quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 11, 2014 15:30:15 GMT -5
We took off for a couple weeks to visit the kids who are winter caretakers at a sunstone mine, help with the winter cleanup project, and do some collecting for us. We had an onsite trailer to stay in with propane for heat and cooking, like tenting but with a hard shell. The winter cleanup is a shovel, bucket, and screen operation to clean up loose stuff from last mining season. Our collecting was by walking the adjacent public collecting area, no pillaging of the mines, that belongs to the owner and the split the kids get. The weather was "O.K.", three days of good weather [not together], one medium, and a bunch of cold windy days; dressed for that. We found the thing that really dissolved our resolve was when it started snowing while on our morning walk, short-lived shower though. That mining business is nothing but hard work, even with the power equipment used in the summer. No T.V. glam here. Sorry about the crappy caption locations, have yet to figure out how to get them right every time. industrial strength sunrise rain shower toward Hart Mtn, 1800 ft. elev. difference Me, head shovel operator wife Carol, head screen operator sunstones on the surface, area is covered with them. The largest is 3/8" long and maybe 3ct. We pick up about 4ct. and above, our biggest was 44ct. coming home over Santiam Pass, 3-10
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 11, 2014 17:14:38 GMT -5
Enjoyed your trip pics, quartz, and thanks for sharing them with us. That's a big champagne-colored one that y'all found in the pic. Is it the 44ct? Did any on the sunstones have killer schiller in 'em? Do you have plans to have any faceted? or will you cab them?
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 11, 2014 22:17:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the look. That "big" sunstone is a camera macro enhanced little one. When we get everything cleaned up and put away I'll dig some out of the can and put them up. Did find some good schillers, Carol found one that looks like a copper mirror. We will tumble little ones and free form most of the larger.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2014 5:53:55 GMT -5
Dang Larry. Your tougher than a ten cent steak. Two weeks of hard work. Bet you get home and sleep well ! Funny how hunting rocks gives you energy. Looks like some fine country too. It amazes us southern folks that you can drive to snow in your own state during much of the year. My sister moved to Oregon for just that-the snow. The treasures are often in remote areas. That is a good thing. Looks like you had a perfect family outing to boot. Claims and mining like that is surreal. Wish the market for stones was better for all hounders. The sunstone is a sought after material and you guys are fortunate to be a part of mining it. The expectation of finding the mother load is another whole motivating factor. Thanks for sharing your trip and the mining op. Glad your back.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 12, 2014 9:31:55 GMT -5
Looks like you all had a blast.....Got to love Oregon,rocks galore "everywhere",if you want snow,drive the mountains,if you want sun,head to the coastal beach!! I prefer the later,hate snow,love the sun-LOL.. Haven't mined "sunstones" yet,but its on the list!
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 12, 2014 10:29:37 GMT -5
That mining business is nothing but hard work, even with the power equipment used in the summer. No T.V. glam here. I have heard that from more than one person for sure! Thanks for sharing the trip with us. I miss Oregon!
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quartz
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breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 12, 2014 12:00:01 GMT -5
Well, we didn't work all that hard all the time, did lots of walking in the public collection area for our stuff. I found I can shovel and pack buckets for hours, but 20 min. of picking that screen required just enough bending to do in my lower back. Sleep well when we got home, yes, I think the bed we had there was salvaged from a torture chamber at some mid-evil castle. That, and the forever wind made so much stuff outside rattle and bang. Worth it, absolutely.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2014 13:05:45 GMT -5
Great pictures! I know what you mean about the wind and the cold. Summer has its own set of "charms" with both heat and cold (and little in-between). No shade, either, and canopies and tents tend to get ripped up and tossed easily by that wind (unless you can snag one of the nice permanent shade structures with picnic tables at the public area). It is still drop-dead gorgeous country, and you have me wanting to go back despite the little discomforts.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2014 19:04:49 GMT -5
Well, we didn't work all that hard all the time, did lots of walking in the public collection area for our stuff. I found I can shovel and pack buckets for hours, but 20 min. of picking that screen required just enough bending to do in my lower back. Sleep well when we got home, yes, I think the bed we had there was salvaged from a torture chamber at some mid-evil castle. That, and the forever wind made so much stuff outside rattle and bang. Worth it, absolutely. I have a fussy lower back too Larry. Can shovel for hours. But holding a serving tray standing up is another story. You are fortunate to have this arrangement. Rare to have a whole family with equal interest.
