note, while lab grade iron nitrate is available, the professional lapidary artisians claim it does not produce the same results.

How to Dye Agates Black

Dissolve 375 grams of sugar into a liter of water, producing a thick liquid similar to honey. Soak the slabs in this solution, heated to slightly above room temperature for 2-3 weeks, adding water to the solution as it is lost from evaporation. Rinse the slabs off and place into a bath of concentrated sulphuric acid
, which you will then warm slowly over an hour until the solution finally reaching 635° F for an hour. Allow the solution to cool, then remove the agate and wash, repeating the process to remove the acid. Soak the slabs in a solution of sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the leftover acid.

How to Dye Agates Blue

Bright blue agates are very desirable, below you can find the recipe for making this material.

Dissolve 250 grams of potassium ferricyanide
into 1 liter of lukewarm water. Place agate into this solution, kept at a lukewarm temperature, for 1 to 2 weeks. After soaking, wash the slabs and place into a solution of lukewarm ferrous sulphate
for 10 days. This solution will cause the compounds within the stones to react and form the bright blue color that people known and recognize.

How to Dye Agates Green

Take 620 grams of chromium trioxide
in 1 liter of water and place agates into the solution for 2 weeks, or longer if material is thick. Remove the material, rinse and place in a sealed container with ammonium carbonate,
to sit for 2 weeks. After this time remove the slabs from that container, place into a roasting pan
and place in an oven to “fire” the agate, bringing the oven up to 500 degrees for a few hours.

How to Dye Agates Yellow

Soak the agate in a concentrated solution of Potassium Chromate,
then wash and dry, which should give you a nice yellow tone.

And with this, our limits of dyeing knowledge are capped. All of these procedures should be done under a lab hood or outside. MSDS sheets should be reviewed before working with any chemicals and proper lab equipment, including safety glasses, gloves and proper eye wash stations, anti-acid creams and clean up kits available.

 

Slab showing dyed colors

All Five colors, plus natural end caps

Smoky Quartz Crystal Digging- Moat Mountain, White Mountain Nat’l Forest, New Hampshire

Scepter Smoky Quartz from New Hampshire

Welcome to Moat Mountain! Here is beautiful example of the typical smoky quartz and microcline combo found at this locality.

For more info and directions, Nat’l Forest Service page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5382896.pdf

Background:
The iconic New Hampshire locality, Moat Mountain has been popular for its gorgeous smoky quartz and microcline specimens for decades. New Hampshire is known as “The Granite State” so it is fitting that specimens at its signature locality occur in a granite. In many ways, these specimens bear resemblance to other granitic quartz and feldspars from throughout the US, such as those from Colorado and Montana. The association of smoky quartz and feldspar is very typical in a miarolitic granite. More about how exactly these crystals form later.
One of the few if only free, open to the public dig sites in New England where pocket smoky quartz crystals can be found, this location is maintained by the National Parks Service and is accessible from mid spring to early autumn. The severe winter weather in the area makes collecting during that time impossible. Nearly the entire mountain has various mineral locations for smoky quartz, amethyst, microcline, and fluorite, but please respect where the parks service allows and doesn’t allow digging.

Geology and Minerals:
This locality occurs in miarolitic granite and these crystals are over 200 million years old. The minerals at this location formed at the contact between the Conway granite and the Moat Mountain volcanics. These volcanic rocks were part of a very active ancient volcano. As they rose and depressurized, gasses escaping from them were trapped by the surrounding Conway granite, forming the smoky quartz, microcline, and other minerals. The chemistry of the gasses was pretty simple, but enriched in fluorine which gave rise to some of the rarer, highly collectible minerals at the site.

Minerals:
Smoky Quartz: Commonly found in miarolitic pockets. Gemmy, very lustrous smoky quartzes are abundant. Usually they are an inch or less, but crystals to over a foot have been found. Some of the Moat Mountain pockets have been massive. It is still possible to find large pockets here, but it requires a lot of both work and luck.

Scepter Smoky Quartz from New Hampshire

Some fantastic examples on Mindat of smokies collected at Moat. Note the red mud on the freshly pulled piece. These gorgeous specimens are proof good finds at Moat can still be made.


Fine Smoky Quartz Crystal from the Granite of New Hampshire

Microcline: Blocky crystals of microcline provide the matrix for many smoky specimens. They represent the walls of the miarolitic cavities. Often overlooked, these microclines make fine specimens on their own. Beautiful blue green amazonite and Baveno twinned crystals have been found on occasion.

Old school specimen of smoky and amazonite from Moat Mountain

Topaz and Fluorite: The ultimate Moat Mountain specimen is a fine topaz, however this mineral is extremely rare here. When found, it is known to produce gorgeous gem quality champagne, pale blue, or colorless crystals that are sometimes slightly etched. Specimens can exceed five centimeters.
Fluorite crystals to several centimeters in diameter have been found on Moat Mountain. Also a rarity, they are quite sought after. Fluorite is a fragile, sensitive mineral so it often weathers away if it is at all present in a pocket. It occurs primarily in green, blue, and purple at this locality and can form cubic or octahedral crystals.

Directions (From Forest Service):
From West Side Road in Conway turn onto Passaconaway Road. Travel 1.2 miles and turn right onto High Street (dirt road). This road leads into the White Mountain National Forest, passing a gate at 1.4 miles. At 1.7 miles, bear left and continue 0.7 miles to the parking area at the end of the road. The Moat Mountain Mineral Collecting Site is a 0.9 mile hike from the parking area. On the Mineral Site Trail, keep right at both branches.
GPS Coordinates: • Moat Mineral Collecting Site Trailhead: 44.021700, -71.169500

Collecting Tips: There are many ways to collect this material. A popular way is to dig through loose, weathered rock paying attention for crystals and pocket sections. A hand rake and shovel are good for this. It pays to dig deep, past areas that have already been searched.
Another method is searching ledges for pockets and working the rock. Observe how plants grow, often roots will follow crystal bearing pockets and seams because they are open space easy for them to take hold in. Breaking the granite is hard work and requires a lot of hammering and chiseling. An assortment of wedges, chisels, hammers, and prybars would be a good idea to bring. Use large, flat wedges to exploit cracks in the rock.
This location is remote, so bring food, water, and bug spray especially if you plan on staying there for a while.

Using an App to find Property owners of Rockhounding Locations – onX Hunt- Finding Property Ownership Quickly for Prospecting

Laws regarding prospecting and recreational mineral collecting change with property boundaries. We can all think of famous old mines and localities that are now in someone’s backyard. What if you could contact that someone and get permission to dig an old spot, or even prospect for a new one where no one has looked? It never hurts to ask, but it is often hard to figure out who owns areas of interest or where property lines truly lie.
When you download the app, you get trial use of it for 7 days and a choice of boundaries in one state. This app is subscription based and offers a premium subscription for $29.99/year that allows you to view property boundaries for one state, or an elite subscription where for $14.99/month or $99/year you can view property boundaries in all 50 states for one year. It is geared towards hunters, but it can be very useful for other outdoor activities like rockhounding, too.
When I downloaded the app, I chose Pennsylvania. Below is a screenshot of land around Hometown, PA

Overview of what OnXHunt shows on a sample screen

Overview of what OnXHunt shows on a sample screen


As you can see, the boundaries of various properties are outlined clearly on the screen as well as town names and counties. In addition, various useful navigation parameters such as speed and altitude are displayed.
When you click on a point, the boundaries are highlighted in green. A green cursor also appears at the point you click. Here I click on PA state gamelands and clearly the owner of the property is displayed as well as the size of the area. It shows that the PA State Game Commission is responsible for this land.
Gamelands shown clearly on the app, OnXHunt

Gamelands shown clearly on the app, OnXHunt


Let’s say I wanted to check out the abandoned coal strippings west of town. Unfortunately, on the app this displays it is private property. When I click on the strippings, the pull up window provides the owner of the land, so if you wanted to explore it you could hypothetically contact them
Property Ownership information shown on OnXHunt

Property Ownership information shown on OnXHunt

Before this app was available, it was tedious searching records for owners and contacting them for permission. It is so easy here, in a very self explanatory maps like format.
Pros: Extremely intuitive and easy to use. An extremely practical app for mineral collecting that could be an indispensable tool that allows you to plan many more trips.
Cons: Kind of pricy, with a year subscription for 50 states costing $99. Perhaps it is really difficult keeping this app updated, as the task of finding property ownership is somewhat difficult at times. It would be worth it to someone who loves to rockhound, as I am sure your finds would exceed the cost of this app. Check out the website at OnXMaps.com

Dig Quartz – Milky, Smoky, and Amethyst at Diamond Hill, Antreville, South Carolina

Manganese and Iron Coated Quartz cluster from Diamond Hill Mine South Carolina

If you enjoy quartz and want to find your own, the Diamond Hill Mine in Antreville, South Carolina provides the public with one of the only opportunities to collect so many varieties of it in one place. Many of these quartz crystals also have a gorgeous oxide coating adding splotches of reds, yellows, black, and browns to the surface. In addition to the quartz, pegmatites containing beryl and other minerals have been dug on the site. This amazing variety and abundance of material on just under three acres of land is why so many diggers flock to this special site.

Iron stained quartz crystal cluster from Diamond Hill MineThese specimens of quartz, collected by John Krygier: https://www.mindat.org/gallery-13767.html, are typical examples of what you can find at this mine. The black coating is due to manganese oxides, and the orange coating is due to iron oxides.

Amazing amethyst cluster found by a guest to the mine. This photo of Diamond Hill Mine (Courtesy of Tripadvisor)

Smoky Amethyst Quartz Crystal from Diamond Hill Mine

Smoky amethyst found at the mine and featured in their online gallery.

https://diamondhillmine.com/gallery/

Geology: The Diamond Hill Mine is hosted in a granite, and is one of numerous quartz localities in the Eastern US to be hosted in such geology. As the granite cooled, water rich in silica and other chemicals became less soluble in the molten rock, escaping and creating veins hosting the quartz crystals. Pegmatites — coarse grained rocks also formed in the granite as a result of cooling, and these are where rare elements escaped to, forming minerals like beryl. Subtropical weathering broke down the feldspar in this granite into clay, exposing this deposit very slowly over the eons.

Digging: This is a site good for rockhounds of all experience levels. Hand tools are welcome and there are many strategies for collecting in the various pits at the mine. Be aware of which areas allow public digging. Machinery in the main workings dig up material for guests to search for in massive spoils piles. Surface collecting is your best option here. Bring gloves, a small rake or trowel, a screwdriver or stick to poke around, and some water to rinse off your finds.

You may also decide to try to find your own vein and work it. This method doesn’t guarantee you’ll get anything- the results vary, but there is a possibility for you to get incredible material if you develop a skill for understanding this location. You will need a hammer, chisels, pickaxe, shovel, buckets, and water for rinsing material to work these veins. You will likely have to move a lot of rock.

General Information & Pricing

Diamond Hill Mine
100 Diamond Mine Road
Abbeville, SC  29620
(864) 934-3744 or (864) 446-7357

Camping is available on site. Tents and small motor homes are welcome. Camping is free, but please call the mine in advance to make reservation. Call Gina Clary at (864) 934-3744 or email at dhmine@rocketmail.com.

Bring food and water! Also bring sunscreen and bug spray! The only facilities are an outhouse and picnic tables. There is no running water. The closest place for supplies is a mini-mart type gas station about 5 minutes away.

Digging is from time of registration to sunset.

Adults 18+ : $20
Teens 13-17: $10
Seniors 65+: $10
Children 6-12: $5
Children 5 & under: FREE (as well as non-collectors but they will not be allowed in the collecting area.)

For larger groups, discounts are available. Visit diamondhillmine.com for more information.

Article by Jeremy Zolan

Sources:

https://www.gamineral.org/_docs/11-16may04.pdf

https://diamondhillmine.com/

Product Review: Cut That Agate- Speedy Tumble Rapid Refil Kit – Tumble Stone Polish Kit

Paid Review By Jeremy Zolan
Insta: @leaverite_tycoon

Speedy Tumble is a product released by Cut That Agate that provides the rough material and everything you need to tumble a wide variety of stones to a high, professional looking finish in under 1 month time. The only thing not provided are the tumbler itself, water, and optional Ivory soap. In essence, it is the fast food of tumbling- an inexpensive, highly consistent product that can be made in a comparatively short time. Unlike fast food, the quality of the product is great and I am very satisfied with the fact that there were probably over 50 different kinds of rough in my assortment. You get 4 pounds total. Speedy Tumble also includes a bag of one pound of premier material too. I think my bag had some almandine garnet. I think it’s amazing what they give you for only $30!!


Stone Contents of Speedy Tumble Kit

Stone Contents of Speedy Tumble Kit


Instruction Card for Speedy Tumble Kit

Instruction Card for Speedy Tumble Kit


Handful of the stones in this Speedy Tumble Refil Kit

Handful of the stones in this Speedy Tumble Refil Kit


Notice the awesome container they give you as well as the colorful, high quality printed materials and instructions. This is a great looking set!!

To test Speedy Tumble, I decided to take the minimal amount of time it instructed to tumble for. So from start to finish, three weeks and one day total time. For my tumbler, I decided to use the most convenient option I could find. That meant I decided to take a trip down to my local Harbor Freight and purchase their Chicago Electric 3lb. rotary rock tumbler. It proved to be surprisingly well made, rigid, and perfect for getting the results I desired. Definitely a surprise.

3 Pound Harbor Freight Rock Tumbler

3 Pound Harbor Freight Rock Tumbler for sale on Amazon or Head into your local Harbor Freight

I decided to leave some headspace in the tumbler barrel, and filled it about two thirds of the way with stones from the set that I lightly prewashed. It’s a bad idea to totally fill the barrel, so the stones can move freely and let the grit work them.

Rotary Tumbled Stone Barrel filled with pre-tumbled stones

Rotary Tumbled Stone Barrel filled with pre-tumbled stones

I added about 3.5 tablespoons of 400 grit, added some water, sealed the drum, released pressure after 3 hours, then tumbled for one week uninterrupted.

One week later I opened the barrel, placed the rough in a strainer and carefully rinsed off the grit. The material is looking nicer!

Strained and Cleaned of grit, the material is already looking much nicer!


Back into the tumbler with the 800 grit for a week. I repeated the same procedure as that for the 400 in terms of amounts.

Getting more tumbled! I washed this material well and then added about half the envelope of cerium oxide powder and more water.

Bag of Cerium Oxide, a Very Fine Polishing Paste, for the final polish of the tumbled stones

Bag of Cerium Oxide, a Very Fine Polishing Paste, for the final polish of the tumbled stones

Cerium Oxide in the Rotary Tumbler Ready for Final Tumble.

Cerium Oxide in the Rotary Tumbler Ready for Final Tumble.

After a week with cerium oxide, I washed the material well and added a small chunk of Ivory soap and tumbled with a little water to get a higher gloss. There you have it! It’s finished! Let’s take a look:

Tumbled Stones after Final Polish from the Speedy Tumble Rapid Refil Kit

Tumbled Stones after Final Polish from the Speedy Tumble Rapid Refil Kit

Here is a handful of the beautifully glossy finished product. Ready to go for a craft project or just to enjoy!

Summary: Overall I really like Speedy Tumble and I think the value is amazing. Not only do they do the dirty work for you, but they include the grits you need to finish the job. You get a ton of material and the quality is great. I found many semiprecious stones in my assortment including amethyst, rutilated quartz, agate, sodalite, and turquoise. The only thing I can really criticize is I wish the premier material was something a little more colorful, but I can’t even really complain because of how well executed everything else was. Great job on making an interesting product for all ages, Speedy Tumble

PAID CONTENT – This Article is a paid review and contains links to Amazon to purchase the product.

Visit the Trilobyte Me! Quarry in Delta, Utah for a Gourmet Trilobite Buffet to Snack on!

Known as the most prolific trilobite specimen source worldwide, the Trilobyte Me! Quarry operated by the folks at High Desert Gems and Minerals is where you can dig your own specimens of those iconic Utah trilobites. These classic specimens, most notably of the species Elrathia kingii are preserved in exquisite detail in the Wheeler Shale formation of Western Utah. The Wheeler Shale is a truly ancient rock and is 505 million years old, a time when Utah was very tropical, oriented close to the equator. The Trilobyte Me! Quarry gives the public a chance to explore one of the world’s best quality, most finely preserved fossil occurrences. Not only are a variety of trilobites found here, but other ancient sea life such as brachiopods, sponges, primitive crustaceans, and rare soft bodied animals.

Pile of Trilobites mined in a weekend
Trilobites in the typical shale matrix they are found in

Photos from the mine operators. The operators state on their site that the pile represents approximately the finds from just two days of basic digging! The trilobite specimens in matrix show what you might find splitting rocks

What is a Trilobite?:

Trilobites are ancient arachnomorph (arachnid-like) class of arthropod invertebrates, meaning they are related to insects, crustaceans, and arachnids. Despite their crustacean like appearance, they are most closely related to spiders, horseshoe crabs, and scorpions. They were among the most diverse classes of life on earth during the lower paleozoic but many became extinct in the Devonian, and were all finally wiped out in the Permian mass extinction event.

Trilobites remain so well preserved in the fossil record because of their hard exoskeletons, which were easily replaced by calcite over time. They range in size and shape greatly from a few millimeters to about a foot long and are found in paleozoic rocks worldwide. Trilobites have large, prominent compound eyes and a pair of flexible, sometimes long antennae as well as many pairs of segmented legs for moving and feeding, similar to a pillbug. Some trilobites had elaborate spines, but those species are not often seen in the Wheeler Shale. Many species could even roll up in a ball for defense. Trilobites were mostly scavengers or sifted through the substrate for food, but there is some suggestion a few species were carnivorous. A great diversity of well preserved species is found in the Wheeler Shale, and the Trilobyte Me! Quarry is an extremely rich source.

Trilobite Anatomy

The Trilobite body is divided into three main parts that can be thought of a head, torso, and tail. See the above figure, the head is called the cephalon (1) , the torso is the thorax (2) , and the tail is the pygidium (3). Lengthwise the body is divided into three lobes, the right pleural lobe (4), the axial lobe (5), and the left pleural lobe (6)

Some examples of trilobites found in the wheeler shale

Some species of trilobites encountered in the Wheeler Shale. Source: https://u-digfossils.com/trilobites/

Geology and Paleontology:

The area where the Trilobite me Quarry would have been 50 million years ago

The approximate location of Utah in the early Cambrian period (~505MYA) Source: https://www.trilobites.info/Utah.htm

The Wheeler Shale of Western Utah dates back to the early Cambrian period, representing a period in which oceanic invertebrate life greatly diversified. This unit consists of mudstone, shaley limestone, and a platy limestone. Before the Cambrian, most vertebrates were soft bodied, poorly preserved as fossils, and difficult to classify. The Cambrian is the period where arthropods such as crustaceans and trilobites, cnidarians like jellyfish and corals, and brachiopods came into existence and started to thrive. During this time Utah was located along the equator and the Wheeler Shale is the bottom of a shallow, warm sea. Think of the water being similar to a tropical destination like the Caribbean. That is the type of climate these trilobites thrived in. Elrathia kingi is the commercial trilobite species most sought after by collectors. It is the iconic trilobite from this formation and is one of the most abundant. Elrathia kingi specimens are the most commonly encountered American trilobite on the market. However, there is variety at the Trilobyte Me! Quarry and about 15 genera of trilobite total exist in the Wheeler Shale.

