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Post by Alice on Jan 15, 2010 9:46:07 GMT -5
Looks like we're moving to Northern Alberta this summer (6 hours north of Edmonton). Does anyone know if there's anything worthwhile up there, rock wise? There's a lot of oil drilling up there, that's all I know.
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Post by Woodyrock on Jan 15, 2010 23:36:32 GMT -5
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Post by Alice on Jan 16, 2010 12:31:33 GMT -5
thanks I did see that chart before. but it's nothing worth while really. Doing some searching, I did see amber in coal deposits, but nothing big.
agates? that would be nice, but I don't think it would be plentiful
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 16, 2010 16:42:08 GMT -5
You never know till you get there. Western Canada is really unexplored as far as collectable rocks goes, more so further north. I'm next door in Saskatchewan and all I could find on the web was that there were water soluble minerals here. Once I got out looking there were agates, jasper, pet wood, garnets, opal, pyrite, etc. I think you will have to go exploring to know for sure. Might get lucky and hit a jackpot.
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Post by Alice on Jan 16, 2010 23:32:11 GMT -5
wow, sounds like you hit a jackpot scott. Where are you in Sask? I'll be up near grande prarie Alb.
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Post by Alice on Jan 17, 2010 1:18:57 GMT -5
Did some more research, and I'm finding out that where we will most probably move to is Dinosaur land. Who knows. Just might find bone fragments. Oh boy, the kids will be excited about that. Well, my 7 year old anyway.
Other then that, I'm reading coal, sand, oil, sandstone. I really don't have my hopes up on finding good tumbling stuff... well, maybe granite? but that's not really something to get excited about. You can find that just about anywhere
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Post by Alice on Jan 17, 2010 9:33:17 GMT -5
I did find a few interesting rocks on-line which were found a few miles north of where we're heading. They're more specimen rocks though. The only real tumbling material I saw was Apatite. Other then Diamonds, the hardness of their rocks varies from 1 1/2 - 5 1/2. 5 isn't so bad - fast tumble, but would be better if the rocks had some color to them LOL
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bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
Posts: 4,719
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Post by bushmanbilly on Jan 17, 2010 15:56:00 GMT -5
Hi Alice, I ran into some people last summer when I was gold panning in BC that where from Peace River ( the town). They collect Agates and Jaspers in the bars and gravel pits along the Peace River. The Peace is just north of GP. There is a very nice river crossing between Ryecroff and Fairview. You will also find more Pet- wood than you know what to do with. Also keep your eyes open for Mammoth tusk in the gravel pits.
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bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
Posts: 4,719
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Post by bushmanbilly on Jan 17, 2010 17:23:01 GMT -5
Oh ya, bring your gold pan. There is flower gold in the Peace to. One more thing you should know. Bring your bells and pepper spray. Your in bear country.
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Jan 17, 2010 18:31:13 GMT -5
I take that the bells are so the bears can find you and the pepper spray is for seasoning???
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bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
Posts: 4,719
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Post by bushmanbilly on Jan 17, 2010 20:05:26 GMT -5
No the bells are for making noise. So the bears hear you coming. And the pepper is for if they don't care about the noise you make. There is black and grizzly's in that neck of the woods.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 19, 2010 0:25:41 GMT -5
I live in south eastern Sask now Alice, but I'm originaly from Drayton Valley (south west of Edmonton). I didn't rock collect then but found garnets and fossils while panning in the North Saskatchewan River.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 19, 2010 12:30:41 GMT -5
Did some more research, and I'm finding out that where we will most probably move to is Dinosaur land. Who knows. Just might find bone fragments. Oh boy, the kids will be excited about that. Well, my 7 year old anyway. Other then that, I'm reading coal, sand, oil, sandstone. I really don't have my hopes up on finding good tumbling stuff... well, maybe granite? but that's not really something to get excited about. You can find that just about anywhere What you are decribing as for whats in that part of the country is a great place for dino and fossil activity!Sounds like gold panning country too.(with gold at over $1100 an ounce,its worth learning how to pan for it!) Sandstone is close to the "bearpaw" formations.....Ask around about rock formations and zone formations,that will tell you what you will find in that general area...............Good luck and happy hunting! Another "tidbit" too,you will be in prime hunting country,so that means shedded(dropped)antlers from Moose,whitetail and mulie deer,pick them up also,for they sell for big bucks!The market is over $6.00 a pound now for shedded antlers,etc,etc...........Moose is much more,up around $12 to $18 a pound. Never know,you might start another hobbie.....................LOL
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bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
Posts: 4,719
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Post by bushmanbilly on Jan 19, 2010 19:41:59 GMT -5
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Post by Alice on Jan 21, 2010 19:22:39 GMT -5
Wow, thanks everybody. I don't know the first thing about panning, but we can try, right? Does it have to be a special pan? or can you use just about anything (frizbie, old frying pan, etc...). I've seen people on TV do it, but they never seem to find anything, so how do i know there's gold mixed in the sand?
Bear country, I know. I used to spend my summers up there as a kid. My uncle shot a black bear once and has a trophy head and rug in his livingroom. I know about the dino's too. I have done a lot of research with one of my sons about them (he's really excited about going up there now BECAUSE of the dino's). My Aunt and uncle have acreage up there, and I was told they have a generous amount of coal on their land. You can't tumble coal, but maybe we can make some sort of novelty Christmas thing with it.
Jaspers and agates would be awesome! Think there might be enough for me to sell on e-bay on a regular basis? or even open an on-line rock store?
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Post by Alice on Jan 21, 2010 19:25:44 GMT -5
What is flower gold? am I right to assume that it's tiny flakes?
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Post by Alice on Jan 21, 2010 21:44:40 GMT -5
Did a youtube search on gold panning. I have a better idea on how to do it now. Also saw a couple of gold panning products which in the end is supposed to do the work for you. you just dump in dirt and add water and wait. I'm thinking of the kids. I don't see them panning all day long - they just don't have the patience. They WANT to try, but will get discouraged if they don't find anything right away. Are those things worth it? the average price is $300 - $500.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 22, 2010 0:34:04 GMT -5
Flour gold is the real little stuff. I would just get a pan to begin with, they are fairly cheap, and in Alberta as soon as you use something mechanized you need a licence. I like the square ones like this as they seem easier to use at least for me. You can build a sluice box easy. I used to have a little one that I put right into the river. The river water would wash through the dirt so you just had to shovel then pan out what it caught. To find gold look for the spots where heavy stuff would sink. Think the bends in a river, behind boulders, where water slows down, cracks etc.
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Post by Alice on Jan 22, 2010 6:37:52 GMT -5
makes sense that you would need a license. I guess getting one of those $2 vibrating portable back massagers won't help either? stick it at the bottom of the pan so the whole thing vibrates, shaking the heavy stuff to the bottom?
This will be interesting... I really hope there's a club the kids can join there. I don't see myself going with them - panning while carrying a very energetic 2 year old.
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Post by Alice on Jan 22, 2010 11:39:08 GMT -5
Is all the gold in rivers and streams? or is there some up on shore too? What are the chances of finding something with a metal detector up on shore?
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