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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 12, 2004 19:15:02 GMT -5
Hi All! Back from NC and the mines. Had a great trip, didn't take as long to get there as we thought, had beautiful weather. Had an entire B&B to ourselves, ate too much, drank too much, had a wonderful time. Wish you were there We had to do some exploring to find what we were really looking for, digging in a mine. Wasted a day on some REALLY cheesey places. One had a beautiful website, looked like Disneyland. It was a piece of c r a p. Rude people and rip offs. Then we found it. Mason's Mine. Two Thumbs up! The mine itself is about a mile from the flumes. They take a front end loader, scoop out some dirt and deposit it on the ground. You just dig and slouce to your hearts content for $15.00 a day. We spent 3 hours the first day and 6 hours the next. The mine contains corundom, rhodylite, and moon stone. Found some of each, but did best with the corundom. All total we found about a pound of rubies/sapphires. The Big find was a 220 carat black star sapphire. Even the guy that had been working there for 15 years was impressed. Said it was facetable. Not really sure what to do with it. It's too big for me to make anything with, and I can't cut stones. Anybody into cutting/faceting some thing like that? Doc, when all this crazyness is over, maybe we can talk. Also found a 100 carat sapphire, and some rubies that have nice color. One is almost ready to mount! We took pictures on a disposible camera and I'm going to get them put on disc in an effort to post. I think some of them will at least give you an idea of what is was like. Glad to be home, cookie
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 12, 2004 19:31:19 GMT -5
welcome home, cookie, glad you had a great time.........sounds like you found some amazing rocks!!
see ya, KD
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bcbunny
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 112
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Post by bcbunny on Sept 12, 2004 20:12:37 GMT -5
pictures PICTURES, we need pictures.
HEHEHE
Glad to have ya back.
Bunny
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Post by Cher on Sept 12, 2004 20:15:22 GMT -5
Hi Cookie Welcome back, I'm so glad you had a good time! Sounds like you found some awesome stones, good for you!! Can't wait to see some pics of them. Man I can't imagine having your very own pile to dig from that no one else can touch, that is so cool. LOL I just got home from a short trip to the hematite dump. Dang near got carried away by mosquitos but found some nice stuff. pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/RockOn.gif [/img] [glow=red,2,300] ~ Cher ~[/glow]
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Post by docone31 on Sept 12, 2004 20:38:26 GMT -5
Cookie, of course we can talk. I have to spend some cash from our house sale to offset tax, and I plan on getting fresh discs for my faceter, two benchmates, and with the new engine I needed to replace I should be ok. The traditional way to cut a star ruby is in a cabachon, however, I like faceting. I need some time to get my ducks in a row, however I am hungry to resume. It sounds like you and hubby had a time to cherish. Bravo!!! Time is short and precious. I am glad you enjoyed it, and glad you got your fingers sandy. Welcome back.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 12, 2004 20:46:45 GMT -5
Cookie, sounds like ya'll had a great time and brought home quite a haul. Can't wait to see the pics.
llana
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 12, 2004 21:20:17 GMT -5
Taking the film to be developed tommorrow, but it takes a few days to get the disc. Think they'll come out well, got some great mountain pics. Doc, cabbing is prob. the way to go, but it will have to be cut first. Would like to get a pendant, earrings and ring out of it, think there's plenty there. Tell me when I post the pics what you think. Also got a wonderful rhodalite (Don't think I'm spelling it quite right, It's a form of garnet) that's rhodalight in a pyrite matrix. That was our "Whadya bring me?" gift to Marlena, Michaels daughter. She was thrilled. Hope the picture turnes out.
cookie
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Post by docone31 on Sept 12, 2004 21:35:07 GMT -5
I am not so good at cabbing, as faceting. I am looking forward to seeing the pics. We can design anything you like around the stones. I am also going to get a digital camera. I think it is about time for that. If you post them and I do not respond, let me know. Glad you had a chance to stretch out and have a ball. Way cool. I have not had a vacation in over six years. Someday I hope to be able to get to a mine and get dirty. Sounds like my form of gambling.
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Post by puppie96 on Sept 13, 2004 1:40:27 GMT -5
How Cool! Can't wait to see the photos!
Your's was a much more organized expedition than mine during this summer! They more involved following dirt roads into the woods and scrambling down river banks. All to produce mystery rock from the heartland!
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Sept 13, 2004 3:20:06 GMT -5
Hi Cookie, Welcome back . Pleased to hear you had a great rocker time. There is Rhyolite and there is Rhodonite I think haha Never mind , we do understand what you mean. And I am on the list of waiting tumblers to get a peak at your pics Have fun Jack
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Sept 13, 2004 8:52:26 GMT -5
Hello Cookie,
It's good to hear that you had a great time, and it'll be nice to see the photo's.
I would love to have a vacation like that ... maybe someday. I am over due though ... three years since my last one ... we are supposed to get one every year right?
Welcome home, it's good to hear that you and your hubby are back home, safe and sound.
Have a great day!
John
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Sept 13, 2004 9:15:50 GMT -5
Cookie! Welcome back! Looking forward to seeing the photo's. Ohh it really does sound like a nice spot to go. You found so many different things! Of course you'll have to give me all the grizzly details!
Also looking forward to us getting together soon to look for rutilated quartz. I think everyone on the forum is chomping at the bit for us to find the "mother-lode". *chuckles*
I have some pretty stuff set aside for you. I'll be out of town Friday thru Tuesday, but when I get back....lets put a date on the calendar to get together.
Hugs, Helen
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Malkavic
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2004
Posts: 77
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Post by Malkavic on Sept 13, 2004 14:59:43 GMT -5
Aye, welcome back from the trip... It seems like you had alot of fun... I was just looking up that Mason's Mine, and from the sound of the fun you had, I'm tempted to see about heading there next year, if everything goes well... been looking for some good mines to play in, and having family in the area helps a bit... Seems like it could be fun....
Anyway, welcome back, and glad to hear you had a good trip...
Billy
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 13, 2004 17:54:25 GMT -5
Hey Billy, It's not much to look at, but it's the real deal. All the other so called mines were salted. The one we thought would be so great turned out to be awefull. (Shefield Mines) nothing but mud to go through, though they claim it's all native, there's nothing there to find. And, though they had a creditr card machine there that was obviously working (words were scrolling acress the screen) he claimed they didn't take credit cards. Bad news, those guys. Helen, I go back to work on Wed. and I have to look at my schedule and see what's what. I make the schedules, but I still have to look everyday to see where I'm supposed to be. Looks like we're gonna get whacked by Ivan on Fri., so I'll go from there. Is there a day of the week that's better for you? My days off fluctuate. OK, I'm going to try to post some vacation pics now.
Cookie
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