Many unusual fossils including peculiar ancient crustaceans and soft bodied animals have been found in the Wheeler Shale. Some of these fossils are not easily noticeable but may be significant or important. If you see an unusual fossil, even if faint, keep it and try to get it identified. There have been many important fossils of soft bodied animals found in Utah. In addition many fossils of trilobite-like fossils have been found. These organisms are closely related, but not true trilobites.

Pseudoarctolepis sharpi trilobite fossil

A fossil of a peculiar ancient crustacean from the Wheeler Shale- Pseudoarctolepis sharpi, a Phyllocarid. It is definitely important to look out for strange fossils at the Trilobyte Me! Quarry, you might find something rare and unusual. Source: http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Cambrian-Explosion/Utah-Cambrian-Explosion.htm

Collecting and Supplies:

To collect these trilobite fossils you will be splitting shale, which has a particular technique to it. Hit the shale in the direction it splits with a geologists pick or crack hammer and thin chisel. Use a sturdy tap, when this rock splits, it often happens all at once. For digging in the quarry, bring a prybar, pickaxe, and wedges to remove and split bigger pieces of shale. Also bring a screen to go through finer material, a bucket, gloves, and safety goggles. Bring plenty of food and water, sunscreen, and bug spray. From the High Desert Gems and Minerals website, several collecting options in different price ranges are available, but all give you the experience of digging tons of your own awesome quality trilobites!

Dig Gemstone Fossils
Open Daily April 1 – October 10th 9am – 5pm
No reservations required, just show up, any day!

Basic Trilobite Collecting

Split the shale or screen dirt for shale and find matrix specimens or loose jewelry grade trilobites.
Adults $50
8yrs-14yrs $35
7yrs/ under Free

Quarry Bank Digging

Dig and split shale using hand tools in the actual freshly exposed trilobite bearing shale layers of the quarry
Adults $100
8yrs-14yrs $50
7yrs/ under Free

E x c l u s i v e Digging Options…..
High-End Quarry Bank Digging

Our exclusive digging area reserved for our commercial trilobite operations.
Adults $200
11yrs-14yrs $100
10yrs/ under Free with paying adult

“Trilobite infested” Ore Pile

Our trilobite pay dirt shale dug up with our machinery and put in a pile for your convenience to sort.
$150/ pile
Price includes whole family

High-Grade “Trilobite Swarm” Ore Pile

Our exclusive commercial trilobite bearing shale dug up with our machinery and put in a pile for your convenience to sort.
$300/ pile
Price includes whole family

Directions: See Map
Map to Trilobite Me Quarry

Driving Directions
From the West: use Hwy 50 in Nevada at the state line border drive 56 miles into Utah.
From the East : use Hwy 50/ 6 out of Delta, Utah drive West 29 miles.
On Hwy 50/ 6 at mile Marker 56 & 1/2 turn onto dirt road North (Known as Long Ridge Reservoir Road).
0.0 reset odometer at the U-Dig Fossils sign/ cattle guard.
4.9 drive over cattle guard.
6.3 drive over another cattle guard.
Slow down! for tight curves in road.
10.1 intersection for Margum Pass sign.
15.0 intersection for Swasey Spring sign.
Slow down! curvy road.
18.8 intersection for U-Dig and Death Canyon, stay on road as it bears right.
18.9 immediate right turn into driveway of Trilobyte Me! Quarry.
Parking: cars continue on through the gate, RVs and trailers park before gate!
Follow these directions! The internet may get you lost!

Accomodations: Free camping and RV accomodation on site! Pet friendly! Bring your own food and water. There are hotels near Delta, Utah also available. Rancher Motel (435) 864-274, Delta Inn Motel (435) 864-5318, Days Inn (435) 864-3882, Antelope Valley RV Park (800) 430-0022

Sources:

https://www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com/html/trilobyte_me_quarry.html

http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Cambrian-Explosion/Utah-Cambrian-Explosion.htm

https://www.trilobites.info/Utah.htm

Trilobites

Finding Your Own Green Pyromorphite and Orange Wulfenite in Western Massachusetts!

Pyromorphite and wulfenite are highly sought after by collectors because they are some of the most intensely colored species in the mineral kingdom. Pyromorphite is known for its diverse hues and shapes ranging from vivid green, to yellow, to orange and from hoppered hexagon, to hexagonal prism, to semispheroid. Wulfenite almost always forms yellow to orange-red square shaped tabular crystals. When mineral collectors think of these minerals, exotic international locations pop into their heads like China, Arizona, Idaho, Namibia, Morocco, and Mexico. Little do many mineral enthusiasts in the Northeast US know, there is a wonderful site to dig these minerals in Massachusetts. It is just rarely represented in the specimen market because the crystals are smaller and less abundant than the really famous spots. Regardless of that, most collecting sites in New England don’t provide vibrantly colorful and diverse oxidized minerals like this place, and none exist where you can pan for wulfenites in the river like you can at Loudville!

Pyromorphite with Wulfenite

Beautiful combo of pyromorphite and wulfenite dug by my friend Alex Kim (@dirty_minerals on insta). Finding this piece is what inspired him to dig minerals. Check out more of his collecting adventures and amazing finds on his page!

History: The name “Loudville Lead mines” is used to refer to the many mines in a small district adjacent to the Manhan river in Northampton, Mass. Loudville is the name of a small village in the area on the Easthampton and Westhampton line that was the nearest settlement during mining activity (2). The Loudville Lead mines are some of the oldest colonial mines in the US. Discovered by Robert Dyer in the late 1670s (1), they experienced several periods of mining from the 17th through 19th century. The first phase was from discovery until the American Revolution, which halted operations. I have heard though I cannot confirm that lead from Loudville was used in Revolutionary munitions like musket and cannonballs. Ethan Allen, famous hero of the American Revolution worked Loudville in the late 1700s after giving up prospecting Mine Hill in Roxbury, CT for silver (3). This mine was worked intermittently throughout the 19th century, last in 1865.

Map of mineral deposit of Loudville Massachusetts

an early sketch of the geology of the lead ore vein at Loudville from
Richardson, Charles (1854): Northampton District. The Loudville Mine (Mining Magazine Vol. 2 pp 13-20.

Mineralogy: Pyromorphite and Wulfenite are the most sought after minerals at this location and often they are hard to see. When you find material that shows any hint of green or orange, save it and delicately clean it at home. Do not use chemicals on minerals from Loudville with the exception of quartz. Many of these minerals will react even with iron out.

Secondary, oxidized minerals like Wulfenite and Pyromorphite are extremely rare in New England. Many of the oxidized zones (called supergene zones) of metal deposits in the region were removed by glaciers leaving mostly just sulfides which generally are massive and not aesthetic at the majority of locations in the region. Finding just one pyromorphite or wulfenite crystal at a lead deposit almost anywhere else in New England is a very rare experience.

Pyromorphite with Wulfenite

Gorgeous specimens of pyromorphite collected by my friend Dustin Bartlett (@themodernnaturalist on instagra,) Dustin has collected Loudville extensively and his page is a good place to go to see what collectors are still finding there!

Lead secondary minerals such as cerussite, anglesite, and the rare leadhillite are also found at Loudville. Cerussite is expecially common and overlooked. The best way to spot it is by its high luster and understanding its unique crystallography. Frequently it exhibits twinning. Even though it is colorless, its appearance makes it immediately distinguishable from quartz and baryte- the two other colorless minerals here. The author has collected numerous fine cerussites at Loudville to nearly 2cm long.

Quartz is another very common mineral at Loudville that can be very pretty. Beautiful clusters of milky, smoky, amethystine, and combos of these three varieties of quartz can be found, crystals getting quite large! Many of the similar lead mines in the Northeast such as the closed to collecting Canton Lead Mine in Ct are known for colorful amethyst and smokies with lead secondaries. At Loudville, you will often find other minerals, especially pyromorphite and wulfenite coating the quartz.

Pyromorphite on Quartz

Beautiful combo of pyromorphite on dark smoky quartz dug by Dustin Bartlett @themodernnaturalist on insta

The list of minerals at Loudville is extremely extensive and represents so many interesting combinations of lead, zinc, copper, sulfate, carbonate, silicate, etc. Under the microscope, a whole world of collectible material becomes available. Please see Mindat if you want to learn more: https://www.mindat.org/loc-3832.html

Directions and Equipment:

When digging here, please respect the boundaries to the collecting area! There has been a lot of digging outside of it and if it continues, the site may be closed within the next few years. Saying that, there are many strategies to collecting there, I will discuss two of them.

The first strategy involves digging into the dump and breaking rock to expose vugs. Use a shovel, hand rake, etc to turn over the dump and a crack hammer and chisel to break the material. The river is a convenient source of water to wash pieces off you can’t see clearly. Often the mud can obscure the crystals. Move slow and be careful.

An especially interesting technique people have been successful with here is panning for wulfenite in the river using a gold pan. Wulfenite is very dense compared to other minerals and will readily separate out in your concentrate. Use tweezers to pluck them out and I strongly advise you put them into a vial of water since they are fragile and very easy to lose.

In addition to the tools I outline above, other things you will want to bring is food, water, bug spray (it gets bad in the summer), sunscreen, and waterproof footware. This is a great place to bring dogs as many of them love swimming in the river. Just keep them on leash and be respectful to other dog owners.

To get to the site, it is very simple. Navigate to the pin on the embedded map and look for a small parking area. Park there and make your way down to the edge of the river. The collecting areas are clearly marked.

Article By Jeremy Zolan

Sources:

https://www.mindat.org/loc-3832.html

(1) Trumbull, James R. (1898): History of Northampton Massachusetts from its Settlement in 1654, Gazette Printing Company, Northampton Massachusetts: 358-368.

(2) Robinson, G.R. Jr., and Woodruff, L.G. (1988): Characteristics of Base-metal and Barite Vein Deposits associated with Rift Basins, with Examples from some Early Mesozoic Basins of Eastern North America, in Studies of Early Mesozoic Basins of the Eastern US, Frolich, T.J. and Robinson, G.R. Jr., Editors, USGS Bulletin 1776: 377-390.

(3) Hall, Henry (1895). Ethan Allen: the Robin Hood of Vermont, Appleton and Company, New York.

Green Stuff in Vermont! Colorful Chrysoprase Agate

Green Agate color caused by nickel impurities from Vermont

Chrysoprase and Jasper Collecting- Newfane, Vermont

by Jeremy Zolan

Outcrops around the town of Newfane have long been known for interesting samples of bright green chalcedony colored by nickel. This popular and beautiful semiprecious stone is known as chrysoprase. The majority of chrysoprase is mined from commercial lapidary rough mines in Australia, but fine examples of the material are also known from Poland, Albania, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, and Oregon. It is a relatively rare stone worldwide so having an opportunity to find it is certainly unique. In addition to chrysoprase, a variety of other beautiful material can be obtained at this site such as jasper, serpentine, and small quartz crystals. The rare hydrated nickel silicate garnierite has also been found here.

Green Agate color caused by nickel impurities from Vermont

Chysoprase found in the streams of Newfane Vermont – Image courtesy of John Betts Fine Minerals

Chrysoprase forms from oxidized nickel impurities imparting a green color to the material. The source of this nickel is from rocks geologists call ultramafic. These ultramafic rocks were metamorphosed to form the serpentinite at the deposit. These rocks are from very deep in the earth and have a chemistry that differs quite a bit from other igneous rocks. Often these ultramafic rocks are very rich in magnesium, calcium, and iron. They are also frequently poor in silica and rich in elements like chromium and nickel. When these rocks are exposed to water as well as a tiny amount of heat ad pressure, they break down and form serpentinite. The metals leach into silica and other minerals giving them their color.

Collecting-

Most of the collecting at this site will be done in the stream, stream banks, or riverside outcrops. Collecting involves getting into the stream bank and flipping over rocks. You might want to bring a shovel or hand rake to remove material from the stream bottom. Inspect material carefully for anything interesting and keep an eye out for anything with a bright green color. Place anything you want to keep in a sturdy bucket. Heavy waterproof boots or waders are a must in colder months. When it’s warmer wear some waterproof shoes to protect your feet from the rough bottom. Bring a hammer and chisel in care you want to break open anything you find to inspect it further.

Directions-

Navigate to South Newfane and look for a bridge that crosses Adam’s Brook. It should be very close to the center of the small town. Find a safe place to park and enter the brook. Search material in the brook for minerals. There are serpentine boulders present. Nearby there are several outcrops near roadcuts along the brook that can also be dug for similar material. Always keep an eye out for a bright flash of green color.

Rockhounding in the Time of a Global Pandemic

Rocky Rockhammer Mascot

Mineral Collecting During a Pandemic
How You can Engage your Interest in the Times of COVID-19

by Jeremy Zolan

None of us expected to be hit with a pandemic disease in 2020 and it is undoubtedly changing many aspects of every day life. Taking precautions to slow the spread of the virus unfortunately has caused the cancellation of many of the spring and summer mineral shows that we all eagerly await. Local club meetings and field trips may also be canceled so hobbyists may get discouraged to field collect. The hobby can still be engaged in a fun way, and you can still get out and dig too. It is very important to take the new coronavirus seriously and pay attention to cleanliness, health, and social distancing. Going out rockhounding can definitely give you a healthy workout, and you’ll usually be very socially distant.

Engaging Your Club and Other Diggers-

While meetings and club shows are canceled for the time being, it’s critical that you stay engaged with your fellow members and other collectors, ensuring the health of your mineral club until you can meet again. While you are required to stay physically distant, you can still maintain a strong presence through electronic resources.

The internet, obviously is great for this. It might be a good idea if you haven’t already, to create a Facebook group for your club. After you create the group, you need to request other members to join and nurture the page with posts so it grows. Post your recent findings, something you just cut and polished, or a favorite specimen. Share your passion. It is still possible to trade material too. Make sure to pack it in a box with clean hands to mail it long distance or maybe just drop things off on your fellow club members and local friends’ doorstep so you don’t physically engage them.

There are so many online resources for collectors. It’s very easy these days to see hundreds of mineral related pictures a day through social media. Personally, I love the picture based format of Instagram. Lots of diggers are very active there, posting pictures of their findings. It is easy to get engaged in that community. Use hashtags describing the mineral you are posting, relating to appearance, species, locality, etc. Facebook, again is good too. The majority of people in the US have a Facebook and there are many regional groups, etc. It is a good place to reach out to people to discuss mineral topics.

Educating Yourself and Kids-

Mindat.org is a mineral database cataloging thousands of different minerals and possibly close to one million localities. It is a great place to learn about minerals you are unfamiliar with, or research new spots to dig. There is also a messageboard where you can discuss mineral related subjects from the most basic to graduate level academic topics. Mindat is the website that got me into minerals as a child. If your kids are into science or nature, explore the site with them and learn about your regional minerals.

Nothing beats a book either, and now many of us have plenty of time to read since it is harder to go out. While libraries are closed, plenty of books are available on Amazon and Ebay, as well as from mineral dealers, etc. Many new instructional guides on lapidary topics are excellent, there are gorgeous picture books of fine specimens, and superb field guides too. If you are an ardent field collector, old guides are available from time to time online. It’s a good time to rediscover that elusive lost locality!

Buying and Selling Minerals-

All of our favorite shows are canceled and it is a big disappointment to buyers and sellers alike. Again, we all should turn to the internet to get our mineral fix! There is so much available on private dealer websites, Instagram, Facebook, Ebay, Etsy, and even Amazon. It’s a great time to support a local miner too. Buy crystals and lapidary rough you see directly from the people who mine them! Not only will you get something unique and exclusive to add to your collection, but you’ll ensure the miner themselves continues to be productive and successful at saving crystals! May assortments, kits, and sets of minerals are available too, which are perfect for teaching a kid who is home from school about earth science with a hands on approach.

Buying and selling minerals through live feed on Facebook simulates at least some of the appeal of a mineral show and allows customers and dealers to engage in real time. It’s a great way to be able to discuss specimens and sell quickly if viewers can be attracted. A good camera is very important as well as a kind, gentle, informative speaking manner when engaging customers.

Field Collecting-

Digging your own specimens is a healthy activity and the best way to learn about how minerals occur in the wild! Due to COVID-19, I am insistent that you only collect solo or with people you live with. Social digging will have to wait. Fee dig sites are mostly closed as well. There are still ways to dig and say socially distant but you will need to take precautions. Explore sites from guides on or available through wheretofindrocks.com and also old publications and dated websites for some neat sleeper locations far off in nature. Always carry a phone on you when you are alone in case you get injured or need help. Be extra careful these days, as going to a doctor or hospital puts you in extremely close proximity to the virus. Eat well and get hydrated before you dig so you do not compromise your immune system. Don’t dig or hike too hard to avoid injury. Wear gloves and eye protection too. Be very very careful. I personally have dealt with a collecting injury that required going to the hospital and it was no fun. The best advice I can give you is MOVE SLOW!

As COVID-19 continues to spread and the situation gets more intense, it affects our every day lives more and more. Instead of focusing on the privileges we have lost, focus on those we still have. Don’t make fun your priority and go out to rockhound until you’re exhausted. Moderate it and prioritize health. Rest a lot. Take care of your body like you would your best specimens.

Prospecting for Quartz in New York State – Ellenville Quartz Mine and Beyond

Green Quartz Crystal from Ellenville New York

Prospecting for Quartz in New York
By Jeremy Zolan

New York is a state with an abundance of quartz localities. These locations produce crystals of a huge
array of styles from many diverse geologies. While most famous for beautiful Herkimer diamonds from
the Mohawk river valley, there are many other kinds of deposits found within the woods of New York.
This brief guide will highlight some things to look for when out in the field and what tools may be
useful. There is a lot in NY state that may be overlooked!

Two beautiful smoky quartz crystals the author found in the Hudson Valley. The author used the techniques and tools in this article to find and collect these beautiful quartzes

Two beautiful smoky quartz crystals the author found in the Hudson Valley. The author used
the techniques and tools in this article to find and collect these beautiful quartzes

Most of the quartz deposits in NY differ considerably from the deposits in the Herkimer area, which are
the most well known. While the Herkimer “Diamond” deposits focus on a sea of isolated pockets that occupy layers in the host dolostone,
most of the other localities in New York work vein deposits. These veins often appear as white quartz
that shoots through the rock, twisting and turning in various lengths, rather different than the deposits the Herkimer Quartz is found.
Often there is a higher probability of finding crystals where you see these
veins intersecting because more space is available for growth at the meeting point. It is important to
take note of the geology in the area where you are to search. Often if you see faulting or contacting,
there can be movement of fluid that can produce crystals. As for contacting, notice that the richest
quartz deposits often form where two different rock types touch, for example sedimentary and igneous
or sedimentary and metamorphic. There is chemical exchange between the rocks which promotes
crystal growth. Getting familiar with some basic geology really does help. Here is a photo below of a
textbook example of a contact in NY of sedimetary rock with the metamorphic basement. If you see
veins originating at this junction of rock, there is a higher chance they will have interesting minerals or
nice pockets.

A contact between sedimentary and metamorphic rock in New York

A contact between sedimentary and metamorphic rock in New York


Original Image Source: By Michael C. Rygel – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29021804

Lets say you have found an interesting vein and are looking to assess it and its potential for specimens.
If you see a hole in the rock, it is in your best interest just to take a look.
It is important to look for pockets containing crystals, or loose material that may have fallen out of a pocket into the talus below.
If you see any mud coming from the veins, especially if it is a reddish or orange color, check it out it as that may
contain crystals! Sometimes pockets can be just filled with dirt or totally clean too.