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Post by radio on Mar 12, 2014 19:27:25 GMT -5
That's one place I would definitely like to return to! Was there 7 or 8 years ago and did the one hour conveyor belt run, plus the rest of the day digging and screening. Came away with about 3 pounds of Sun stones, but none of the elusive super red ones:-( A bunch have the copper schiller and a few have blues or greens and a few very pretty pinkish ones. Nothing huge though
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 12, 2014 19:57:41 GMT -5
How true, to have a common interest is pretty nice, Carol and I both hunted agates along our respective railroad tracks, many years before knowing each other. That is quite a place down there, we have been snowed on in mid May some years ago, and in the summer everything taller than a jackrabbit gets baked; no shade. We don't hang around the canopy/can area much, prefer to go on out and pitch our tent [except this time]. Can't drive stakes out there, too much rock, so we weight it down with rocks on the inside to keep it there. Radio: To us it doesn't really matter whether we do well or not with the finds, just the doing is doing well. The place is so different, quiet, and visually attractive, it's always a strong pull to return. We've been there 5 times in 15 years.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2014 20:12:19 GMT -5
Spent time up in Kamloops B.C. in July. Predicted i would freeze. More like a deep sun burn. Talk about a dose of radiation.
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Post by radio on Mar 12, 2014 20:28:31 GMT -5
Radio: To us it doesn't really matter whether we do well or not with the finds, just the doing is doing well. The place is so different, quiet, and visually attractive, it's always a strong pull to return. We've been there 5 times in 15 years. I'm with you 100%. We only had part of a day to spend there, so opted for the conveyor belt to maximize our chances and was quite happy with what we got. I would love to go back there again, but doubt it will happen. Another place on the most wanted list is another trip to Virgin Vally for Opal
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 19, 2014 14:30:25 GMT -5
Here's the stones that we found that ran 20ct.+, starting with a 44ct. at upper left and going around clockwise to a 21.5, the pile all smaller. Got 1 3/4 pounds of 10-20 and lots of smalls, all found by walking the public collection area; lots of walking. Our schillers were all pretty small, put 4 on the bill hoping they would show well. 21ct. finished sunstone carving, not by or for us, but we got to meet the carver. A mine area resident, and very talented. Better pic. of carving, shows color better.
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Don
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He wants you too, Malachi.
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Post by Don on Mar 19, 2014 15:04:17 GMT -5
Sunstone is one of my favorite materials to carve.
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 23, 2014 9:16:53 GMT -5
Really nice finds, quartz! Can see the killer schiller in your pic. Who is the carving of? Very nice work by the carver! The photo of the carving in the sunlight is amazing! Looks like the carving is glowing. Have you seen any of the champagne-colored Oregon sunstones that have a silvery schiller?
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 23, 2014 10:56:19 GMT -5
We have never seen a silver schiller, I'll do some asking about it. The "face" carvings done by that gentleman are of a Native American sort of appearance, something out of his minds eye. He says anybody can do it, ya. We got to see several of his carving projects, all totally impressive. Larry
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,340
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Post by quartz on Mar 23, 2014 23:03:12 GMT -5
Jan; I had an opportunity to chat with a friend who is very knowledgeable about Oregon Sunstones, posed the "silvery schiller" question to him. He said there are no Oregon sunstones, or for that matter in the country, that have a silvery instead of coppery schiller. Either this material is from some other country [which tests the use of the descriptive word "sunstone"], or someone got creative with a chemistry set and infused the stone with some kind of colorant. Larry
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