vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
|
Post by vayank5150 on Feb 4, 2017 16:37:58 GMT -5
I have been Googling trying to find additional sites where I can take my daughter to find rocks for our new hobby. In doing so, I discovered that there are quite a few now defunct granite quarries not far from our home. One of which is now part of a local park. While I doubt that granite would be good for tumbling, I was wondering if there are other specimens of rocks/stones/minerals that typically accompany granite that might be good for tumbling?
|
|
Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
|
Post by Wooferhound on Feb 4, 2017 17:04:00 GMT -5
Here in Alabama there is some kind of Black Glassy stones that are found around the quarrys and in the gravel that they spread.
|
|
vera
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 259
|
Post by vera on Feb 4, 2017 19:01:02 GMT -5
I remember many years ago hearing about opals being found at a gravel quarry in Centerville, Virginia. Some gemstone quality quartz was found at a quarry in Millville, West Virginia. So I would say that if you have legal access to an old quarry site, it would be well worth looking to see whatever might be found. ;-)
|
|
vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
|
Post by vayank5150 on Feb 4, 2017 19:24:51 GMT -5
Well, it is now a park within the City limits of Richmond, so I would need to find out exactly where on the 103 acre park site the old quarry actually stood, but it's nice to know other stones, even possibly semi-precious stones might be around. Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Feb 4, 2017 21:00:48 GMT -5
The whole 103 acres might have been the quarry.
Just go to the lowest point and start digging (after dark).
|
|
vera
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 259
|
Post by vera on Feb 4, 2017 21:14:50 GMT -5
Take a flashlight that has an ultraviolet setting on it. Some stones will reflect the light and catch your eye and others will be fluorescent under the uv. ;-)
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 5, 2017 3:50:56 GMT -5
Granite quarries are not the best place to find tumbling stones. Felspar, quartz, not much else. Felspar is tricky to tumble. The quarry may have gneiss, it tumbles well. Unfortunately railroad tracks are private property, they often have fine gravels from local quarries broken up perfectly for a tumbler. Maybe you can find abandoned railroad tracks say in a park or industrial area.
|
|
osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
|
Post by osuguy0301 on Feb 5, 2017 8:53:27 GMT -5
Maybe this site will help you varockshop.com, on the banner there is a link "Rockhound Info" then field collecting. It has links to a bunch of counties in Virginia. Gatorgirlrocks.com also has state by state information on rockhounding.
Jake
|
|
vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
|
Post by vayank5150 on Feb 5, 2017 10:56:24 GMT -5
Granite quarries are not the best place to find tumbling stones. Felspar, quartz, not much else. Felspar is tricky to tumble. The quarry may have gneiss, it tumbles well. Unfortunately railroad tracks are private property, they often have fine gravels from local quarries broken up perfectly for a tumbler. Maybe you can find abandoned railroad tracks say in a park or industrial area. This is a great idea. My office is in an industrial park and there are a couple of old railroad spurs there that I could check out. Thanks!
|
|
vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
|
Post by vayank5150 on Feb 5, 2017 10:57:20 GMT -5
Maybe this site will help you varockshop.com, on the banner there is a link "Rockhound Info" then field collecting. It has links to a bunch of counties in Virginia. Gatorgirlrocks.com also has state by state information on rockhounding. Jake Thanks for this. varockshop.com is where I found the info on the old granite quarries. Just not a ton of info out there. I'll keep digging.
|
|
vera
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 259
|
Post by vera on Feb 5, 2017 11:15:54 GMT -5
For some reason it had not registered in my head that you are in Virginia. I am not exceedingly familiar with the Richmond area, but you do have cool places within a couple of hours drive. I believe the closest mine you may want to visit is Morefield Gem Mine, which you can check out online at here. Another interesting place close to you is Lucky Lake here. Something to remember if you do visit these places is that you can find a lot of cool rocks and minerals without paying for them by looking in the creek beds and along the banks of creeks that run close by places like this. I am much more familiar with the area of Virginia between Fredericksburg and Ladysmith. If you travel the backroads in that area there are many fords (places where you drive your car through creeks to continue on the road) and many places along creeks and rivers where you can just pull off to fish (or rockhound). When you check this type of place out you will often find gravel banks where the creeks turn and the water has left piles of small rocks for the picking. I have collected rocks at many creeks in Spotsylvania and Caroline counties. I know these types of areas are also along back roads west of Richmond, because a lot of my ancestors settled in that area and though I have driven around that area, I have never actually collected rocks there. Another thing about Virginia is that they are pretty strict about people not removing things from their parks. No sense in you getting fined when there are plenty of creeks with boat ramps or fishing areas where that will not happen.
|
|
vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
|
Post by vayank5150 on Feb 5, 2017 11:25:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Vera. I have been to the Moorefield mine a few times, but not in many years. Unfortunately, both the Moorefield and Lucky Lake are closed this time of year. I am also an old relic hunter, and have trudged through Caroline, Ladysmith and Fredericksburg in years past looking for stuff with a metal detector. I remember walking around the North Anna River, and of course the Matta, the Po and the Ni. However, I got out of relic hunting because I do not trespass, and it became increasingly difficult to find land where I had permission to hunt. But, you are saying there are public boat ramps and such where it would not be trespassing? I need to check that out.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 5, 2017 11:26:51 GMT -5
Georgia railroad granite and gneiss. Gneiss on the left(darker) and granite on the right. The gneiss takes a better polish because it is harder than granite. These had been running like 3 weeks. Note that the granite is rounder because it is softer than the gneiss. Maybe the photo comparison will help you guys find gneiss if it is there.
|
|
vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
|
Post by vayank5150 on Feb 5, 2017 11:32:42 GMT -5
Those gneiss are very nice looking. Good job! Railroad spurs, here I come!
|
|
vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
|
Post by vayank5150 on Feb 5, 2017 11:39:39 GMT -5
Vera got me thinking....the James River is basically in my back yard and there is a County Park really close Robious Landing Park. Perhaps this would be a good place to hound?
|
|
vera
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 259
|
Post by vera on Feb 5, 2017 11:48:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Vera. I have been to the Moorefield mine a few times, but not in many years. Unfortunately, both the Moorefield and Lucky Lake are closed this time of year. I am also an old relic hunter, and have trudged through Caroline, Ladysmith and Fredericksburg in years past looking for stuff with a metal detector. I remember walking around the North Anna River, and of course the Matta, the Po and the Ni. However, I got out of relic hunting because I do not trespass, and it became increasingly difficult to find land where I had permission to hunt. But, you are saying there are public boat ramps and such where it would not be trespassing? I need to check that out. I've done a lot of playing on the Matta and Po rivers - great fishing holes! I have an immense amount of family on my mother's side of the family in that area and most of them with land did stop letting people on their properties, because of the lack of respect they displayed by leaving places trashed and stealing from them. Shame that so many people have to suffer because of the few who do not care.
|
|
vera
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 259
|
Post by vera on Feb 5, 2017 11:50:36 GMT -5
Vera got me thinking....the James River is basically in my back yard and there is a County Park really close Robious Landing Park. Perhaps this would be a good place to hound? That looks pretty nice - it does not hurt to try it!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 5, 2017 12:28:31 GMT -5
Those gneiss are very nice looking. Good job! Railroad spurs, here I come! Cross tie walkers Rock hobo's Look for garnets and tourmaline in the granite. Pink and red usually comes from pink felspar.
|
|