There is a bit of a list of what tools you will need to prospect and dig quartz in NY. Preparation is
critical. Keep in mind that you will often be looking in rural areas where there will be little or no
service, and having a GPS is often essential. I personally use a Garmin GPSMap 64st which is great,
but if you wish to have birdseye satellite imagery available to you, the Garmin GPSMap 66 series will
make all your wildest GPS dreams come true.
As for the tools you need, I notice that I pack very differently when I am going to prospect versus when
I am going to dig somewhere I already know about. Talking to my good NY prospector friend Dustin
Bartlett (@themodernnaturalist on instagram) we have made some lists of supplies you can buy easily
to get started.
Prospecting Pack:
The goal of the prospecting pack is mobility and sample collection. Use a small backpack you don't
mind getting dirty for this. Remember to pack ample water and supplies as you may be in the woods for
hours looking. The focus of your tooling should be light and versatile. Choose tools that are good for a
variety of environments. Here are the tools I would choose for this-

Available on Amazon:
Estwing B3-3LB Crack Hammer 3-Pound

Stanley 16-332 FatMax Cold Chisel with Bi-Material Hand Guard

Stanley FMHT16556 FATMAX Flat Utility Chisel, 1-1/4"

Estwing Gad Pry Bar – 18" Forged Geological Tool with Pointed Tip & Chisel End – GP-18

Estwing Handy Bar Nail Puller – 15" Pry Bar with Wide, Thin Blade & Forged Steel Construction – HB-15

Sahara Sailor Survival Shovel, Unbreakable Tactical Shovel-180 Degree Folding Shovel (or similar)

Also:
A chopstick for removing crystals from pockets undamaged
Wrapping Material
Water and Food
Notebook and Camera

I really think these lists should give you what you need to prospect and mine nearly any kind of quartz
deposit in NY other than the Herkimer deposits. You'll find that there will be cases where you might
have to use other tools and leave some of these home. Be creative! You will have to be adaptable and
try different things for different locations. Go out there, get dirty, and hit pockets!

Chlorate included Quartz from Ellenville New York

Green Quartz Crystal from Ellenville New York

Gorgeous chlorite included quartz Dustin Bartlett (@themodernnaturalist on insta) dug from
his Lil' Give prospect on the Mass/NY line. Dustin discovered this brand new prospect and mined it
using the techniques and tools discussed above.


Locality:
Ellenville Quartz Mine, Ellenville, Ulster County, NY


To showcase one of New Yorks’ MANY quartz locations, we are showing you the Ellenville Quartz deposits. Once mined for iron and copper ore, this location has produced tons and tons of fine quartz crystals that form in quartz fissures.
This old mine has produced many specimens of quartz and pyrite over the years and there is still great
material there to be found. I recommend you park at Berme Road Park and walk to the mine, where the
red pin is. On the back wall you'll find pyrite and quartz crystals. Sometimes you can also find other
minerals like galena and sphalerite.

Limited Edition “Miner Threat” Shirt – Out of Step!

Minor Threat Parody - Miner Threat Out of Step T Shirt, Crystals

Every year when the Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows start and last for over 3 weeks in Tucson, people make their way to the laundromat, or friend’s house, at least once or twice. Buying a fun new mineral themed shirt is always a popular option to reduce amount of washing needed during the show.

This shirt is a limited edition made exclusively for the Tucson Gem Show 2020 –
A Tribute to the LEGENDARY Punk Rock album “Out of Step” by Minor Threat – a tribute to not following the herd, to doing your own thing. Instead of a herd of sheep and one crayon drawn black sheep, we have a herd of clear quartz and the one smoky quartz making its own way – Out of Step!
Miner Threat Crystal T-Shirt
We have a small amount of these shirts available – 18.99 plus 1.50 for shipping in the USA –
Canadian orders, contact us at FortySevenPress@gmail.com before 2/12/2020 and we can get it to Canada for shipping.









Miner Threat TShirt Size












Minor Threat Parody - Miner Threat Out of Step T Shirt, Crystals

Pecos Valley Diamonds: the Desert is Paved with Diamonds

Pecos Valley Diamond in situ

Pecos Valley Diamonds, also called Pecos Diamonds, have been collected by New Mexico rockhounds and mineral collectors for well over one hundred years.

Like many other colloquial mineral monikers (another well-known example is “Herkimer diamonds”), these “diamonds” are not diamonds at all, but quartz crystals. The glint of reflected sunlight off the faces of these quartz crystals can give the barren desert the appearance of being “paved with diamonds” (Albright and Bauer 1955).

 

Article and Photos by Phil Simmons and Erin Delventhal at Enchanted Minerals LLC – enchantedmineralsLLC@gmail.com

Outcrops of Pecos Valley Diamonds are often densely concentrated. Each "pebble" in this image is a quartz crystal, most measuring ~1-2cm. Many crystals are broken. Field of view is approximately 1 meter.

Outcrops of Pecos Valley Diamonds are often densely concentrated. Each “pebble” in this image is a quartz crystal, most measuring ~1-2cm. Many crystals are broken. Field of view is approximately 1 meter.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

Pecos Valley Diamonds are found in the southeastern region of New Mexico, exposed in dispersed outcrops that span 100 miles long by as much as 25 miles wide. Though the area where outcrops are found is expansive, Pecos Valley Diamonds are limited to a very specific geologic unit: the Seven Rivers Formation, a back-reef segment of the Guadalupe reef sequence. The crystals are authigenic, meaning they have formed in place with no transportation via water or wind, though they often have weathered out of the much softer massive gypsum host rock. Though authigenic quartz crystals are known in ancient shallow marine carbonate and evaporite series across the world, Pecos Valley Diamonds are of note for their variety of colors and forms and for their impressive size (up to ~12cm, though more often ~2-3cm) for this type of deposit.

 

Surface outcrops of the Seven Rivers Formation (highlighted in yellow) in Southeastern New Mexico. Modified from Albright and Lueth 2003.

Surface outcrops of the Seven Rivers Formation (highlighted in yellow) in Southeastern New Mexico. Modified from Albright and Lueth 2003.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

 

Habits and Variations of Crystals

One of the most appealing aspects of Pecos Valley Diamonds is the immense variety. They occur as doubly terminated crystals (less often in radial groupings) in a multitude of colors ranging from reds, oranges, and yellows, to whites, blacks, browns, and sometimes even hues of purples, pinks, and greens, and a variety of habits including prismatic, quartzoid, pseudocubic, and pseudotrigonal.

Coloration

 

A grouping of Pecos Valley Diamonds showing some of the range of coloration in the quartz crystals. Center crystal is 2.5cm.

A grouping of Pecos Valley Diamonds showing some of the range of coloration in the quartz crystals. Center crystal is 2.5cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

The wide variety of colors in Pecos Valley Diamonds has not yet been fully explored. Observational evidence indicates the coloration is largely due to inclusions: Pecos Valley Diamonds found still embedded in the host rock take on the color of the gypsum, even to the point of preserving the color banding found along laminations or fracture joints (Tarr and Lonsdale 1929).

 

Crystals displaying color variations within individual crystals. Top crystal is 3.5cm.

Crystals displaying color variations within individual crystals. Top crystal is 3.5cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

The geological setting (see Geology below) of these crystals allows for the transition between gypsum and anhydrite, and zonal inclusions of anhydrite rather than gypsum have been reported (Nissenbaum 1967). However, the exact nature of those inclusions is still somewhat enigmatic: early reports refer to “ferruginous” (iron-rich) quartz or hematite inclusions in quartz, but analysis of similar quartz crystals from Spain indicate the red coloration is due to clay inclusions rather than hematite (Gil Marco 2013). Nearby occurrences of aragonite crystals also show coloration determined by inclusions of clay. Additionally, some coloration is suspected to be related to hydrocarbon inclusions (Albright and Lueth 2003). Of further interest, many of the quartz crystals are fluorescent, though the source of that phenomenon has not been explored.

 

A Pecos Valley Diamond embedded in the host rock of massive gypsum. These crystals appear to take the color of the surrounding gypsum, though the crystals tend to universally be darker. Specimen is 15.2cm across; crystal length is 3.4cm.

A Pecos Valley Diamond embedded in the host rock of massive gypsum. These crystals appear to take the color of the surrounding gypsum, though the crystals tend to universally be darker. Specimen is 15.2cm across; crystal length is 3.4cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

 

Prismatic Habits

An example of a fairly "typical" Pecos Valley Diamond - a doubly terminated prismatic crystal. The red coloration is also fairly common. Crystal is 5.9cm.

An example of a fairly “typical” Pecos Valley Diamond – a doubly terminated prismatic crystal. The red coloration is also fairly common. Crystal is 5.9cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

The predominant habit found is single doubly terminated prismatic crystals with the regular m prism topped by hexagonal pyramids of equal or near equal r and z rhombs. This habit of quartz is common all over the world, although the majority of crystals worldwide are not doubly terminated. This habit tends to have the most color variations of Pecos Valley Diamonds. Elongated crystals are more rare than short, stubby crystals, though they can be found in several known locations.

 

Elongated prismatic crystals are unusual in Pecos Valley Diamonds. Longest crystal is 5.5cm.

Elongated prismatic crystals are unusual in Pecos Valley Diamonds. Longest crystal is 5.5cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

Equant Habits

Though Pecos Valley Diamonds are most often found as prismatic crystals, the variety of equant (length, width, and depth are roughly equal) habits of quartz are of particular note.

 

Crystal diagrams of equant forms found in Pecos Diamonds. Modified from Albright and Lueth 2003.

Crystal diagrams of equant forms found in Pecos Diamonds. Modified from Albright and Lueth 2003.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

Crystals that display equal or near equal r and z rhombs, but significantly lacking m faces display a quartzoid, or Cumberland, habit. This habit is often erroneously referred to as beta-quartz, which is a high-temperature polymorph of SiO2 that is unstable at room temperatures. The presence of this habit in the low-temperature environments of Pecos Valley Diamonds indicates that the quartzoid habit is not tied exclusively to high temperature deposition.

Two unusual equant habits in worldwide deposits are relatively common in Pecos Valley Diamonds: the pseudocubic habit and the trigonal habit. Both are described by dominant development of r-faces with minimal z-faces and next to no presence of mfaces, though the latter two forms are never completely absent. The pseudocube and the trigon can be differentiated crystallographically by the orientation of z-faces: the pseudocube features alternating r– and z– faces across the a-axis, while the trigonal form shows r– and z– faces mirrored across the a-axis (see crystal diagrams above).

 

Comparison of equant forms with the left-hand side viewing the crystals down the c-axis and the right-hand side viewing roughly perpendicular to the c-axis. Top: quartzoid (Cumberland) habit; Middle: pseudocubic habit; Bottom: trigonal habit. Largest crystal is 2.1cm.

Comparison of equant forms with the left-hand side viewing the crystals down the c-axis and the right-hand side viewing roughly perpendicular to the c-axis. Top: quartzoid (Cumberland) habit; Middle: pseudocubic habit; Bottom: trigonal habit. Largest crystal is 2.1cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

Pecos Valley Diamond pseudocubic crystals are of particular note: while the pseudocubic habit is very unusual worldwide, Pecos Valley Diamonds boast an unusually high percentage of crystals in this habit and crystals can reach sizes in excess of 5cm. Given the tendency for crystals to be fully formed and doubly terminated, coupled with availability, it can be argued that Pecos Valley Diamonds are the world’s best source for pseudocubic quartz.

 

Various orientations of the pseudocubic form in Pecos Valley Diamonds. Left-hand crystal is 2.5cm; largest crystal in center grouping is 2.7cm; right-hand crystal is 1.5cm.

Various orientations of the pseudocubic form in Pecos Valley Diamonds. Left-hand crystal is 2.5cm; largest crystal in center grouping is 2.7cm; right-hand crystal is 1.5cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

Other Features

Pecos Diamonds often display different lusters on different quartz faces. This is typically found in lustrous terminations (r– and z– faces) and dulled, or pitted, m-faces. Luster can also vary between r– and z– faces, creating alternating finishes on terminations.

 

Two prismatic crystals displaying lustrous terminations (r- and z-faces) and dulled, or pitted, m-faces. Left-hand crystal is 3.0cm.

Two prismatic crystals displaying lustrous terminations (r- and z-faces) and dulled, or pitted, m-faces. Left-hand crystal is 3.0cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

Somewhat similarly, some Pecos Valley Diamonds are found with differing degrees of quality of quartz within the same specimen: very crudely crystalline “knobs” give way to well-formed and lustrous crystals. These are currently poorly understood and more research into the relationship between the crude crystals and their well-formed counterparts is needed.

 

Examples of Pecos Valley Diamonds displaying both crudely crystalline "knobs" and well-formed, lustrous crystals. Clockwise from top left: crystal is 5.1cm; terminated crystal is 4.6 tall; crude crystal is 7.2cm across; crude crystal is 7.6cm across; right-hand crystal is 4.7cm.

Examples of Pecos Valley Diamonds displaying both crudely crystalline “knobs” and well-formed, lustrous crystals. Clockwise from top left: crystal is 5.1cm; terminated crystal is 4.6 tall; crude crystal is 7.2cm across; crude crystal is 7.6cm across; right-hand crystal is 4.7cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

 

Groupings

Though Pecos Valley Diamonds are predominantly found as single crystals, crystal groupings can also be found. The dominant arrangement of multiple crystals is in a radial orientation, often with one central crystal oriented perpendicular to the rest.

 

Radially oriented grouping of crystals; specimen shown front and back. Crystal is 3.8cm across.

Radially oriented grouping of crystals; specimen shown front and back. Crystal is 3.8cm across.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

Previous reports (Albright and Lueth 2003) have indicated the presence of Japan law twinned Pecos Valley Diamonds, though it is the opinion of the authors that further examination is needed to determine whether these geometries are truly Japan Law twins. There are a number of other unusual relationships between multiple crystals that are also worth further investigation, including crystal pairs that show indications of potential relationships along the c-axis.

 

Unusual geometries in groupings of multiple crystals. Top left crystal is 3.1cm; top right crystal is 2.6; bottom right crystal is 3.1cm.

Unusual geometries in groupings of multiple crystals. Top left crystal is 3.1cm; top right crystal is 2.6; bottom right crystal is 3.1cm.  ©Enchanted Minerals LLC

 

For more information on the History and Geology of Pecos Valley Diamonds, see the full-length article from Enchanted Minerals LLC: Pecos Valley Diamonds: the Desert is Paved with Diamonds.

 

Where to Go!

As mentioned earlier, outcrops of Pecos Valley Diamonds are prevalent throughout the Seven Rivers Formation – this means that anywhere in the yellow area below is prime territory to find them.

 

Surface outcrops of the Seven Rivers Formation (highlighted in yellow) in Southeastern New Mexico. Modified from Albright and Lueth 2003.

Surface outcrops of the Seven Rivers Formation (highlighted in yellow) in Southeastern New Mexico. Modified from Albright and Lueth 2003.

 

We’ll give you directions to a few  of our favorite spots, but we encourage you to take some time to explore on your own!  You never know what you might find – though please  be sure to check land status of where you’re at and obtain proper permissions.

BLM land is fair game for surface collecting, but private land is not.  Many cattle ranches operate in this part of New Mexico – many times you can simply ask permission and you’ll be good to go.  Many oil and gas operations are also active in this area – surface collecting is legal around these operations, but be respectful of equipment (re: do not touch it), and also be very aware of any signs or warnings posted indicating the presence of H2S gas – it can and WILL kill you.  In short: be smart and be safe while you’re out!

 

Location 1: East of Artesia (click for map)

Location 1 features small to medium dark red crystals – mainly equant crystals, sometimes pseudocubic!

Location 2: East of Roswell (click for map)

Location 2 features druzy crystals ranging from light to dark red.

Location 3: Acme – northwest of Roswell (click for map)

Location 3 is the site of the first professional paper published on Pecos Valley Diamonds (Tarr, 1929) – crystals are white to pink and usually do not exceed more than 2 cm in length, but this is a fun spot for the history!

 

Other things you need to know:

The southern region of New Mexico is barren desert.  There’s usually not a tree, and if there is, it’s probably a short and stubby one.  If you are going to this area during the summer, be sure to be prepared for the heat: pack lots of water, bring sunscreen, etc.  Surface collecting without shade in July can be pretty miserable even with all these preparations, so we  recommend that you take this trip in the spring or fall.  Winter is also an option, but just as the desert is prone to extreme heat in the summer, it has a tendency to be bitterly cold in the winter.  New Mexico in the spring time is also known for wind – this is an unpleasant thing when your face is inches from the ground and you can’t see anything except the sand grains in your eyes.  There’s not much to be done about the wind, but be aware that it is a possibility.

 

Other things to do in the area:

If you’re making this trip, there are some other really fantastic things in the area worth checking out.  Schedule some of these into your trip, or keep these as a backup option if the weather is poor for collecting.

Number 1 for us on this list is Carlsbad Caverns National Park – this is arguably New Mexico’s pride and joy, and is around 2 hours from Roswell, New Mexico.  This National Park protects hundreds of miles of natural cavern systems, including it’s namesake Carlsbad Cavern.   There are many things to do while in this park: walking trails, cave tours, historical stops, etc., but we absolutely recommend that you try to make it for one of the Bat Flight Programs that are held from late May through October – this experience is absolutely magical.

Rock of Ages in the Big Room, c. 1941; photo by Ansel Adams

Rock of Ages in the Big Room, c. 1941; photo by Ansel Adams

Number 2: you’re near Roswell, New Mexico.  You know what that means.  Make a stop at the International UFO Museum and Research Center to explore your alien curiosity or grab some great knickknacks featuring little green men.

There are some other museums and parks in the Roswell area worth considering, including art museums, an aviation museum, and a number of wildlife refuges and bird sanctuaries.  Check out some of the options here: Roswell Area Attractions.  If you’re up for going out a little further, also consider: Carlsbad Area Attractions, and if you’re up for a real jaunt, consider White Sands National Monument and the White Sands Missile Range Museum.

 

GemShades Collection Debut at The Crystalarium – The Ocular Artistry of Naomi Hinds

Business Cards fo the Wire Wrap Artist Naomi Hinds

November 16th, 2019 The Crystalarium, a Los Angeles Institution in Fine Minerals, served as a fitting host to a viewing of the unique GemShades, custom woven wire frames incorporating fine gem slices of Tourmaline, Aquamarine and Amber.

View of two sunglasses made with gem tourmaline slice lens and a custom wire base for a green tourmaline crystal

These fine custom sunglasses were a centerpiece of the showcase, featuring bold red tourmaline slices and accessory crystals in the arms.

Fine Jewelry artist Naomi Hinds assembled a dozen unique wire framed gemstone glasses for the showing. Naomi was on hand, along with the fun loving staff of the Crystalarium, to show off these pieces of functional, wearable, art.

Wire Artist Naomi Hinds with amber lens sunglasses with custom woven wire frames

Wire Artist Naomi Hinds was on hand to show a close up view of her functional artwork.

