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Post by freeformcabs on Apr 25, 2011 21:22:14 GMT -5
[photos wont attached and img tags are not working with picasa, sorry folks, you can see the photos if you follow the link]Sunday i went up north with a friend to look for Herkimers and came across and new zone of a large coral bed. These beds are common in the area but this one was full of reds! Today i am slabbing one of the prime pieces, and sanded some limb examples. These are not wood but crinoid's i am pretty sure of it. At least i am sure its not wood, the zone is far to old. There are several grades, and when i found the spot, i did a fast walk through and didnt really spot and really look hard. There was just so much and so many examples. Here is the rough i brought back... Then here is a solid core example of real hard agate/jasper mix. Pitting is common along the edge and more prevasive in the lower grades. Then the cast, which also show a grade varience. There are some solid red jasper core ones, but allot can tend to be bunk just like the one on the right side of the group. I am planning a return in a month and will have time to fully explore the spot and see what grade examples there really is. Read more about the trip yesterday on my blog here... freeformcabs.com/2011/04/east-verde-river-rockhounding-arizona/
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Post by Rockhobbit on Apr 25, 2011 23:03:39 GMT -5
Shain, there is so much stuff around that river! Jamie and I want to go before it gets to hot, well guess not until fall then! The guy in Cottonwood found purple saginite and purple plume up there. He won't give up his spot though. Nice to hear from you! Sheri
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Post by mohs on Apr 26, 2011 10:21:15 GMT -5
Hi freeform! Fascinating blog on Willow Creek, Goldfield ect... Red coral ? Whoa cool! hope to run into some more mostly
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 26, 2011 12:42:20 GMT -5
Just and FYI those Catapillar pods are Tent Catapillars- Good idea to burn them as they are HORRIBLY destructive. We get them around here and they can strip a tree in just a couple days. I hate those freakin things! Oh and the corals are awesome-
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Post by freeformcabs on Apr 27, 2011 3:11:32 GMT -5
Hey Sheri, good to here from you too. There really is allot of agate replacements up there. I would be suspisce of nice inlcuded agate like sagenite or plume really from that area. Mainly becasue of one caraistritic to all agates in this area. We generally call them Sand agates becasue most of the beds that produces the colorful agates also had sand pitting in them. Almost looks like a pokadot effect, but just pits.
I grew up in this area and have hiked allot of it. Though i know there is a really good brecciate agate to be found in there with purple color. The pruple color still tends to orginate from these fossil beds. So i am a bit skeptic untill i see some for myself. It was 74 all day Sunday there, windy and super nice to be outside. You got at least 6-8 weeks up there before days start getting in the 90's. Just remember, tonto Forest has a digging restriction in that whole area. You can get slapped with a small $250 fine for a simple hole dug and not refilled. They also frown on breaking rocks and digging out anything from the washes.
Thanks Ed, i am sure we will. Hopefully the spot can produce something i can offer super cheap to anyone interested. BUt i wont really know untill i get back on that hill and inspect it closer for its ture potenial. (ps, its willow Springs not the famous willow creek we all know about with its fine jasper)
Thanks Stefan, ya we tried. But it wouldnt catch. Those pods were really hopping.
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Post by mohs on Apr 27, 2011 10:51:47 GMT -5
Hi Shane I grew up too in the shadow of the Supers will admit I don't know my Willows Heck if fell into the LDM I probably wouldn't recognize the gold but that red coral is Super ! ever in Phoenix look me up Ed
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Apr 27, 2011 10:56:21 GMT -5
Wow great trip report . I didnt realize that AZ had Herkimer Diamonds I thought NY was the only place to get those. Now AZ is on my list of places to go lol
Wolf
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Post by mohs on Apr 27, 2011 15:50:36 GMT -5
The crystals in the Payson area that compare with Herkimers I had never heard of them untill they were mentioned on this board. I forget by whom! There were tales of Diamonds being discovered in Arizona Throughout the Pioneer/Prospectors days Some of it was hoaxed but maybe some of these crystals were mis-identified ? According to the "US Treasure Atlas" for Arizona, diamonds were reported found along the Santa Maria river in Yavapai county - no details however. <p 44, listing #218> AZ Diamond Hoax Article from New York Times query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9903E3D71F38EF34BC4852DFB6678389669FDE
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