Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy)

elementary
fully equipped rock polisher

Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077

Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 9, 2010 18:00:28 GMT -5

Quote

Post by elementary on Apr 9, 2010 18:00:28 GMT -5

Ha! I got out Wednesday and drove 225 miles to spend a perfect day rockhounding.

Found a 'new' road and next time will get even farther back.

Stopped at a new location and hiked back into the hills and found a flat spot that was covered with agate nodules. What was great was that it didn't look hunted at all. Good sized nodules covered with desert varnish littered the ground. Overall hundreds of nodules lay across the surface of a half acre. The broken ones showed blue and white banding - fortification and onyx. Some also show hints of sagenite.

Lugged the bag to the car and pushed farther back. Came across a couple small seams then found some scattered pieces that I followed up a hill and hopefully came away with some good plume.

The buckets -
White - nodules
Black - seam
Orange - Whatever didn't fit into the other two. (aka what flew out of the other two buckets on the way home...

Calcite crystals and some quartz covered pieces (That's my cat Lizzie trying to get into the picture in the background...)

Nodules (Random samples plucked from bucket)

The Seams:
Example of a small red seam near nodules:

Then the largest collection: Found in float trail up hillside:

Wow - Getting nearer and more excited

Then the dig:

Thanks for looking

Lowell

Last Edit: Apr 9, 2010 18:02:43 GMT -5 by elementary

Now out (Aug 2013)!!!!! 2012 Agate Index: Vol 4 - Northern States: See thread in cabochon section!!!!!

Sabre52
Cave Dweller

Me and my gal, Rosie

Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487

Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 9, 2010 18:48:06 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Sabre52 on Apr 9, 2010 18:48:06 GMT -5

Wow Lowell, a vicarious Cady's rock hunt. I love it! With all that angel wing and bubbly stuff showing, you've definitely scored some nice plume and I definitely see some sagenite in some of the others. Ain't it great back there in the Cadys? You flat never know when you'll stumble onto a good find....Mel

Last Edit: Apr 9, 2010 22:50:55 GMT -5 by Sabre52

highplainsdrifter fully equipped rock polisher Member since December 2008 Posts: 1,266	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 9, 2010 20:51:00 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by highplainsdrifter on Apr 9, 2010 20:51:00 GMT -5 Excellent find! Looks like some great material.

NDK Cave Dweller Member since January 2009 Posts: 9,440	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 9, 2010 21:53:27 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by NDK on Apr 9, 2010 21:53:27 GMT -5 Wow Lowell. 225 miles - that had to make for a long day, but it looks like it was worth it for sure! Nate
	-Nate

johnjsgems gets rocks for Christmas Member since August 2007 Posts: 6,959	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 9, 2010 22:27:10 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by johnjsgems on Apr 9, 2010 22:27:10 GMT -5 East or South Cadys? If I was home I could have tagged along. I live about 30 miles from there.
	John at JS Gems www.jsgemslapidary.com

Toad misunderstood rock expert Only rocks understand me. Member since September 2004 Posts: 12,798	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 10, 2010 8:50:13 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Toad on Apr 10, 2010 8:50:13 GMT -5 Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
	Convinced myself, I seek not to convince.

rockrookie still telling self it's just a hobby Member since March 2008 Posts: 4,962	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 10, 2010 9:15:34 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockrookie on Apr 10, 2010 9:15:34 GMT -5 nice finds !! thanks for sharing ! ---paul
	--paul

elementary
fully equipped rock polisher

Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077

Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 10, 2010 10:04:57 GMT -5

Quote

Post by elementary on Apr 10, 2010 10:04:57 GMT -5

Mel,
Yeah, few other places in CA will produce the thrill of the hunt better than the Cady's. I'm taking a day off in May and going again. I gotta. It had been way too long since I've hit the field. In fact, I have a picture of me getting ready to hit the field (literally):

But the best sagenite of the day wasn't found by me. Take a look at this:

Nate,
The day actually included a two hour drive to Anaheim after I got home. We had a funeral to go to the next day.
My day: Up at 3:00 am. Drive at 3:30 Get there at 9:00am Leave at 4:00 pm Return at 9:30pm. Leave again at 10:00pm. Arrive in Anaheim at 12:00am.
They pried me up the next morning with a crowbar and the threat of a bucket of ice water.

johnjsgems
North Cady's is how I know them.
We entered through Basin Road, one exit up from Afton.
There's a CFMS field trip up there I believe on the 16th-17th. Look on the website for details.
I'll let you know the next time we head out. Never hurts to have another vehicle with you.
It was beautiful. Tons of wildflowers and the lizards were running helter skelter.
Here's the canyon we stopped at - we hunted up the right side and then HIKED.

Now out (Aug 2013)!!!!! 2012 Agate Index: Vol 4 - Northern States: See thread in cabochon section!!!!!

leadhand spending too much on rocks Member since October 2009 Posts: 262	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 10, 2010 11:05:10 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by leadhand on Apr 10, 2010 11:05:10 GMT -5 Great finds. Thanks for sharing
	Happy Hounding Kevin Cowboy Pastor and Rockhound

Sabre52 Cave Dweller Me and my gal, Rosie Member since August 2005 Posts: 20,487	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Apr 10, 2010 19:04:32 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sabre52 on Apr 10, 2010 19:04:32 GMT -5 Yowsers! Man that's a hunka hunka sagenite all right. Beautiful photo too!...Mel

paulshiroma has started giving rock gifts Psalm 145:1 Member since March 2011 Posts: 3,227	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Mar 1, 2011 21:07:38 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by paulshiroma on Mar 1, 2011 21:07:38 GMT -5 Wow, that's an awesome trek! Thanks for sharing.

Jason starting to spend too much on rocks Member since March 2009 Posts: 216	Rockhounding the Cady Mountains (pic heavy) Mar 2, 2011 14:39:01 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Jason on Mar 2, 2011 14:39:01 GMT -5 225 miles and you def. have some stuff to show for it. Very cool. Thanks for the pics!