Crystalarium, located on beautiful La Cienga Blvd, in West Hollywood, was truly a perfect setting for this exhibit. The staff certainly coordinated a fine affair, with a live guitarist, fruits and cookies, wine and hors d’oeuvres served through the night, while visitors were able to visit with the artist and get the chance to try on selected pieces.

Advertisement featuring the information for the limited weekend event to promote the GemShades Sunglass Collection

Hosted by the Crystalarium, located on La Cienega, in West Hollywod, the GemShades Collection Debut took place on Saturday, November 16th, 2019.

Follow CrystalariumLA on Instagram to find out about upcoming events and general crystal shenangans going on in West Hollywood!

Two pair of GemShade Custom Gemstone Sunglasses

Two Wire Wrap Frame Sunglasses featuring Red Tourmaline Lenses, Created by Naomi Hinds

These bold Gold and Red Tourmaline Sunglasses were a hit, with visitors flocking to them all night.

Glass replicas of tourmaline slices set into custom wire frames

Wild custom framed glasses featuring a collaboration with the glass artist “DiggerGlass”

Blue Tourmaline Sunglasses

These would certainly set any room ablaze. Gem blue tourmaline slices set into a custom frame created by wire artist Naomi Hinds

These Unique Lenses are the gem Aquamarine, the Blue Beryl.

Sunglasses made with Amber Lenses and Wire Wrap Arms

Polished Lenses of Amber give a truly unique look on life!

In addition to the fine works on display, the artist treated the visitors to some behind the scenes looks into how the frames and other works, are designed and made.

Tourmaline Slices in Acrylic Mounts shown

Behind the Scenes of How it is Made – Naomi first matches the slices up and plans on HOW to give life to these unique products of mother nature.

Wire Wrap Arms for Sunglasses in Unfinished State

Hours of delicate work are required for each piece, these showcased the left arm in unfinished process, showing a glimpse of how the artist works.

Tourmaline Slice with Wire Wrapping in Progress

Behind the Scenes look at How it is Made – The Artist showcases a work in progress as this tourmaline slice is custom fit into precious wire.

One case full of stunners included two custom accessory arm features and a fantastic custom woven metal base for a bold green tourmaline, making it look like it was ready to blast into space!

View of two sunglasses made with gem tourmaline slice lens and a custom wire base for a green tourmaline crystal

These fine custom sunglasses were a centerpiece of the showcase, featuring bold red tourmaline slices and accessory crystals in the arms.

Tourmaline Scepter in Green and Pink in the side of a wire wrapped sunglass arm

This bold tourmaline scepter accessory crystal is a bold addition to the arms of these GemShades

Custom Wire Sculpted Base for this Bold Green Tourmaline.

This Crystal looks ready for takeoff!

View of the Side Arms of a pair of custom wire wrapped sunglasses with red tourmaline lenses

View of the Side Arm to this breathtaking gold wire and tourmaline eyeglasses

Examples of Wire Artwork of Naomi Hinds

Examples of the artistry of Naomi Hinds, creator of GemShades.

About the Artist - Naomi Hinds - Sign

If you would like to contact the artist for information on these or other works, you can find Naomi via this business card, and view her works on instagram @NaomiHindsDesigns

Business Card of Naomi Hinds Designs

Business Card for Naomi Hinds Designs – contact her for inquires.

I was all too happy to run into Barbie Petrosky, the_miniralogist – creator of HIGH quality mineral memes on Instagram. Be still, my heart!

Barbie Figure with Wire Wrap Eye Glasses Made by Naomi Hinds

Barbie Petrosky, known as ig: the_miniralogist, was looking fly with these custom made tourmaline glasses and accented side armature, made by the artist Naomi Hinds.

Justin Zzyzx looking at Barbie Petrosky, the_miniralogist on IG

One of Barbie’s MANY admirers!

Collecting Tourmaline at the Himalaya Mine, California

Tourmaline - 5.7cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

The Himalaya Mine is a location that rock and mineral collectors dream of: rich mineralization featuring gem minerals in stunning color!  The extraordinary minerals that come from this mine have made it world famous – lucky for you, the mine offers a pay dig site where you can keep all you find!

Before we get to the pictures of pretty minerals, let’s talk a little about the history of the Himalaya Mine!  (If you really can’t handle this part, you could scroll past, but you’d be missing out on some cool stuff!)  The Himalaya Mine was officially located in 1898, though early reports indicate that local Indigenous Peoples knew of the gem crystals.  Legend has it that white settlers located the mine after noticing Indigenous children playing with tourmaline crystals!

Gail Lewis was the original claim holder on the mine, though only held the property for four years.  In 1902, J.L. Tannenbaum, an employee of Tiffany & Company and a very controversial man, acquired the property through claim jumping.  Keep in mind, this is the original usage of the term “claim jumping,” meaning Tannenbaum filed another claim over the top of Lewis’ existing claim.  Much legal to-do ensued over this, but Tannenbaum retained the property.  The mine was then operated by Tannenbaum with J. Goodman Braye as mine superintendent.  Braye is a very interesting figure in mining history, as his position as superintendent was one of significant power and respect and he also happened to be an African American in the early 1900s.

First workings on the Himalaya Mine

Original caption: “First workings on the Himalaya mine at Mesa Grande, which was later to become one of the greatest tourmaline producers in the world. Left to right: Heighway, who filed on the Himalaya for Tannenbaum of New York; Vance Angel (center above) who was foreman 1900 – 1912; J. Goodman Bray, Jr., colored protege of Tannenbaum who was in charge of the Himalaya; Lohrer, first foreman of the mine; La Chapa, Indian worker. Photo courtesy Vance Angel, Mesa Grande.”  Reprinted from the bimonthly magazine Calico Print, Vol. IX, No. 4, July 1953, 40pp. The Calico Press, Twentynine Palms, California.

In the following ten years, reports indicate that 6 tons of tourmaline were shipped for use as lapidary material out of an estimated production of 110 tons produced by the Himalaya Mine and neighboring mines.  This would equal value at the time of more than $750,000!  By 1904, the surface workings were mined out and work had moved underground.

One of the principal demands for tourmaline was overseas in the Chinese market, where pink and red gemstones were highly prized by the Dowager Empress.  This drove a highly speculative market until the overthrow of the Chinese aristocracy in 1911.  The downfall of the Chinese aristocracy caused the tourmaline market to crash and ended the early production period at the Himalaya Mine.

Pink Tourmaline snuff bottles – 19th century – Qing Dynasty – photograph from Christie’s Auction House.

Sporadic small scale mining operations continued between 1913 and the early 1950s.  In 1957, Ralph Potter began another attempt at systematic mining at the Himalaya, including rehabilitating several older underground workings and driving several new tunnels.  Potter operated the mine for several years, but a collapse of the main tunnel in the winter of 1968-1969 ended underground mining.

In 1977, Bill Larson of Pala Properties International leased the property, later purchasing it in 1988.  This period saw extensive tunneling and underground expansion, and produced a relatively consistent stream of minerals in comparison to earlier projects.

The Himalaya Mine is now operated by High Desert Gems & Minerals, who also facilitate the pay dig site.

Over its life, the Himalaya Mine has produced an estimated 250 thousand pounds of tourmaline and mineral specimens.  In its most active 15 years, it produced more tourmaline than any other tourmaline mine in the world, including 5.5 tons in 1904 alone (the most tourmaline ever produced in a year).

For more on the history of the Himalaya Mine, see:

Fisher, J., Foord, E. E. and Bricker, G. A. (1999), The geology, mineralogy, and history of the Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California. California Geology 52(1): 3-18.

Jacobson, Mark Ivan (September 2010): Lippman Tannenbaum: President of the Himalaya Mining Co. and a Difficult Person, Mineral News, Vol. 26, No. 9.

Jacobson, Mark Ivan (January 2017): The Early History of the Himalaya Pegmatite Mine – San Diego County, California, Mineral News, Vol. 33, No. 1.


So, what you really want to know: what can you find?!

Tourmaline – Elbaite:

Tourmaline, Lepidolite, and Quartz - 14 cm across - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Tourmaline, Lepidolite, and Quartz – 14 cm across – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

The Himalaya Mine’s most notable mineral is tourmaline, a complex hexagonal boron-aluminum-silicate mineral group.  Most tourmaline from the Himalaya Mine is the species elbaite.  The tourmalines can range in color from black to vivid pink to apple green, and some crystals even feature multiple colors!  Blue tourmaline is also present, but is rarely found.

Approximately 5% of tourmaline from the Himalaya Mine are gemmy, meaning they have the high translucency that allows them to be faceted into glassy gem stones.

Elbaite - a gemmy crystal showing greens and pinks - 3.9cm tall - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Elbaite – a gemmy crystal showing greens and pinks – 3.9cm tall – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Lepidolite:

Lepidolite on Hambergite - 4.5cm tall - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Lepidolite on Hambergite – 4.5cm tall – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Lepidolite is a series of the mica group minerals.  Lepidolite is rich in lithium, though the pink to red color of lepidolite is usually attributed to manganese content.  Because lepidolite is a mica group mineral, it is often very flaky, but some material can be used in lapidary work.


Quartz:

Quartz on Microcline - 7.8cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Quartz on Microcline – 7.8cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Since the Himalaya Mine is a pegmatite mine, quartz is common throughout the deposit.  It can occur as clear “rock crystal” quartz, milky quartz, and even smoky quartz.  Some top specimens feature tourmaline or other minerals attached to quartz in beautiful ‘combination’ specimens.

Elbaite on Quartz - 6.0 cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Elbaite on Quartz – 6.0 cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Microcline:

Microcline (Carlsbad twin) - 6.0 cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Microcline (Carlsbad twin) – 6.0 cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Like quartz, feldspar is an integral part of the mineralogy of the Himalaya Mine.  The most common feldspar species found is microcline.  Microcline from the Himalaya Mine is often beige to colorless, and can featured etched surfaces as well as crystallographic twinning.  Microcline is rarely gemmy from anywhere in the world, and this is also true at the Himalaya: it will likely appear as blocky opaque white-ish crystals.

Etched Microcline (twinned) with Albite and Lepidolite - 10.1 cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Etched Microcline (twinned) with Albite and Lepidolite – 10.1 cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Albite – variety Cleavelandite:

Albite on Orthoclase with Tourmaline – 8.6cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Albite is another of the feldspar species present at the Himalaya Mine.  It often occurs as the variety Cleavelandite, which occurs as thin, platy crystals.  Cleavelandite at the Himalaya Mine often occurs in beautiful rosettes of colorless to very faint blue, and can often be somewhat translucent.

Albite on Microcline with Quartz and Lepidolite - 25.0 cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Albite on Microcline with Quartz and Lepidolite – 25.0 cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Fluorapatite:

Apatite - 2.3cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Apatite – 2.3cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Fluorapatite from the Himalaya Mine is a uncommon, but is worth looking for!  Colors range from colorless to blue to intense pink.  Fluorapatite from the Himalaya Mine is light sensitive, so be prepared for colorless crystals on the surface and be sure to protect any colored crystals you happen to find.

Apatite on Quartz - 4.1cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Apatite on Quartz – 4.1cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Beryl, topaz:

Beryl (etched) - 2.9cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Beryl (etched) – 2.9cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

While beryl and topaz do occur at the Himalaya Mine, they are exceedingly rare.  Keep an eye out for oddities though – you could get lucky!  Beryl can occur as etched “floater” crystals, though fully formed crystals have also been found.  Beryl colors at the Himalaya include goshenite (colorless), morganite (pink), and aquamarine (blue).  Topaz is so rare at the Himalaya that we couldn’t even find a photo to share with you!  Both beryl and topaz will likely look much like quartz, though there are physical qualities to help distinguish them – be sure to make use of the staff at the mine to help answer questions you have about your finds!

Beryl (morganite) - 11.7 cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky

Beryl (morganite) – 11.7 cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Hambergite:

Hambergite - 4.4cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Hambergite – 4.4cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Hambergite is another relatively rare pegmatite mineral that often occurs with beryl.  Well-formed crystals of hambergite are hard to come by from anywhere in the world, but they can be found at the Himalaya Mine.  They occur as creamy white crystals, but can also range from an orange-ish tint to a salmon orange-pink.  They are sometimes opaque and sometimes gemmy, sometimes etched and sometimes sharp.  Again, if you have questions about what you are finding, ask the staff – they’ve seen a lot of this material and have a lot of knowledge to share!

Hambergite – 2.9cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Stilbite:

Stilbite-Ca - 5.5cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Stilbite-Ca – 5.5cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Stilbite occurs at the Himalaya Mine as white to cream colored crystals often found in “wheat sheaf” shaped sprays of crystals.  Stilbite is technically a super group of zeolite  (framework alumosilicate) mineral species, but that chemistry makes it even more interesting at this locality!  Stilbite rarely makes stand-alone specimens at the Himalaya (though that’s still possible!) – but look for it in combination with other minerals!

Stilbite on Tourmaline - 2.8 cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Stilbite on Tourmaline – 2.8 cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.


Stibiotantalite, Columbite-(Mn), and other “ugly” minerals:

Stibiotantalite (zoned) - 1.8cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Stibiotantalite (zoned) – 1.8cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

For those of you who also love the “ugly” minerals of the world, keep an eye out for some of other pegmatite rarities: stibiotantalite and columbite-(Mn)!  These minerals will occur as black to root beer brown colored crystals, usually with a somewhat flattened shape.  Some stibiotantalites even exhibit a beautiful color zoning!  These minerals, though lacking the vivid colors of some of your other possible finds, have a fascinating chemistry (they include rare elements like tantalum and niobium!) and are fairly rare in worldwide deposits – don’t throw them away!

Stibiotantalite on Tourmaline - 6.0 cm - photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com

Stibiotantalite on Tourmaline – 6.0 cm – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

There are a few other minerals we haven’t mentioned (mostly because they’re super rare or uninteresting or both), but you can see a complete list and more photos on mindat.org here: Himalaya Mine, Gem Hill, Mesa Grande Mining District, San Diego County, California, USA.


Dig info:

Himalaya Mine Finds! - photograph from Himalaya Tourmaline Mine

Himalaya Mine Finds! – photograph from Himalaya Tourmaline Mine.

So now that you’re ready to pack the car and go, here’s the rest of the important information you need to know!

The Himalaya Mine dig site is open year round on Thursdays through Sundays from 10am to 3pm (Monday digs can be arranged by reservation only).  The mine is located near Santa Ysabel, California and is open to the public.  Visitors can dig and screen through ore from the mine in search of pink, green, and black tourmaline, quartz, garnet, lepidolite, cleavelandite, and more!

Screening for Gems - photograph from Himalaya Tourmaline Mine

Screening for Gems – photograph from Himalaya Tourmaline Mine.

The cost for adults is $75/day, 13-15 years old is half price ($37.50/day), children 12 years and under are free with a paying adult, and additional children are $20/day.  Senior and active military discounts, rain discounts, and group rates are available.

Be prepared to go digging: it’s going to be dirty and weather is going to happen.  Be sure to bring appropriate gear (sunscreen, raincoats, shoes that can get muddy, etc.) as well as food and water.  Sorting through material can be made easier with toothbrushes and rubber gloves.  Don’t forget baggies/buckets and wrapping material for your finds!

How to Get There:

LISTEN UP, FOLKS!  Do NOT use Google Maps or Map Quest to take you to the “Himalaya Mine” – this will NOT take you to the right location and you will end up LOST!

Instead, use the address Lake Henshaw 26439 Hwy 76, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070 to take you to Lake Henshaw Resort.  You will need to go into the store (across from the lake and in the same building as the restaurant), ask for the mine dig, and the cashier will give you a code and further directions.

Make use of the MAP provided by High Desert Gems & Minerals by clicking here.

Be sure to check out High Desert Gems & Minerals’ website for any further information on the dig: Himalaya Tourmaline Mine Dig.

Himalaya Mine Tourmaline - photograph from the Himalaya Tourmaline Mine

Himalaya Mine Tourmaline – photograph from the Himalaya Tourmaline Mine.

 

Trona Gem-o-Rama CANCELED for 2019 due to Earthquake!

We sure are sad to report, the ultimate desert collecting experience is canceled for this year! The annual Trona “Gem-O-Rama”, which features three themed field trips where thousands of people collect beautiful crystals, all due to the hard work of the members of the Trona Gem Club and Searles Lake Mineral Company.

Due to the massive earthquakes of the Summer of 2019 that were located right next to the town of Trona, the gem show and field trips for 2019 have been CANCELED.

That’s right, there is no show, there are no field trips.

Take a look at the annual flier put out by the club.http://www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/GEM-O-RAMA.htm

Back in 2008 there was a tipped over truck for the Blow Hole Dig.
Take a look at the video from back then –

If you can imagine, Pink Halite will be in SLIGHTLY shorter supply this year. Maybe it will be possible for some dealers to take this chance to blowout what they have unwillingly stockpiled from the past couple years.

There will be 50x less posts of people trying to sell 50 pound clusters of funky Hanksite, destined to turn crusty and poison all your plants in your front yard.

Saw these funky display stands while looking for Halite photos.

They put Granola, Coffee grounds and Ramen Noodles in these display stands!
What do you think of that?

Halite on Ramen Noodle Stand

Pink Halite from Trona on a display stand made of Ramen Noodles.

Halite on Coffee Display Stand

Pink Halite from Trona California on a display stand made from Resin and Cafe Bustelo Coffee Grounds.

Halite on Display Stand with Granola Included

Pink Halite Salt Crystals from Trona California on a display stand made from Resin and Granola

We would like to thank everyone involved with the Trona Show and hope for its return in 2020!

The Top 11 Toxic Minerals – Lies the Internet Told You

Chalcanthite

Clickbait-style lists have long circulated throughout the internet regarding the dangerous effects of a variety of mineral species – unfortunately these lists are often riddled with inaccuracies.  We’re here to clear up some of that misinformation. Our primary list here will be minerals that are reported to be toxic because they contain toxic elements, but there will be some special mentions of other types of toxic risks at the end!

Disclaimer: our goal here is clear up some rampant fear-mongering, but any substance in significant doses or in specific situations can be very dangerous – even water can be deadly if consumed in significant quantities, and it will definitely kill you if you try to breathe too much of it!  As a general rule, don’t eat your mineral specimens, don’t grind them into powders and snort them, don’t cook them and inhale their vapors, and please don’t look for any other ways to put them into your body.  They just don’t belong there.  Keep minerals out of reach of pets and children.  And wash your hands – it’s just good hygiene anyway.

 

11. Fluorite

Fluorite from Rogerley Mine, Frosterley, Weardale, North Pennines, County Durham, England, UK

Fluorite from Rogerley Mine, Frosterley, Weardale, North Pennines, County Durham, England, UK – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Fluorite (CaF2) is a mineral that is listed as being dangerous because it contains the element fluorine, which by itself can be some nasty stuff.  However, when fluorine is bonded with calcium, it has entirely different properties than fluorine by itself.

To better understand this, let’s take a little detour and talk about the mineral halite (NaCl – sodium chloride).  Sodium (Na) is a highly reactive alkali metal that forms flammable hydrogen and caustic sodium hydroxide when it comes into contact with water – in short, it will burn you if it touches moisture on your skin, eyes, etc.  Chlorine is a toxic gas that attacks the respiratory system, eyes, and skin.  However, when deadly sodium bonds with toxic chlorine to form halite, we end up with table salt, a compound that we frequently add to food.

Similarly, fluorite does contain fluorine (which is some nasty stuff) but when fluorine is bonded with calcium, it has entirely different properties and does not inherently carry the risks of elemental fluorine.

 

10. Pyrite

Pyrite from Huaron Mining District, San Jose de Huayllay District, Cerro de Pasco, Daniel Alcides Carrión Province, Pasco Department, Peru – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Pyrite (FeS2) is a relatively common mineral, often colloquially known as Fool’s Gold because of its brassy appearance.  Pyrite is included on lists of toxic minerals because it might contain small amounts of arsenic.

Yes, pyrite can contain some arsenic, but since pyrite is not soluble in water or hydrochloric acid it poses no risks when handled.

An important thing to understand is that for any substance to be harmful, it must have bioavailability.  Bioavailability is a term used to describe the degree and rate at which a substance is absorbed into a living system.  A substance with high bioavailability can be readily absorbed into your body, whereas a substance with low bioavailability cannot be.

With many minerals, bioavailability will depend on the solubility of a mineral.  Most material that has solidified (crystallized) has done so in a way that results in a stable, non-reactive substance.  Minerals that aren’t stable tend to easily break down and often don’t survive very long.  Solubility requires a fluid, and when considering potentially toxic minerals, the two most important fluids to consider are water (perspiration and saliva) and hydrochloric acid (stomach acid).  Minerals that are soluble in water are a possible risk when handling the material, whereas minerals soluble in hydrochloric acid are a possible risk if the material is ingested.

 

9. Galena

Galena

Galena from Elmwood mine, Carthage, Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District, Smith County, Tennessee, USA – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Galena (PbS – lead sulfide) is often listed as a toxic mineral because of its lead content.

However, when lead is chemically bonded with sulfur, we find a highly insoluble compound – lead sulfide is virtually insoluble in water, and only very slightly soluble in hydrochloric acid.

While we’re here, let’s talk a little more about the toxicity of lead.  It’s common knowledge that lead is toxic, but that is a concept that has come from the ban of lead oxide.  Metal lead isn’t banned at all!  There are many nuances to chemistry that we don’t have time to explain in depth in this article, but it is important to realize that an element in itself isn’t toxic – toxicity is complicated and is very specific to what kind of reactions can happen when any element at any given oxidation state interacts with anything else.  One thing is pretty straightforward though: if a stable substance doesn’t dissolve, it has a low chance of being able to react with anything, thus it cannot create any change that might interact with the human body.

 

8. Stibnite

Stibnite

Stibnite from Wuning Mine (Wuling Mine; Qingjiang Mine), Qingjiang, Wuning County, Jiujiang Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Stibnite (Sb2S3 – antimony sulfide) is listed because of its antimony content, but again it is nearly insoluble and poses no risk.

For some technical talk, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) describes chemicals in terms of LD50, which is a number that measures the dose needed to kill 50% of individuals.  This number is measured in the weight of chemical per unit weight of body tissue (usually this is in milligrams per kilogram or mg/kg).

The CDC lists studies of the LD50 of elemental antimony in rats being between 900 and 20,000 mg/kg, which roughly translates to 90 to 2,000 grams (~0.2 to over 4 pounds) of antimony in a 220 pound human (though please note that different animals can have different sensitivities to a substance).  Long story short, it would likely be difficult for a human to ingest that much stibnite to begin with, and, with a very low solubility, it is unlikely it would remain in your system long enough to release enough native antimony to cause any ill effects.

 

7. Hydroxylapatite

Hydroxlapatite

Hydroxylapatite from Sapo mine, Conselheiro Pena, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH) – calcium hydroxide phosphate) is mentioned on lists of toxic minerals because it is the same material as bone and, supposedly, if you ingest it, it will cause blockages by depositing bone in your arteries.

This is just utter hogwash.  Hydroxyapaite, also called hydroxylapatite or apatite-(CaOH), is soluble in hydrochloric acid but will break down into calcium ions and phosphoric acid, both of which exist in your body naturally.  (Fun fact: phosphoric acid is the ingredient in some sodas that give it a tangy taste.)  If you were to ingest large amounts of hydroxyapatite, you may find yourself with a case of kidney stones, but to fear your arteries turning into bone is completely unnecessary.

 

6. Coloradoite

Coloradoite

Coloradoite from Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australia – photography from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Coloradoite (HgTe – mercury telluride) makes the list for containing both mercury and tellurium.

This compound is not soluble in water or hydrochloric acid and poses no risks to handling.  It’s also a particularly rare mineral that you’re not likely to happen across accidentally.

There is another risk we should discuss though – mineral dusts.  When looking at solubility and resulting bioavailability of minerals, the first concern is the introduction of large quantities of the material into the body (i.e. ingesting 4 pounds of stibnite).  However, there is a more innocuous way for minerals to enter your body and that is through your lungs.  Since the lungs do not flush themselves out as regularly as the digestive tract, minerals can be trapped in the body for longer periods of time which gives them more time to dissolve.  Dusts also have more surface area that larger chunks of material, which allows chemical reactions to occur more easily.  These things coupled together mean that material inhaled into the lungs could dissolve over time and cause serious health concerns.  (See more about risks related to inhalation below in our special mentions.)  Do NOT breathe your minerals!

 

5.  Hutchinsonite

Hutchinsonite

Hutchinsonite from Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine; ASARCO Mine), Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad Department, Peru – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Hutchinsonite (TlPbAs5S9 – a lead/thallium-bearing sulfoarsenide) appears on lists for containing both lead and thallium.

Again, hutchinsonite is a mineral with very low bioavailability, since sulfoarsenides and sulfoantimonides are relatively insoluble.

Other thallium minerals with a higher solubility may certainly pose a risk for thallium poisoning (we seriously don’t recommend anyone try this being poisoned by this, it’s pretty awful), but hutchinsonite is not the thallium mineral to be afraid of.

 

4. Cinnabar

Cinnabar

Cinnabar from Wanshan Mine, Wanshan District, Tongren Prefecture, Guizhou Province, China – photograph from Parent Géry.

Cinnabar (HgS – mercury sulfide) is another mineral that is regarded as a toxic mineral because it contains an element regarded to be dangerous by itself – mercury.

However, like galena, the elements in cinnabar are bonded together – inorganic mercury sulfide is virtually insoluble.

Another risk we should discuss is reactions instigated by heat.  Like many minerals, cinnabar can decompose thermally, meaning that if you were to cook it at a sufficiently high heat, it will break down and may release toxic vapors.  Grinding these minerals can also cause similar risks, likely because of local heating caused by friction.  Do not heat your minerals, as heat may cause reactions with dangerous byproducts!  However, this does mean that it is harmful to physically handle a specimen of cinnabar.  Do NOT cook your minerals and absolutely do NOT inhale their vapors!

 

3. Orpiment

Orpiment

Orpiment from El’brusskiy (Elbrusskii) Arsenic mine, Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Northern Caucasus Region, Russia – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Orpiment (As2S3) and its cousin realgar (As4S4) are cited as being even more dangerous than arsenic because of the associated sulfur.

We call hogwash on that because when arsenic is chemically bonded with sulfur, it is far less soluble than native arsenic.

Orpiment is slightly soluble in water (i.e. saliva and perspiration), so it should be handled with care, but it is not necessary to be terrified of this mineral.  Wash your hands after handling it, and consider using gloves to avoid skin contact.

Realgar, on the other hand, is not soluble.  However, with exposure to sunlight, realgar can alter to pararealgar, which forms a dusty coating coating and can be dangerous if inhaled.

 

2. Arsenopyrite

Arsenopyrite

Arsenopyrite from Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Arsenopyrite (FeAsS), like pyrite, receives its terror because of its arsenic content.

This time, there is most certainly arsenic in the chemical composition, but like pyrite, arsenopyrite is not soluble in fluids related to the human body and is not dangerous.

However, we’ve included this higher on the list because here is another factor to be very cautious with.  There are rumors of arsenopyrite with a white coating that turned out to be a soluble arsenate, which would be very toxic!  Minerals can react with other factors in the environment before and after they come into your possession – if your mineral has a crust, coating, powder, or other substance associated with it, that may be an indication that some chemical reaction has occurred.  If you find an unknown substance, do not put it into your body!

 

1. Chalcanthite

Chalcanthite

Chalcanthite from Planet Mine, Planet Mine group, Planet, Santa Maria District, Buckskin Mts, La Paz Co., Arizona, USA – photograph from Parent Géry.

Chalcanthite (CuSO4 · 5H2O – a hydrated copper sulfate) is one of the few minerals that appears on these lists that is definitely worth some concern – this one could actually kill you.

This mineral is very soluble in both water and hydrochloric acid, which readily releases copper that can then be absorbed by the body and, in large enough quantities, could cause copper poisoning.  The good news is that one of symptoms of ingesting chalcanthite is vomiting – one of the first things your body does with chalcanthite is try to spit it right back out.  The bad news is that the LD50 for chalcanthite is 30 mg/kg in rats, so roughly 3 grams or 0.1 ounces) in a 220 pound human.  It is recommended that you seek medical attention if you ingest chalcanthite, but the easiest method to avoid copper poisioning from chalcanthite?  Do not let it get into your body!

 

We hope this has cleared up some of the common misconceptions about mineral toxicity – the important take away is that the toxicity of a mineral has everything to do with how it’s handled.  You do not need to fear minerals.  If you practice common sense and take proper precautions, every mineral is absolutely safe!  Stay smart, stay educated, and live on to enjoy the beauty of these natural works of art.

(This is technically the end of this article, but for any of you with a burning curiosity to learn more, we’ve included some special mentions below!)

 


 

Special Mentions: Inhalation!

A number of minerals have been listed as toxic for risks associated with inhalation of fine particles.  The following minerals carry a risk that is quite a bit different from solubility, as the concern is not one of chemical reactions, but of physical damage created by fine particles.

It is important to realize that inhalation of any particulates is not healthy (smoke, air pollution, etc.), and this is no reflection on the danger of a single mineral in particular.  If you are handling minerals in a situation where you are creating mineral dusts (lapidary work, for example), it is recommended that you wear a dust mask, or use a liquid component such as water or oil to keep the dust created by grinding from spreading in the air.  These precautions are a good practice regardless of what material is being worked.  Dust can also be a concern for those who work in mining or collect minerals themselves in the field – again, if you are working in a dusty environment, protect yourself and your lungs by using a dust mask or respirator.

 

Asbestos

Riebeckite

Riebeckite from Prieska, Pixley ka Seme District, Northern Cape, South Africa – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Asbestos itself is not a single mineral, but a name used to describe a number of minerals when they occur in a fine, fibrous form (crocidolite, chrysotile, tremolite, riebeckite, and actinolite are just a few examples).

The danger of asbestiform minerals comes only when particles of them are inhaled – don’t inhale these specimens and you are at no risk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erionite

Erionite

Erionite from Phelps Dodge Corporation Well No. 1, Little Ajo Mountains, Ajo District, Pima County, Arizona, USA – photograph from Matteo Chinellato.

Erionite, another “mineral” that is actually a group of minerals, appears on lists because of its fibrous nature, which reportedly can result in mesothelioma.

Like any other mineral, don’t inhale it!  Further, erionite is an uncommon mineral that most people are unlikely to ever encounter.

 

 

Quartz

Quartz

Quartz from East Coleman Mine (Ron Coleman Mine; Old Coleman Mine; West Chance; Dierks No. 4; Blocker Lead; Geomex), Jessieville, Garland County, Arkansas, USA – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Quartz (SiO2 – silicon dioxide), like asbestos, shows up on a few lists due to risks related to inhalation.

Inhalation of quartz dust can cause a disease caused silicosis – however, quartz itself is remarkably durable (unlike asbestiform minerals) and most people are not likely find themselves in a situation where quartz dust is any risk.  Handling a quartz crystal itself will not cause any damage (unless perhaps someone chooses to hit you with it), but use caution when cutting and polishing quartz, or when collecting minerals in a dust-heavy environment.

 

Phenakite

Phenakite

Phenakite from Jos Plateau, Plateau State, Nigeria – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Phenakite (Be2SiO4 – a beryllium silicate) is mentioned on lists for its toxic beryllium content.

Silicates are notoriously insoluble, and phenakite is no exception.  However, many beryllium minerals are often cut and polished into jewelry, and those engaging in lapidary work should be cautious of inhaling the dust from these minerals.

 

 

 

 

 

Special Mentions: Radioactive Minerals!

 

Torbernite

Torbernite

Torbernite from Margabal Mine, Entraygues-sur-Truyère, Aveyron, Midi-Pyrénées, France – photograph from Didier Descouens.

Torbernite (Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O) makes the list for its uranium content.

Radioactivity is a very complex subject we really don’t have time to delve into here, but if you’re interested in that topic, send us a message to let us know and we’ll look at addressing it in another article!  For now, we’ll issue the standard caution: don’t eat them, wash your hand after handling them, and store them in an area with good ventilation and away from your regular daily activities.

 

K-Feldspar

Microcline (var. Amazonite)

Microcline (var. Amazonite) from Konso, Sidamo-Borana Province, Ethiopia – photograph from Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com.

Potassium feldspar, or K-feldspar, is a term that refers to potassium dominant feldspars, and are included on lists because they are radioactive.

We still aren’t going to get into radioactivity in this article, but we will mention a few fun facts here:

First: potassium is well known for its radioactive isotope often referred to as K40. However, potassium feldspars are no more radioactive than a banana, which also contains potassium!

Second: potassium feldspars are one of the most abundant groups of minerals on earth.

Third: here’s a mind-blowing spoiler to leave you with: the EARTH is radioactive! That radioactivity is one of the key sources of heat on our planet and part of the reason our planet is habitable.

 


Recommended for Further Reading:

Clyde Spencer – Mineral Toxicity

John Betts – Water Soluble Minerals

marulla.com – Mineral Solubility

 

 

A special thanks to Yoshihiro Kobayashi for his insights into many aspects of chemistry.

Rocks and Minerals Very First Issue! – Free PDF of this Mineral Magazine

Many years ago we came across a fun find – one of Peter Zodac’s leftover copies of Rocks and Minerals first issue published in 1926.

This magazine is now and has been for decades, a bold, colorful magazine, since 1979 under the direction of Marie Hunzing.

Back in the 1960’s it was a digest sized black and white magazine with short articles and monthly articles devoted to sand and fossils.

Here is the very first issue, purchased from Alfredo Petrov, who got it from Tony Nickischer, who got it from Peter Zodac’s house.

Rocks_and_Minerals-1926-September

It is a curious document, showing that the first issue was heavy on personal advertising, more of a catalog than a magazine.

Exploring the North Calico Mountains, Barstow California

Justin Zzyzx inspecting boulders at the Noble Prospect.

Written by Justin Zzyzx – Author of “Rockhound Barstow”
This location and many others are featured in the field guide – Click here to buy a copy for yourself

Click the Cover and Order your copy today!

Justin Zzyzx inspecting boulders at the Noble Prospect.

Justin Zzyzx inspecting boulders at the Noble Prospect.

I just love exploring the nooks and crannies of the hills and mountains around Barstow California. The area around here is known for the beautiful geological formations all around, such as Rainbow Ridge, as well as the silver mines of Calico, once a silver boom town, now a commercial tourist attraction. Barstow, a perfect place to set up base and explore the Cady Mountains, Afton Canyon, Opal Mountain, Mule Canyon, Alvord Mountain, Yermo’s rolling hills of alluvial agates and jaspers and so much more. There is a veritable treasure chest of mineral adventures to be had in these colorful hills, visiting is a thrill, and I, as a resident, love to take full advantages of these rock deposits.

As a frequent leader of field trips and author of the “Rockhound Barstow” field guide, I’m always looking for new places to take people to collect interesting minerals and lapidary materials. My personal favorite is finding places where there are both nice crystallized minerals, as well as colorful lapidary material, that way, out of the dozens of rockhounds who have joined me over the past year on each monthly field trip, everybody is happy with what they can find. Exploring mining information on MRDS.org, I noticed several mines located in the Northern parts of the Calico mountains. I could see, just 10 miles away from my pistachio grove I call home in Newberry Springs, there was a Wollastonite mine, a Nickel mine and an Arsenic mine, all bunched up to the West of Coyote Dry Lake.

View looking out to Coyote Dry Lake from the un-named Nickel deposit

View looking out to Coyote Dry Lake from the un-named Nickel deposit

On our first outing to this string of locations we tried to access it from the East, coming up Coyote Dry Lake road. The dry lake was not as dry as we expected, in fact, it was quite moist and with no desire to go “muddin”, we turned back and tried the other way into the area, all the way around the Fort Irwin road passage, 20 miles to the West. Fort Irwin road is a VERY busy two-three lane road that connects Fort Irwin to Barstow and highway 15. Fort Irwin, a large Marine base, requires a large amount of workers from the Barstow area to work the service industry jobs, as well as the tech jobs, along with all the contractors, you can imagine this is a very busy road. We drove through the pass on the West side, looking at all the remains from the silver mines that made the Calico district what it was and what it is today. The ore was mostly chloragyrite, a silver mineral that is toxic to process, proving to be costly and environmentally unsound, so, the silver mines stand dormant, forever.

Entering on Madrugador road, Eastbound from Fort Irwin road, you pass by a Wollastonite deposit to the North, which we inspected with little of interest to be found, then, continuing along on this fairly smooth, slightly rocky road we turned off to the Northeast on a power line road which then takes us directly to the Wolly Wollastonite #5 deposit, a long abandoned deposit of this interesting white mineral. Some field guides have published this location, however, they always refer to it as an Onyx deposit. Onyx, a name for Calcite, is found at lots of places around the Calico mountains, however, at this deposit, there is only the non-stop white bliss of massive Wollastonite.

Long fiber Wollastonite crystals on the surface of massive Wollastonite

Long fiber Wollastonite crystals on the surface of massive Wollastonite

Wollastonite is a mineral that can be found as part of a Skarn deposit. Common related minerals are Grossular Garnet, Calcite, Quartz, Hedenburgite, and Epidote. The grains of the skarn deposits can be quite dense, leading to amazingly hard stones that can be worked into lapidary objects like vases and pillars. The wollastonite here was most likely mined for use in the pottery industry. Wollastonite, CaSiO3, a Calcium Silica Oxygen mineral that often has impurities of iron, manganese and magnesium, all elements found in abundance across this mountain range. Crushed, this powdered rock would be used for adding to clay, reducing cracking when ceramics are fired in a kiln, as well as added to paint base, a filler to make paint thicker.

At the Wolly Wollastonite deposit we would find tons of massive white wollastonite with the choice mineral specimens being the small bits and thin plates of acicular “long fiber” wollastonite crystals, which form flat on the surface of the rocks and boulders. Along with these, a bit of orange Grossular garnet can be found forming in the sharp borders between the wollastonite and the county rock. Finding larger pieces of this material is uncommon, but possible, however bits of wollastonite with thin areas of garnet are fairly common along the waste rock piles. In the quarried areas, along the rock wall, you can see several veins of garnet, but, in my opinion, they are not terribly thrilling. One thing is for sure, the guides that have continuously pegged this as an Onyx deposit can now be corrected in the next printing! The deposit takes up the Northern side of this far outlying mountain, spilling out of the most Northern part of the Calico mountains. Various bits and smears of other minerals have been spotted, like epidote and hedenburgite, so with further exploration you might uncover something interesting.

Spessartine garnet masses found in conjunction with the wollastonite deposits of the North Calico Mountains

Spessartine garnet masses found in conjunction with the wollastonite deposits of the North Calico Mountains

A few months before I decided to visit this Wollastonite deposit, I was told by a gold miner in the Hesperia area that there was a Wollastonite deposit up in the North Calico mountains that had terminated grossular garnets. Wollastonite forms as a part of skarn deposits. One of the best mineral deposits in these formations are calcite pods with glossy grossular garnets underneath. Locations around the world produce specimens like this, the calcite acts as a blanket for the garnets, protecting them from any harm, until we, rockhounds, remove them from the ground and soak them in acid to dissolve the calcite and reveal the beautiful garnets underneath. While massive garnet is found at the Wolly Wollastonite deposit, the lack of calcite pods at this and every other Wollastonite deposit I’ve visited has turned up fruitless. Yet, chasing this lead has brought me to explore some infrequently visited areas of the rocky desert hillsides.

Going back in reverse from the Wollastonite deposit, you can head South in the first turn, which is a wash that leads up to the solid hillside and upwards on a road that leads to a former Nickel deposit, resting on this craggy spire, a semi steep climb leads to a non-connecting circular road around the peak. From here you have spectacular views of the valley below, the vast white/tan of Coyote Dry Lake, the Coptic monistary, and hey, I can even see my house from up here! Looking at this location from the comfort of my home, with my imported mine marker data from MRDS, I could see this Nickel mine and also find out more information about it. It referenced a mention in a a Southern Pacific Railroad booklet on Mineral of Industry, Volume 3, which mentions the deposit geology as “niccolite, arsenopyrite, annabergite, and uvarovite in a verticle silicic dike that strikes NE along a shear zone in hornfels and quartzite.”

View from on top of un-named Nickel deposit

View from on top of un-named Nickel deposit

Off we went, to go visit the un-named nickel deposit. The wind on our first visit makes the location very memorable. We can have wind gusts over 65 miles an hour on some days around these parts and that day the wind was so forceful we were quite worried we would be swept off the mountain. Maintaining a tight foothold, we explored the area, looking for bright green crystals of annabergite and chrome green uvarovite garnets. Instead, we found the meaning of “silicic dike”! All of the minerals we have found at this location have been frozen in blocks of silica. While this does not do anything for us mineral collectors, it makes for a unique lapidary material. The same stuff as the classic German “Nickel Quartz”, this green stone takes a nice polish and the contrast of white and green makes for an interesting stone. Floating around in this silica, tiny bits of chrome green uvarovite garnet are found, while nothing to write home about, they do add a little something to some of the slabs and tumbled stones we produced out of this ore. If there were crystals here, this could be one of my favorite locations, but even in massive lapidary form, this in a rare treat in terms of mineralogy, a geat view-point in this area of the North Calico mountains and yet, just one of many locations in a short distance in this mountain range.

Tumbled nickel quartz from the un-named Nickel deposit

Tumbled nickel quartz from the un-named Nickel deposit

Just off to the Southwest, the road takes you to the Puerto Negro mine, a series of rock dumps that stop at a mine entrance a few hundred yards south of the beginning of the dumps. This is an Arsenic mine that produced an arsenic rich ore with the occasional bit of calcite and realgar. While I have not found many specimens at this location, the few I have found have been quite uncommon, orangy red realgar in layered clear calcite crystals. Drive North to connect back with the power line road and drive over to the next canyon to the South, taking Madrugador Road, home to several prospects for copper and gold, before heading back out to Fort Irwin Road. These gold deposits do not have much in the way of collectables for mineral or lapidary enthusiasts, however, they do produce chunks of calcite and masses of red, iron stained, quartz.

Entrance to the Arsenic Mine, the Puerto Negro

Entrance to the Arsenic Mine, the Puerto Negro

From here, it is time to go across Ft. Irwin Road, just a few hundred yards to the South, a road stretches out towards the Northwest, reaching out to several locations were crystals and lapidary materials can be found. The road is a very nice, mostly smooth flat desert dirt road. There are a couple tiny washed out areas, but most any passenger car can navigate the area. Immediately to the North, a small set of ridges spread out, the ridge to the West of the hills contains two locations to explore. A massive Barite locality called the Ball mine and a funky Wollastonite deposit with some odd rocks to be found. You pull off this new dirt road and into a wash road that loops around, park here and hike into the mountain valley to find the Ball mine, which is easy to see and high up on the hillside.

The Ball mine was a series of tunnels and surface workings that produced massive white barite, which can be found in abundance as lumps of heavy white rock. While unassuming, when exposed to UV light, these lumps glow a pleasing green and pink. There are tons and tons of this material laying around the mine adits, so you will have plenty to choose from. Continuing North into the canyon you will come across a Wollastonite deposit that has bits of calcite and some black rock that is said to be chromium bearing.

Rockhounds collecting Garnets at the Nobel Prospect

Rockhounds collecting Garnets at the Nobel Prospect

Back on the main dirt road, you continue Northwest for a mile or so until you come across a faint road headed South which leads to a large pile of rocks in the middle of the flat desert. It is unusual to see a pile of rocks such as this, however, this outcropping of rock is a happy accident for all of us. Here you can find a great deposit of Onyx, a flowing series of banded tans and yellows, along with bright red caused by iron impurities, along with areas of quartz, in the center of the stones as well as on the surface. Druzy specimens of quartz and calcite can be found, the only drawback is the size of the matrix they are sometimes attached to! The large chunks of stone cut to reveal beautiful patterns, while being nice and crack free, solid cutting material. It is remarkably easy to find, within a half hour at the location, cutting material to keep you occupied for days and weeks.

Sliced Travertine from the large travertine outcrop in the North Calico Mountains

Sliced Travertine from the large travertine outcrop in the North Calico Mountains

Traveling only another thousand yards to the West along the main dirt road, you come across the Noble prospect, a mineralized zone consisting of a short canyon wash to the East, with short adits that pushed out garnets, quartz, epidote and calcite. While we were hoping for garnets trapped inside calcite pods, these garnets are frozen in a quartz matrix, an while crystals can get up to an inch across in size, there is no way to free them from the host rock. Still, terminated garnets can be found in this area and the masses of quartz, epidote and garnet make for interesting lapidary materials. Just a short distance from this wash, a road takes you a few hundred feet to a bench in the mountainside, filled with boulders containing calcite crystals and quartz druzy, the druzy areas measuring up to and over one foot in size on several of the boulders. The trick is to find specimens that are small enough to take home. Several pieces showed evidence of layers of quartz covering and replacing the calcite crystals, which make for very interesting mineral specimens.

At the Noble Prospect, Boulders of Calcite with Crystals growing in vugs can be found.

At the Noble Prospect, Boulders of Calcite with Crystals growing in vugs can be found.

Calcite crystals plucked from the walls of the Noble Propsect.

Calcite crystals plucked from the walls of the Noble Propsect.


Rockhound Barstow (California) Book Cover

If you like this article, check out the 28 page full color field guide “Rockhound Barstow” for sale online at the following links
Buy it on eBay
  Order it on Amazon, or Buy it for Kindle eBook Readers

Or, hey, here is the map…

Leading Field Trips – How To Show Other People Where To Collect Minerals

Justin Zzyzx Helping Rockhounds

Being a field trip leader is a rewarding experience for some people. People who serve as field guides get the opportunity to take people to interesting locations they might have never seen otherwise. In our hobby of Rocks and Minerals, we are looking for places where samples of minerals can be found, such as minerals featuring distinct crystals, or solid minerals, things a lapidary artist would enjoy, to cut and polish. Fossils, natural formations and other odds and ends round out the range of natural science themed excursions. For those individuals who step up to the challenge of field trip leaders and guides, this is my tale, take from it the bits of advice I, Justin Zzyzx, discovered first hand.

Justin Zzyzx Helping Rockhounds

Over the course of a decade, I have lead mineral collecting field trips for individual clubs I was a member of, clubs I was not a member of, the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, public field trips to advertise my natural science themed art gallery, paid trips with tickets for Atlas Obscura and for over a year, a private run monthly field trip service. During that time I had to research locations, go on terrible trips, go on amazing trips, get lost, get found, get insurance, advertise, fix cars, fix people, change plenty of tires, pop plenty of tires and met hundreds of great people.

Becoming a Field Trip Leader –

Rocking With OthersIf you are just thinking of stepping into the ring as a field trip leader, my path starts like many others, going to a local rockhound club. From here your path can follow two directions, simply participating in whatever outings the club has and taking the experience from that, or, by furthering your experience by being a helpful participant and offer to lead additional trips or fill in for the field trip leader a month or two. Many clubs experience a bit of burn out when it comes to field trips. It is a somewhat stressful job to be in charge of a group of people’s entertainment. As such, many clubs find themselves in dry spells when it comes to field trips. Sometimes a little bit of fresh energy is a much needed thing, so check out the local scene and see what the general vibe is towards local collecting spots. Club members can be a wonderful source of information on local collecting spots. In addition to the first hand sources of going on field trips with leaders, there is plenty of research to be done with books, the internet and field research.

Books and Your Research Library –

Afton Canyon, CaliforniaOver the years of field collecting I’ve made it a habit to buy as many field guides from any age and any print style. Locations that might have been popular 80 years ago, then fallen out of favor might resurface from investigating old field guides. Important information that got skipped over in future editions, or vice versa, information in contemporary guides that might save you time! From this information field research can begin, because one of the most important rules of leading a field trip should be…One Should be INTIMATELY FAMILIAR With the Location Before Taking Any Group. For there could be fewer things in life as painful as wasting the time of any number of people expecting you to take them somewhere and understand what the deposit is about.

You can find contemporary and classic books for sale on amazon and ebay by using the links on this page http://wheretofindrocks.com/field-guides/ and also at your local bookstores. I’ve personally had the best luck at mineral shows and buying on ebay and amazon. ebay tends to be the place where you can find all sorts of oddball field guides and lots of regional guides you would only find online and at local rockshops of the area. In addition, members of your local rockhound community can be the best sources for literature, as they might be able to direct, sell, loan or otherwise help with sourcing local rockhounding literature.

 The local library is often a wonderful source for local mineral collecting literature. For example, while visiting a location 2500 miles away from my home, I found at the library some documentation talking about the mining districts in the 1910’s. I then matched these locations up to a current map and saw that TWO of these location were on land that I could visit and inspect for minerals. Dig deep and you can be rewarded with historical information that can turn up some amazing re-discovered mineral deposits.

Initial Field Research –

Visit the Location Beforehand and Collect Samples

Visit the Location Beforehand and Collect Samples

I would rather not take people on a wild goose chase. I did that one time and if I can help you avoid it, my heart will sing. Early in my days of leading field trips, I took a group of 8 individuals up the Garcia Trail in search of the Felix Fluorite deposit, just overlooking a vast neighborhood near Azusa California. What I did not know was, the deposit is not UP the Garcia trail, that is just where you START, after 100 feet you hop off and up to the deposit via a fire road that is snaking alongside the hills, not going STRAIGHT up it, like the Garcia Trail. After an hour of strenuous hiking, several of the participants cursed my name and vowed to never go on another trip with me.  At that moment I vowed to never make that mistake again!

Remember to Consider Parking for Everyone that May Come on your Field Trip

Now I make sure I have personally visited any location I plan on taking people to, no surprises. I try to map out alternative directions, ease of use, parking areas and identify where the guests will be collecting and locate a few samples to have on hand on that day. It might be easy to find parking for a handful of cars, but a few times I have had upwards of 50 vehicles all pouring down one lane tracks in the desert, wondering where they will all line up and how they will leave. At the very least, all locations must be visited twice, once beforehand and once for the actual trip. The best locations are ones that you are VERY familiar with, ones you have spent time visiting, researching and so forth. There are several locations I have visited well over a dozen times, places I could, and in fact, have given, educational talks about. That is how well I want to know a location I will take people to. I mean, a little less than that works too, but to really love and understand a deposit, that is a place that will love you right back.

Never take Parking Considerations for granted - Where To Find Rocks

Rancho Palos Verdes California

For example, Rancho Palos Verdes California. It is a PERFECT location for field trips, for research, for developing literature of its own. RPV (and the surrounding areas of this peninsula off the south west of Los Angeles Harbor contains a variety of crystallized minerals, fossils and plenty of public areas where collecting is permitted and encouraged. It has a story involving a land deal/mining claim gone dirty to allow for housing tracts in this once rural farmland. It has ample scientific study material to draw from, both past and current, interesting geological features, along with plenty of natural features to keep people interested. I have given no less than 20 trips to RPV to collect crystallized dolomite, barite and play in the tidepools with the starfish. I have given a 45 minute talk to several clubs in the Southern California area on the subject of this very peninsula. That is why field trips to this location are a favorite of mine to lead, can be done at a moments notice and so forth. If I was a field trip leader of a club in Southern California, a trip to Rancho Palos Verdes would be a yearly pilgrimage.

Rockhounding Photo Collage

Annual Salt Dig in Trona, CaliforniaI spent at least 3 years doing weekend adventures with my working friends. Many of my now lifelong friends joined me for many of our private adventures. You can be sure that several places visited during that time would fit right into my list of regular locations. It is ALWAYS advised to have one or more friends out with you when exploring. Safety. You have no idea how many crazy adventures would have been that much worse if I did not have compatriots. It is these trips that, when they end in failure, who cares? You are hanging out with like-minded individuals, enjoying the trip. Finding the minerals, on private prospecting trips can often be a happy accident. On a guided trip, that BETTER not be the case!

Waiting to Make Sure Field Trip Participants of all Fitness Levels Make it to the LocationsMy crew of local collectors have a list of locations we visited a half a dozen times or more before we found them. Like stupid STINKO california…well, That is what we call it. Cinco, a location for Feldspar crystals, it is SO EASY to show you EXACTLY where it is on a map today, but for our group, we went to that place nearly 10 times before finding the correct deposit. The blackberry bushes used to be my bane at the Mount Baldy Corundum location, now, I try to plan a trip there in August to enjoy the fruits along the PATH into the deposit that we could not find until our 9th trip into the river valley. I can easily feel confident taking up to 60 people into that location, knowing all of them will find quality materials, that it is relativity safe, easy to get to and legal to collect at.

 

Make a List of Viable Locations –

This step is highly variable. Some guides focus on just one or two locations. Perhaps they lead a regular trip for one specific group. My local attraction near my house does a private tour of underground workings of an old silver mine. That is the only tour they offer. They know that tour REALLY well. I, on the other hand, can take you to 12 locations, easily, to collect minerals and lapidary materials within a five mile radius of that place. Having access to open BLM land makes the task quite a bit easier. Depending on the area you are in, having a location where you can bring small and large groups to might be a challenge. One option is to limit the amount of people that can go on a trip. This is not an uncommon solution.

Many People on a Mineral Collecting TripOnce you are familiar with your area, make a list of places and start working the pro’s and con’s on taking people to the location. Access, Safety, and Material. I do not mind taking people to a location that is “sub-par” like, for instance, the tiny quartz crystals by Mount Baldy are not show-stoppers, but they are THERE and such fun to find and in such a beautiful location, it was worth-while, even if the material is just so-so. I also love to do double trips, if possible, go to a location that is good for lapidary and one that is good for crystals. Some trips I’ve lead have gone to three locations in one day without any complaint from the collectors. I find most collectors are ready to head out after an hour or so, moving them to a few locations can stretch their interest out a few hours. Pay to play locations are ok, most of the time. Not the scam salted dig sites, but the gem dumps in Southern California, the Sunstone mines of Oregon, the Quartz mines of Herkimer New York. Many of these locations make great trips for rockhounding groups. Don’t be a afraid to find the best places to use in your field trip list.

Insurance –

Rockhounding One of the perks with rockhound groups is by being a member you are covered by the Federation’s insurance policy. Rockhounding can be dangerous. It is up to me to create as safe as an experience as I can. Accidents happen. Accidents can be expensive. You better be insured. To make sure you are covered, it is worthwhile to purchase liability insurance if you are leading private field trips. If it is just myself and a couple friends and an accident happens, that’s up to fate. If something happens while on a sanctioned club field trip, the Federation’s insurance policy covers it. When I lead field trips for a public tour group as a freelancer, they covered the insurance policy. When I lead private field trips, it is my duty to provide insurance coverage. In my experience it is typical to find a rate for a year of 1 million dollars in liability coverage for around $800.00 USD as of 2017. Insurance is a must have.

 

Safety and First Aid –

Mineral Collecting Supplies - Where to Find RocksThere are two things to consider – How can we prevent an accident from happening BEFORE it does and How can we be prepared for an accident if it does happen. My first step is making sure that everyone on a trip I lead understands the basic “Rules of Rockhounding” with my own little tweeks.   My personal add ons are –

#1 – Leave all the animals alone. You can do what you want on your own time, but with me today, please leave all animals, lizards, bugs, birds and other wildlife alone.
#2 – Children love to climb, but not today. If you see a really amazing loose tallus slope to slide down, more power to you, but not today on this trip.
#3 – 100% NEVER allowed to enter mine tunnels, adits or undercut a digging area. Come back on your own free will, I tell the visitors, if you want to explore underground, however I advise against it 100% of the time if for NOTHING else then, see the part about Insurance.

Injury Can happen when Rockhounding

Even while you must tend to an injured field tripper, other participants are unaware, and are still rock hounding. Both are your responsibility.

If I allow any of these to happen, I could potentially void the insurance coverage. What we need to avoid is Negligence. In addition, being trained by your national safety organization
in First Aid, like the NSC here in United States is a valuable skill for any human. Click here to learn about First Aid Training by the NSC.

A first aid kit is a must have for every field trip leader. At the very least you should be able to issue ibuprophen, bandages for minor cuts and scrapes, at the worst, be ready for someone who could break a bone or sustain an eye injury. You make sure people who are hammering are wearing appropriate safety gear and being mindful of those around them, and then, making sure that people exploring are aware of the people digging, you can avoid eye injuries. Sure, it can seem like you are “restricting” some people’s fun, but safety should always be a TOP concern.

A first aid kit like this is perfect for the rockhound field guide
You can get this on Amazon for a steal! https://amzn.to/2sshYj1

Preparing for Vehicle Troubles –

Flat tires, busted oil pans, bring to me your problems, oh, field trippers and I will make sure to spend the extra hour to make sure you make it home!

Think about having the following…Flat Tire

• Road building tools. Usually the same stuff as rockhounding, make sure you can dig out someone who is stuck in mud or sand.
• Carpet scraps or two, for under wheels of stuck vehicles.
JB Weld Clay. Holes in various pans can be very problematic. JB Weld clay can be used to patch holes in oil and transmission pans.
• Oil and transmission fluids. If space permits, having a spare quart or 5 can be VERY handy.
• Duct Tape – more patching!
Tire inflator – Like this one
Tire Patch kit – If it was a puncture by a sharp tire on the tread, this is very handy!
Jumper cables – because, dang it, we left the lights on and the radio on and the phones charging and I don’t know why this dang thing went dead…

 

Promotion and Options –

There are several reasons WHY you are interested in being a field guide. You might be leading people to one or two locations because it is commercially related to another business, like mine owner tours to their own mine. You might want to participate in your local club, hopefully you are already and simply reading this for fun. You might see a commercial viability in leading field trips, as there is, to an extent.
Basically, whatever I’m covering in this niche can be applied to most natural and outdoors topics. I could just replace the words rocks and have been talking about hunting antique marbles, making gravestone rubbings, geocatching or IDK, whatever topic someone might want to share with a group of interested people.

Rockhounding

Here is what I did.

 In 2003-2006 I lead field trips for various clubs and one trip for the California Federation, as well as attended many lead by members of the Mineralogical Society of Southern California.

During 2006-2008 I would simply take friends out collecting and join club field trips. During this time we were also traveling for 6 months filming over 250 mineral collecting locations all across America and Canada.

In 2009 I started doing free public field trips where I would simply post on various online bulletin boards in the Los Angeles Area and invite people to join me at a specific time and place for the trip. I would have between 2-20 people join me on those trips.

Well behaved children are always welcome on rockhounding trips2010-2012, I used these to promote my natural science art gallery. We would host quarterly, free public field trips.

2013-2014 I was being contacted by various groups and individuals to lead private paid field trips. My favorite was Atlas Obscura, who would sell the tickets for a field trip for $40, they would sell out within a week and those people were some of the happiest rockhounds I ever met!

Around 2015 I had moved to the high desert and I was still doing free public field trips. During one of these trips I met Cyndy and Lois, who were local club members in the Victorville/Hesperia area and informed me that the local clubs were lacking field trip leaders. They opened a wonderful rock shop in Hesperia and it was not long before we came up with the idea of doing a paid monthly field trip. For $40 you got a 6 month subscription to the field trip list. Once a month you would get an email telling you where and when.

Collecting Fluorite in Ludlow

For those 6 months, you could come, or not come, at your own discretion to each month’s trip. The costs would be insurance and the tour guide’s wages, but for the sake of the business readers, let’s say, $800 for a year of insurance, let’s say $3000 for your field guide ($250 per month), you are at 100 users per year to break even, or 50 paid tickets every 6 months. Anything above that is gravy, so if you are a shop owner and want to try something like this, there is a good reference number. I’m not 100% on how many tickets were sold during my 18 months of field trips, however, I’m certain we beat these minimums quite handily.

Conclusion –

If you want to get into this position as a member of a rock club or to promote your local interest, if you want to simply share the joy of Rock Hounding to the public, it is best to be prepared with;

Justin Zzyzx giving a Lecture a SoCal Mineral ClubKnowledge
Time Devotion
Safety Training
Reasonable People Skills (hopefully)

For this, you can have the joy of spreading the topic of your interest and parlay that into writing articles, giving talks and additional paid gigs. If you found this article useful, feel free to link to it on your club website, facebook account or include parts of it for reprint in your club newsletters.

Dig Your Own Gemstones – Oregon Sunstone – A Guide to the Spectrum Sunstone Mine Dig

watermelon sunstone from the spectrum sunstone mine

Spectrum Sunstone Mine- Dig Your Own Fiery Gemstones in Oregon

It is very rare that a mine producing something as gorgeous and valuable as Oregon sunstone and the folks at High Desert Gems and Minerals are allowing you to do that at their site located northeast of Plush, Oregon in the High Desert! Featured on the History Channel’s Cash and Tresures, The Spectrum Sunstone Mine currently produces some of the most gorgeous gem sunstone out there in amazing colors, but mostly hues of red and orange but some amazing exotic colors too like purple, green, watermelon, and schiller-effect material. This gem can only be found in Oregon and nowhere else in the world. To be specific, this sunstone is a variety of labradorite but appearance and chemistry wise it differs from the classic, bluish iridescent material from Madagascar or Finland. There is nothing out there quite like them, a truly unique and gorgeous American gemstone.

gorgeous freeform stones cut from Oregon sunstone by master gemcutter Dalan Hargrave- dalanhargrave.com

gorgeous freeform stones cut from Oregon sunstone by master gemcutter Dalan Hargrave- dalanhargrave.com

gorgeous freeform stones cut from Oregon sunstone by master gemcutter Dalan Hargrave- dalanhargrave.com


About the Gem-

Unlike many precious gems such as diamond or sapphire, sunstone is prized for its variations of color and inclusions. Many faceters prefer to work with these inclusions when cutting stone, adding to the uniqueness to each piece. The high hardness (6.5 to 7) gives this gemstone enough durability that it can be set in jewelry without much worry of chipping or cracking the stone. Value of these stones varies from tens of dollars per carat to thousands and depends on color, saturation, and how the inclusions if present catch the light. These beautiful colors and inclusions are formed by inclusions of copper that precipitate from the molten feldspar as it is crystallizing. The copper included gem sunstone is extremely unique to Oregon. Many amazing carvings by the finest artists in the world have been made from sunstone rough, highlighting the amazing degree of variation held inside.

History-

Sunstone is Oregon’s state gem, granted that status in 1987 after being recognized by the US government as a gemstone in the 1970s. Interest in Oregon sunstone and mining for it in the Plush area was happening decades before the 1970s, however. Sunstone was a prized stone collected by Native Americans who were likely the first people to ever assign value to the gemstone. They believed the sunstones held great power and would even bury them with their dead.

There is local Native American lore about the sunstones, and they were used ceremonially among certain tribes. The legend goes as follows: An ancient warrior was hit by an arrow in battle and his blood dropped on the ground, where it scattered on the sunstones, giving them sacred power. It is not only the beauty, but this power that the natives valued and drove them to use these beautiful stones in their jewelry.

A picture of sunstone with evidence of working by Native Americans- published in the Ore Pit, a publication of Oregon State University's Mineralogy Department

Collection of sunstones in the Jacksonville (OR) Museum believed to have been brought into the area by Indians.

Sunstones didn’t gain popularity among europeans until beautiful, desirable material was discovered in Scandinavia in the early 1800’s and Eastern Siberia in the late 1800’s. Later on, settlers discovered deposits of sunstone in Oregon’s Warner Valley and interest grew in mining these stones. In 1908, Utah prospector Maynard Bixby announced his findings Tiffany & Co. of New York City acquired mining claims in the Plush area in the early 1900s which they no longer mine. One of these claims, which they did previously mine is now the Spectrum Sunstone Mine!

Interest has continued to grow to the point where many private claims and several commercial mines have been opened, the Spectrum Sunstone Mine offering some of the finest, deeply saturated material to the public to dig! Chris Rose and High Desert Gems and Minerals has continued the legacy of mining for this special gem and has opened many world famous sunstone mines, 11 total, producing a dazzling array of gems. Here is your chance, provided by High Desert to take part in the legacy of mining your own American gemstone.

Geology-

Sunstone forms in basaltic rock laid down in a giant lava flow and were formed around 15 to 16 million years ago. The source of this rock were volcanic eruptions that built the terrain of eastern Oregon. The sunstone itself is a form of feldspar, specifically a calcium rich labradorite. This labradorite is very different from the bluish shimmering material from Madagascar and elsewhere many of you likely have seen.

Feldspar is an important rock forming mineral, one of the most significant worldwide but that with the high gemminess and color of Oregon sunstone is very rare. The sunstone forms in unique flows of porphyritic basalt. The term porphyritic referring to large crystals suspended in finer grained matrix. These crystals are the sunstones and they formed within the lava freely floating before it cooled, so they became suspended in a finer grained rock matrix. Porphyritic texture in basalt is relatively common, but most of the time the feldspar porphyroblasts from elsewhere are opaque and never worth saving. The Oregon sunstone deposits are some of the few mined for this kind of gem material. The presence of copper in the flows of the Plush area, which give these gems their color is unique to the region.

Although basalt is very abundant in the Pacific Northwest, the basalt flows produced in the various eruptions during the region’s past are small and produce some chemical and geologic variation regionally. The geochemistry and petrology of these rocks still needs more detailed description, so there is a lot of opportunity to research this area in detail for anyone academically involved

Mining Yourself-

Map to the Spectrum Sunstone Mine

The Spectrum Sunstone Mine is a patented mining claim and is open daily to fee digging seasonally from May 15th to Nov 1st . They are open to mining from 9am to 5pm every day! The site is located I the remote Oregon high desert. Remember to bring plenty of snacks and drinking water to the site. It’s pretty far out there! It is a good idea to brig your own tools and bags to the site though loaner screens are available. The onsite shop also sells some tools. You will need a screen, buckets, shovels, rakes, baggies for your finds, and if you plan on working the pit a hammer, chisel, prybar, and other appropriate rock breaking tools. Some of the roads getting to the site are rough, so be sure your vehicle and the driver can handle it. Here is a map above and directions from the High Desert’s site:

When driving from the south follow these directions :
(Stay on the main roads according to our directions. After Plush, OR… if you are unsure:  do not turn unless there is a sign that says sunstone (some of the signs are very weathered). You will cross 5 cattle guards on the dirt road.)
Follow highway 395 north through Lakeview, OR and then head east on highway 140 towards Adel.
After mile marker 15 you will see “Plush Cut-off” sign, turn there (left).
Set odometer at Hart Mountain Store in Plush, OR to 0.0 miles.
Follow road (Co. Rd. 3-10, a.k.a Hogback Rd.), (which takes a sharp bend to the east at 3.6 miles).
At 5.2 miles the pavement ends, continue on dirt road.
At 10.1 miles turn east (right) onto Co. Rd. 3-11.
Go 1/2 mile (reads 10.7 on odometer) and turn north (left).
(Do not turn until you reach the next sign…)
At 19.2 miles you will see the “Sunstone Area 5 miles” sign, turn left.
Slow down!! Dangerous curves, especially at 20.4 miles and 22.4 miles.
After the cattle guard you will see several mines in the distance. We are the furthest mine… look for the tipi!
24.1 miles turn right on road after passing Dust Devil’s sign. You will be heading towards the Public Collection Area.
(If you are expecting to arrive at night please set up camp in Public Collection Area (follow signs)…continue directions in morning!)
Take the first left or the second left (before reaching Public Collection Area bulletin board)!  Follow the road. Please sign in at the office, and don’t run over the sage brush.
IF YOU ARE DRIVING FROM THE NORTH, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.
From Bend, Oregon take highway 20 east to Riley.  Take highway 395 south.  Turn left – east- on Hogback Rd (near mile marker 64 – which is north of Abert Lake). Follow Hogback Rd. until the turn for Co. Rd. 3-11 (about 19 miles) where you turn left. Continue with directions above from Co. Rd. 3-11.

Conveyor Belt Mining for Sunstone in Oregon

They offer several kinds of mining in different price ranges you can participate in.

High Grade Conveyor Belt Run-

This option allows the miner to go through unsorted material immediately coming from the mine! Material is passed down the conveyor belt and is just washed off by water by you to reveal the gems. The cost is $200/hour and though steep, allows you access to premium material immediately as it comes out of the mine. Approximately six tons of mine material are processed per hour through the conveyor, so it is definitely a high volume dig.

High Grade Ore Piles- The mine offers high grade piles of ore you can search through for $150 to $200 each. Water available for washing. You get to keep everything as always!

Super high quality sunstone gem rough from the mine

All You Can Eat Buffet Ore Pile- The miners will pile up concentrate for you to sort for over the course of two days! This is a great choice to get the sunstone mining experience and to score some amazing gems. It’s a great family activity and is perfect for groups! Limit is 2 people for $300, 3 for $350, 4 for $400, and groups of 5 or more for $100 each extra.

Pit Digging- For $100 to $200 per person, you will be allowed to dig in the high grade pit with tools! Perfect for the avid rockhound and those who really want to understand the geology behind this deposit or just do some hard rock mining.

A fine sunstone that was found at the Spectrum Sunstone Mine

Mine Run Material Through Mail- If you want to get your hands on some Spectrum Sunstone Mine material now, you can buy mine run high grade and have it delivered right to your house! They run about six tons of ore through the conveyor and send you what they pick out after one hour! It isn’t the same experience as digging your own, but will hook you up with some awesome material.

Accommodations-

Primitive camping is available free of charge at the site as well as RV camping. Electricity hookup is not available for RVs. Cabins are also available with provided hot water, showers, and restrooms for $45 a night or you can stay in a tipi for $40 per night! Bedding and cooking supplies not included- you bring your own.

A general store for supplies is located nearby but otherwise this location is very remote. Please plan appropriately. See www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com for more info.

An amazing, rare watermelon sunstone, top quality rough, and some premium facets from the Spectrum Sunstone Mine

An amazing, rare watermelon sunstone, top quality rough, and some premium facets from the Spectrum Sunstone Mine

Sources:

http://www.doubleeaglemine.com/HistoryOregonSunstone.html

https://www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com/html/spectrum_sunstone_mine.html

https://geology.com/gemstones/sunstone/

http://www.dalanhargrave.com

https://www.oregongeology.org/milo/archive/MiningDistricts/LakeCounty/UnclassifiedDistrict/SunstoneAreaClaims/SunstoneAreaReport.pdf

http://www.4facets.com/sunstone.html

https://oregonsunstoneguide.com/mineral-data.html

The Fluorite Deposits of Afton Canyon – Cady Mountains – Southern California Mojave Desert

Looking down on a Fluorite deposit in Afton Canyon

While researching mineral locations for the field guide “Rockhound Barstow” we noticed a few different fluorite deposits listed with vague pinpoints associated. One of our favorite spots to visit is the area south of Afton Campground.

Highway 15, halfway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles with Afton and Basin, the West and East ends of Afton Canyon seen and the popular agate/jasper collecting spots of the North Cady Mountains in the lower half of the map.

Afton Canyon is a remarkable place, featuring dramatic walls surrounding miles of washes leading into the Northern Cady Mountains, a wonderland of agates, jaspers and various mineral oddities. To the North, there are two exits that will take you from the 15 down to Afton Canyon and the North Cady’s. Afton Road will take you to the campground and for those with 4×4, you can take the Spanish Trail East and you’ll pop out on the other side of the mountain, otherwise accessible by Basin Road, the next exit Northbound on the 15 from Afton Road. Taking Afton Road will get you to the campground where you can proceed into the area on foot, or, by taking Basin Road, you can drive to the deposits on rugged dirt/rock/sand roads.

Afton Campground with parking, leading to the large canyon, Pyramid Canyon, with the popular collecting site Hanging Canyon seen in the center, just to the East of Pyramid Canyon.

For our trip, we can go two ways. We can drive in on Basin Road and then take a series of washes and mountain roads and bam, you can drive right to the fluorite prospects. It is a tough drive and with some satellite maps and planning, you can attempt to reach the location via vehicle. We do not go in this way. We walk in from Afton Campground, through Pyramid Canyon. You start by going under the railroad bridge and across the shallow waterway of Afton Canyon to head South into the giant canyon wash. This wash continues for about 1.6 miles taking you through some magnificent large canyon walls, ending at a giant block of black basalt with a waterfall opening some 100+ feet from the bottom. Instead of walking to the back, we walk up a switchback .2 miles before the end, which takes us up to the top of the canyon. A road and path lead you to the upper wash, which would spill out into the lower wash we just hiked up. This whole area is a treasure box of crystals and lapidary goods, with different things found on different hills. Tons and tons of red and yellow jasper is found all over, zeolite included agates and jaspers, crystals of quartz and calcite and even some odd-ball zeolites, casts and epimorphs are found tumbling out of the basalt hillside. The basalt here features areas of intense gas bubble inclusion, resulting in literally MILLIONS of quartz pods filling the ground. Some of these have crystals, some of them did weird things, like replace zeolites and anhydrite, some of them have calcite on top of quartz, sometimes the quartz is over the calcite. It is a fun, uncommonly visited, vast in area, place, most often visited by people in search of agates and jaspers.

Satellite view of Pyramid Canyon

The Pyramid Canyon wash leads you to the near end of the lower canyon, then a out of use dirt road takes you up and to the Eastern side of the canyon and up into the black basalt deposits that make up the upper part of Pyramid Canyon.

Satellite view of the Upper Pyramid Canyon Wash

Satellite view of the basalt hills at the end of the Pyramid Canyon heading to Afton Campground. At the bottom of the photo you can see the “Mixing Bowl”, to the right of that the Fluorite deposits are found.

Continuing South on the upper wash of Pyramid Canyon you come to what we call the “Mixing Bowl”, which is an area that had three washes mix into it, making what looks like a pool in the wash. To the South there is a 10 foot waterfall wall which most can scale up with little assistance. To the SouthEast there are two washes, both of which lead to the Fluorite deposits of Afton Canyon. Yet, they are not really terribly close to Afton Canyon, we just had to walk nearly 2.7 miles to get there, from Afton Canyon. Maybe the Fluorite deposits of Near the wash that leads into Pyramid Canyon did not have the same ring.

Satellite view of the "Mixing Bowl" near the end of the wash above Pyramid Canyon

Satellite view of the “Mixing Bowl” near the end of the wash above Pyramid Canyon

Mixing Bowl near the furthest point of Afton Canyon. Waterfall to the Right leads to the Cattail fossils, to the Left is the wash that leads to the Fluorite deposits.

Mixing Bowl near the furthest point of Pyramid Canyon. Waterfall to the Right leads to the Cattail fossils, to the Left is the wash that leads to the Fluorite deposits.

To the North of the "Mixing Bowl" there is a 10 foot tall rock wall, a former waterfall, you have to climb up, or down.

To the North of the “Mixing Bowl” there is a 10 foot tall rock wall, a former waterfall, you have to climb up, or down.

If you hop up the waterfall you can walk over to a deposit of “Cattail” reeds, or Typha. You will see hundreds of reed stalks along with dozens and dozens of pods of seeds, the familiar “Cattail” part, which have been turned into quartz and calcite geodes, sometimes with banded red and white jasper/agate. Those ones are particularly showy. Some lapidary collectors have taken advantage of the pretty banded agate/jasper available, yet literally tons more are there, not including another deposit further North with the same type of material. More deposits of Typha fossils must exist in more locations in these hills.

Fossil Bearing Matrix of Typha, Cattail reed fossils. They have been silicated and contain colorful jasper and quartz crystals.

Fossil Bearing Matrix of Typha, Cattail reed fossils. They have been silicated and contain colorful jasper and quartz crystals.

Cattail or Typha, fossilized and replaced with a core of quartz crystals. You can see two of them in the center of this photo.

Cattail or Typha, fossilized and replaced with a core of quartz crystals. You can see two of them in the center of this photo.

Hollow casts of Cattail fossils found in Afton Canyon

Hollow casts of Cattail fossils found in Pyramid Canyon

From the cattail fossil site, there is a road that takes you Westward towards the Basin Road area via a DEEP dip Southwards via Baxter Wash. Just a short distance West on this road and a faint turn off will be visible on the North side of the road. This turn off leads you to the start of the Fluorite prospects.


Rockhound Barstow (California) Book Cover

If you like this article, check out the 28 page full color field guide “Rockhound Barstow” for sale online at the following links
Buy it on eBay
  Order it on Amazon, or Buy it for Kindle eBook Readers

The Boulders to the side of the wash contain numerous fossils of Cattail reeds.

The Boulders to the side of the wash contain numerous fossils of Cattail reeds. Note the faint road to the side. This road is navigable from Basin Road.

After 2.7 miles of hiking, we found the start of the Fluorite deposits of Afton Canyon.

After 2.7 miles of hiking, we found the start of the Fluorite deposits of Cady Mountains.

The area is quite long, up to a mile of prospects dart the hillside. The fluorite found here is green and purple and requires some real work to move hard rock and discover undamaged crystals that have not been hit by the sun. The sunlight turns these green crystals to a bleached white, as with most fluorites. Even with the sunbleached specimens, the UV reaction on these is amazing, LW, the most common type of inexpensive UV light source, makes this material GLOW!

The white areas in the distance are all prospects for Fluorite. The deposit spans nearly a mile in distance.

The white areas in the distance are all prospects for Fluorite. The deposit spans nearly a mile in distance.

Crystals of Fluorite hidden away inside a pocket on a boulder at one of the many prospects for Fluorite in the Headwaters of Afton Canyon.

Crystals of Fluorite hidden away inside a pocket on a boulder at one of the many prospects for Fluorite in the Headwaters of Pyramid Canyon.

A few specimens of Fluorite we found as we were looking for the Afton Fluorite Deposits.

A few specimens of Fluorite we found as we were looking for the Afton Fluorite Deposits.

Skin of Green Fluorite on Matrix

Skin of Green Fluorite on Matrix

Spheres of Fluorite on Matrix. Originally Green, faded in years of sunlight.

Spheres of Fluorite on Matrix. Originally Green, faded in years of sunlight.

As you can see from these photos, hard work and tools are required to unearth new, colorful specimens. After learning about the historical mixup on the true location of this deposit, we hightailed it to the location and hiked the 2.8 miles of washes, switchbacks, trails and amazing scenery that if you are near this area, you really should come and see. We had to hurry and hike back out just as quickly so we could get out before nightfall. While we did not uncover any amazingly bright green crystals, we did not dig, we just examined what we found on the ground and in the ground at the prospect holes around the area. It takes about 1 hour to walk from the campground to the “Mixing Bowl” waterfall in the upper part of Pyramid Canyon. Driving into the area takes about 45 mins to an hour from Basin Road. Walking in you get some serious exercise! Driving in, you can haul a lot of tools. Walking in you really get familiar with the landscape and areas, driving in, you get to business. Either way, the Fluorite deposits 2.8 miles South of Afton Canyon, near the headwaters of Pyramid Canyon, are ready for you to come and visit.
Plenty to see and explore all around this area for those fit enough and respectful enough of our beautiful desert mountains.

Mineral and Rock Collector’s Guide to the Denver Mineral Show 2017

During the month of September the city of Denver Colorado hosts a group of shows where depending on your interest, you can find amazing things to see and buy!

Denver BroncoThe show is like other popular regional shows in that it started as a club event that got so big that “satellite” shows would pop up, which then spawns the tent cities and specialty shows that cities like Denver and Tucson experience. Being a rather large city, Denver had several clubs that hosted shows around the city at different times of the year. While they still do, in 1967 several clubs joined forces to produce one general event, featuring club cases, dealers from around the states and programs. This is the centerpiece of the Denver mineral shows. This show happens on the 2nd or 3rd weekend of September and this highly attended 3 day event is what ends a now week plus group of shows around the city.

So, if you are a first time visitor to the Denver Mineral Shows, or a seasoned pro, this year is going to feature some big changes to the classic show from a few short years ago.

​Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show 2017Starting out, the biggest change in show locations is the major move from the CLASSIC Martin Zinn Expos production at the Ramada, just a couple miles from the big club show. As collectors started coming to the Denver club show earlier and earlier, the Ramada was used to give an early showcase to some dealers for over 30 years. Now that the Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show has matured into a powerhouse, it is strong enough to move to another location, which is the Crowne Plaza, located near the Denver Airport.

This show has the classic mix you would expect from the Ramada show, everything under the sun you could want, some of the most interesting wares, several wholesale vendors, this show is a must visit. With over 170 vendors, this show has something for everybody and with the new ballroom style, it is not as claustrophobic as it might have been in the hotel rooms of the old Ramada.

Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show

Visit them at RockyGems Presents the Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show There are 1000 parking spaces and free admission.

Denver Coliseum

The place with the most diverse mixture of minerals, fossils, gems and beads is the Denver Coliseum shows, which include the arena area of the Coliseum, hosting a variety of dealers selling rocks from $1 to thousands, plenty of great deals on polished rocks, slabs, fossils, cabochons, jewelry, mineral specimens and more – upstairs you have dealers circling the hallways, a perfect place to visit for families and all ages. Lots of great displays to take pictures with, plus, for serious buyers, a giant tent area filled with dealers of bulk minerals and fossils, some HUGE in size!

Denver Coliseum Show

 Denver Coliseum Mineral, Fossil & Gem Show

Tons of free parking, plus the show is now spilling out the side into the National Western Complex, located right next to the Coliseum, with shows on all three levels. The “third” floor, which is actually the second floor from the street level of the complex, features the new Denver Mineral Show, featuring some great mineral dealers, a few select fossils and several dealers who dig what they sell. Find out more about this show on the Coliseum Show website This show runs from the 9th until the 17th, from 10am-6pm every day – you’ll notice the billboards featuring the show all over the city. Free admission and free parking for all the shows at this central location.

Denver Mineral Show

Arena level that features mostly mineral and fossil dealers. Vendors Set Up Outside in Tents at Denver Coliseum Mineral, Fossil & Gem Show

While the Ramada is now no longer a mineral show, the Quality Inn, across the street is still going strong. There are plenty of raw rock and jewelry dealers to be found here and plenty of metaphysical dealers. That show runs from the 9th til the 17th with free parking, hopefully more plentiful now that it does not compete with the Ramada visitors.

Denver Fine Mineral ShowFor serious mineral fans the Denver Fine Mineral Show at the Denver Marriott West, near Golden. The show starts on Sept 13th and is over on the 16th, overlaping slightly with the main show, a bit of a change from the previous years of having the show a week before the main show. This show features a who’s who of fine mineral dealers. You can find beautiful well crystallized minerals in a natural rainbow as well as the periodicals and magazine publishers covering these types of dealings. It is a real thrill to see all the minerals at this show and there is something to take home, no matter your budget (but, a big budget doesn’t hurt!) You can find out more on the website for the FineMineralShows The show is free, the parking is free, not a great place for browsing families, more like a selection of museum items you could buy.

 Denver Gem & Mineral Show

It all ends up with the “Main Show”, the Original Denver Mineral Show at the Merchandise Mart. This show features amazing display cases, educational displays, kids activities and an amazing array of mineral and gem dealers, all of them showcasing wares they have been saving for this great event. Free public talks are given all day and you’ll be lost in a sea of rocks and minerals you’ll want to take home. This show is paid admission, $7 for adults, $15 for a 3 day pass. Parking is free.

Mr. Bones at the Denver Club Show Amazonite and Smokey Quartz Display at the Denver Club Show

What do you want?

Tim Dorris from the Prospectors TV Show in his family’s room at the Colorado Minerals & Fossil Show

Meet dealers you buy minerals from online? – Denver Coliseum, Denver Mineral Show at the National Western Complex, Crown Plaza, Denver Fine Mineral Show and the Main Club Show

Find Rough Minerals? – Denver Coliseum, Quality Inn, Crown Plaza, Main Club Show

Find Jewelry? – Denver Coliseum, Quality Inn, Crown Plaza, the JG&M show Main Club Show.

Find Fossils? – Denver Coliseum, Crown Plaza, Main Club Show

Find Mineral Specimens? – Denver Coliseum, Denver Mineral Show @ National Western Complex, Crown Plaza, Denver Fine Mineral Show, Main Club Show

Kids Activities At the Denver Gem & Mineral Show (Club Show)

Kids Activities At the Denver Gem & Mineral Show (Club Show)

Find Wholesale Deals? – Denver Coliseum, Crown Plaza, Wholesale Show at Collector’s Edge

Kid’s Activities and Exhibits? – Denver Coliseum, Main Club Show

Free Parking? All of the shows

So, visit Denver and be immersed in a world of minerals and rocks from around the world. You’ll be able to meet fascinating people and buy things from them! You’ll find books, knowledge, special specimens, people who mine what they sell, jewelry making equipment and at least one person selling EXACTLY what you are looking for!

The Collection of Southern Califonia Collector – Kay Robertson, and how to own a piece of hers for your very own

As someone who has always enjoyed talking with Kay Robertson during the annual Culver City Mineral Shows, and at the now revenued Santa Ana show, it is wonderful to know that two great dealers, The Arkenstone and MineralMan999 will be handling the amazing collection – Check out this alert to this chance to own a specimen from this very special woman.

PRESS RELEASE –

We are very proud and HONORED to announce our largest Collection Acquisition to date, and maybe ever!
We have just reached a deal to share with you the personal collection of Kay Robertson – a literal “treasure trove” of specimens, many of which were not seen by but a few other collectors for 50 years!

We just listed the first group of auctions here: http://bit.ly/mineralman

Kay Robertson built an amazingly diverse collection over nearly 90 years of collecting, from a time when so much was available on the mineral market that is simply gone now. The breadth and depth of her collection is hard to equal, almost impossible going forward. She had long planned to donate her collection, but has now decided to sell it and share her life’s passion with the world of collectors in a special deal structured to let us offer most of the pieces for sale at auction, so different from how the important collections are normally dispersed quietly and under the table by the big dealers. Her attitude is that, if it must sell, to share it with the largest number of collectors possible, and to archive online all the information she has collected on mineral specimens since the 1930s.

The collection has old classics, old localities, and a stunning variety of species – over 12,000 pieces! It was simply too big for any one dealer to handle. We struck a deal to handle several thousand specimens from the collection over the next 3-5 years, and have now made our first selection of 500 rare and valuable old specimens that we will be listing throughout the upcoming weeks and months! These old classics will be exclusively available only through our auctions on eBay and through fellow dealer Rob Lavinsky of The Arkenstone, with whom we partnered with on this collection! We each picked specimens from the first few cabinets of the collection, and then put the rest in storage for now so that more fresh pieces can come out in parcels over the next few years for our customers to enjoy!

Click here to see the first group of specimens up for auction: http://bit.ly/mineralman

The Messina Mine Ajoite is certainly a fine addition to any collection!


I HIGHLY recommend reading the Mineralogical Record feature about this amazing woman’s remarkable life and career in collecting here: http://www.mineralogicalrecord.com/pdfs/Kay%20Robertson%20Collection.pdf

You can read about the trip to pack the collection and the reasons for its sale, here: http://www.irocks.com/kay-robertson-a-treasure-in-the-mineral-collecting-world/

You can bid on this fine spinel on eBay with MineralMan999
http://bit.ly/mineralman

Finding the Princess Pat Mine, lighting up Shadow Mountain California

Princess Pat Mine Short Wave UV Rocks

I enjoy seeing rocks light up under Short Wave Ultra Violet light, so do millions of other people in the world. It is exciting to see brilliant colors coming from, what commonly is, a not very visually stunning rock. While large exotic crystals can fluoresce, many times it is something drab and visually unappealing that shows brilliant reaction to “black light”. As the field trip leader for an active group of rock hounds, my monthly trip for February of 2017 was to the area known for brightly fluorescent rocks in the Shadow Mountains, just West of highway 395, in the high desert of Southern California.

Cars parked to go collecting in California

Every month we lead a field trip for the Mining Supplies and Rock Shop in Hesperia California, visit the shop and join us!

Princess Pat Mine Short Wave UV Rocks

This photo shows the typical rocks found at the Shadow Mountain Tungsten District under normal light and under SW UV light.

To start out my planning for this trip, I did a basic Google search for what I thought the name of the mine was, the “Princess Pat Mine”. Google brought up some pages with various bits of information, some photographs, but no real indication of where the mine was specifically located. I then turned my attention to MRDS, as talked about in Rockhounding 101, this site can give me a list of mines, pinpointed on a map, showing what has been found in the area. It was a surprise to see that while there were a dozen or more deposits for Scheelite, the highly UV reactive mineral we were after, none of the mines were called “Princess Pat”. However, looking at the Google map, I noticed the road that takes you right to the majority of the scheelite deposits was called “Princess Pat Mine Road”. In fact, you simply turn west off the 395 onto this unmarked road and go for 5 miles until you hit the collecting area. But, why was I having such a pain finding the “Princess Pat Mine”?

I broke open Pemberton’s “Minerals of California” to find an entry for the Shadow Mountain Tungsten deposits on page 337, where it states “6. In the Shadow Mountains, on the northwest flank of Silver Peak, there are a number of scheelite deposits consolidated as the Just Associates quarries. The scheelite occurs in quartz veins cutting garnet-epidote-quartz tactite.” – however, no mention of the “Princess Pat Mine” – So, could it have been that the name “Princess Pat” was older or newer than this 1983 tome of California minerals? With this, I pulled out the Murdoch and Webb version of “Minerals of California”, 1966 edition, which leaves out the Shadow Mountain tungsten mines from the entries on scheelite in San Bernardino County.

Luck would serve me up a reference to “California journal of mines and geology”, Volume 49, which featured a fantastically in depth article on ore bodies of San Bernardino County, which reads

Just Tungsten Quarries (Just Associates, Princess Pat, Shadow Mountains Mines). Location: sees. 30 and 31, T. 8 N., R. 6 W., S.B.M., on
the northwest flank of Silver Peak, Shadow Mountains, about 13 airline miles west of Helendale and 14 airline miles northwest of Adelanto.
Ownership : Just Associates, E. Richard Just and Oliver P. Adams, 726
Story Building, Los Angeles, California, own unpatented claims totaling 440 acres. The property is leased to Just Tungsten Quarries, E.
Richard Just and associates, 726 Story Building, Los Angeles, California.

The deposit, now known as the Just Tungsten Quarries, was discovered in 1937. Operations from late 1937 to early 1938 by the Shadow
Mountains Tungsten Mines and W. A. Trout and C. A. Rasmussen re-
sulted in the recovery of about 750 units of W0 3 from nearly 3000 tons
of selected ore treated in a 40-ton mill on the property. The operation
was not successful and the mill was dismantled. During the mid-1940 ‘s
lessees mined about 400 tons of ore, and during the late 1940 ‘s the
Princess Pat Mining Company leased the property but apparently produced no ore. Operations from April 1952 to mid-1952 have yielded a
few hundred tons of ore of undisclosed grade.

The scheelite occurs in quartz veins cutting garnet-epidote-quartz
tactite bodies which exist at the contact between a Mesozoic granitic
rock and Paleozoic ( ?) metamorphic rocks, mostly impure limestone and
schist. The foliated rocks strike slightly north of east and dip gently
south. Scheelite-bearing tactite also has been developed, away from the
contact, along beds in the limestone, to form thin bodies of ore separated by barren limestone beds.

The deposit was explored during 1937-38 by 1800 feet of zig-zag
trenches, 10 feet wide and 6 to 10 feet deep, excavated by a power shovel
up a moderate slope in a southwesterly direction. A 65-foot vertical shaft
was sunk near the lower end of this trench system, but no mining was
done underground.

Employed in the early prospecting was a large field-type lamp requiring a 110-volt current, and a portable gasoline-powered motor generator set. This may have been the first practical application of a lamp
of this type.

Ore is being mined from a bench cutting into a trenched area about
50 feet north of the shaft. Mining operations are carried on at night,
and the ore is sorted with the aid of ultra-violet light. Shipments have
been made to both the Jaylite and Parker custom mills in Barstow.

There you go, the “Princess Pat Mine” has the distinction of being a mine that produced no ore.

As it was, the tungsten mines produced little more than some naming confusions and quite possibly some bad debt, as the scheelite riches would never quite materialize from this deposit. Tungsten is an element that was listed by the United States Government as a strategic reserve, as most of our Tungsten comes from China, during WWII it was known that it would be scarce, so efforts were made to ensure production could be met at home. Plenty of trenches and tunnels were driven in this 140 acre unpatented claim, in the end, producing nothing more than a playground for collectors with an UV light.

Princess Pat Mine Short Wave Minerals

The mostly smooth desert road is littered with rocks that glow under SW UV light

There is often a little confusion as to what kind of Ultra-violet light one needs to get the enjoyment out of collecting UV minerals. I have used many varieties of products and I’ve found what I like and what I do not like. Obviously, a light with ample power is what one wants. Small hand held units are commonly available in 6 watt and under, which gives you a reaction when you hold the light VERY close to the specimen. However, the difference between a low wattage light and something in the 9, 18, or even, 36 watts will astonish every viewer. If you want maximum enjoyment out of UV collecting, a dual wave 18 watt light is a sound investment. Some minerals glow under Long Wave (365nm) range, but honestly, I find Long Wave to be the most limited, while Short Wave (285nm), produces amazing effects. When it comes to companies, well, some come and some go, while some are longstanding companies that I do not personally enjoy, when it comes to price vs. what you get, so, I would like to steer you in the right direction. At this time, in winter of 2017, there are no good companies to purchase a UV light from on Amazon.com. In fact, I would push you in two directions. #1, UVTools.com – They have been producing some fine lights, which come accompanied by a great informative kit. I highly recommend all the units they sell, even the sub-9 watt lights. #2, on eBay, the seller topazminer_minerals_and_fossils has been having great deals on a fine selection of high powered lights, at very reasonable prices. I would suggest viewing their offerings when looking for a great UV light.


Rockhound Barstow (California) Book Cover

If you like this article, check out the 28 page full color field guide “Rockhound Barstow” for sale online at the following links, now including the Princess Pat Mine Area, indepth!
Buy it on eBay
  Order it on Amazon, or Buy it for Kindle eBook Readers

As part of the field trip series that I lead for the Mining Supplies and Rock Shop in Hesperia California, we took a trip out to the “Princess Pat Mine” area, or, as it should be known, the Just Associates Tungsten area, or, even still, the Shadow Mountain Tungsten area. You simply follow Princess Pat Mine road from highway 395 for 5 miles and you will find yourself facing the various prospect pits and trenches filled with cobbles and boulders of mostly white rocks that will glow readily under short wave light. You will see bright orange from the potassium rich calcite caliche, you’ll see bright green from the uranium included quartz. The bright white/blue scheelite is the real winner, appearing as belts of star-like dots in the rocky background. Rarely, one can find bright red from the wollastonite found in the area.

Cars parked to go collecting in California

We have lead field trips for various groups and organizations

Tailing pile of minerals at the Shadow Mountain Scheelite Deposit

This pile of ore rubble was waiting for us at the parking area 1/10th of a mile from the start of the major trenching. This pile of rocks glows brightly if you do not wish to go into the rocky tailings beyond.

A group of about 30 of us descended on the mine area around 5pm, getting a view of the area before the sun set, by 6pm we were ready to see some rocks glow! Many of us came equipped with various powered UV lights. Some of the inexpensive LED Longwave lights were causing the calcite to glow a slight pinkish, but that was all, while the Shortwave lights were causing the whole area to light up. Everything around the area was glowing light wild, which lead to lots of happy rockhounds and many people remarking that they could not wait to come back and bring friends to show this wonderful area to. In this lonely desert, with no lights besides the moon and the stars, one can get some amazing results with a short wave ultra-violet light!

Collecting at the Princess Pat Mine

There were plenty of trenches pushed into the mountain which make great areas to illuminate the walls in search of black light rocks

Collecting Short Wave Ultra Violet Rocks

In the dark, scanning for rocks that react to SW Ultra Violet Light is a blast!

Short Wave Light glowing Rocks

Here is a rock responding to SW UV light on the mine dump at the Princess Pat Mine/Just Associates Mine

So, go out and enjoy a day or night at the Shadow Mountain Tungsten District. There are no active claims, there is no ore of worth, it is just you and the coyotes, howling at the moon and looking down at the twinkling scheelite stars…