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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 12, 2017 9:42:18 GMT -5
I woke this morning to coffee and Con all excited about my valentines present. Y'all are going to love this! It has to be this coming Thursday-Sunday. He wants to fly me ANY WHERE in the US this weekend that is WARM(ish) to rockhound! Ok guys I need help. If you were given that opportunity where would you be heading? He mentioned Sonoran desert in Arizona.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 12, 2017 10:23:05 GMT -5
Arizona or southern Texas for sure!
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 12, 2017 10:50:30 GMT -5
I'm on Amazon right now ordering Arizona guide books 😂😂 I AM SO EXCITED!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 12:30:29 GMT -5
AzRockGeek could help. If you are renting a truck I can give you tons of spots in the Mojave Desert of southern California. But you asked "where would I go?" I would go to Northern California in search of poppy jaspers.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 12, 2017 15:22:08 GMT -5
AzRockGeek could help. If you are renting a truck I can give you tons of spots in the Mojave Desert of southern California. But you asked "where would I go?" I would go to Northern California in search of poppy jaspers. Oh yeah! Now that sounds like some rewarding fun!
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 12, 2017 16:33:33 GMT -5
AzRockGeek could help. If you are renting a truck I can give you tons of spots in the Mojave Desert of southern California. But you asked "where would I go?" I would go to Northern California in search of poppy jaspers. @shotgunner I will write that down in my notes for California for our next trip!! Already bought $70 bucks worth of books on Arizona 😂
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<'))))>< Fish
Cave Dweller
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,841
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Post by <'))))>< Fish on Feb 12, 2017 23:23:35 GMT -5
heck you can fly to anaheim ca, rockhound in my back yard.
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 13, 2017 10:18:36 GMT -5
heck you can fly to anaheim ca, rockhound in my back yard. My husband would much prefer going to Cali 😂 What's in your back yard <'))))>< Fish?
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 13, 2017 12:03:23 GMT -5
I'm totally heartbroken!!! No Arizona this weekend!! It's going to rain.
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<'))))>< Fish
Cave Dweller
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,841
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Post by <'))))>< Fish on Feb 13, 2017 12:03:58 GMT -5
5 tons of rocks..
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 13, 2017 13:03:56 GMT -5
Did you decide, yet?
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 13, 2017 15:28:38 GMT -5
We can't do Arizona 😢😢😡 the whole state is expecting rain. My husband will do a lot of things for me but being out in the rain ain't one! So thinking about taking our plane to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Weather there is going to be beautiful!
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Post by captbob on Feb 13, 2017 15:42:48 GMT -5
Is that the diamond mining area or quartz crystals?
ETA: I have a book here titled: Collecting Crystals - The guide to quartz in Arkansas - by Darcy & Mike Howard Don't know if you want to see if you can get that in time for your trip.
About 150 pages of how and where and more than I cared to know about quartz in Arkansas.
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Post by captbob on Feb 13, 2017 16:03:45 GMT -5
I wouldn't be buying that book on Amazon! Says the least expensive is around 150 bucks! It's a $15 paperback book.
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 13, 2017 16:10:47 GMT -5
I wouldn't be buying that book on Amazon! Says the least expensive is around 150 bucks! It's a $15 paperback book. Thanks Capt'n I'm looking into a few studies right now. I'm not buying anymore damn books this week 😡😢
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 13, 2017 21:52:18 GMT -5
Are you going to Arkansas for Quartz Crystals? If yes I will make some suggestions.
H
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 14, 2017 11:40:48 GMT -5
If you do go digging for Quartz Crystals in Arkansas there are 5 mines in the area.
Jesseville -
Ron Coleman's - We did not find much the day we were there in Oct. They brought up 3 loads and did not see any quality material being found, mostly yard rock. Digging is in tailings.
Miller Mt - Same here, not much being found as the front-end loader was not running and nothing new had been brought to the tailing piles up in a while. Disappointing as this has been the best quality clusters we have found through the years. Hope it improves. The clay here can be un-forgiving.
Mt Ida
Twin Creek - Have done well here the past two years, folks there are friendly and helpful. They are working their way up a hillside in a terraced manner which can allow for digging in actual veins and pockets if you have the tools, hammer, chisels and pry bars. There are also tailings here.
Wegner's - Did real well here in Oct. Worked two pockets and got some very nice clusters and larger points. The only downside is that they drive you out to the digging area and you pay for 2 hour sessions which you can combine. 4 hours of hard-rock mining proved to be more than enough for us.
Sweet Surrender - Crystals here are somewhat harder to find and what you do find is covered in a heavy coating of Iron/Manganese that requires Muratic to remove. The coating does protect the crystal and once removed exposes some very nice crystal.
If it was me I would go to Twin Creek or Wegner's. If I had a longer trip I would hit Miller Mt with the hope that they had got their act together. Make sure you have old clothes and shoes that you don't mind ruining. If it's right after a rain then you can do real well picking the surface.
Good luck.
H
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Post by captbob on Feb 14, 2017 12:46:51 GMT -5
Sweet Surrender - Crystals here are somewhat harder to find and what you do find is covered in a heavy coating of Iron/Manganese that requires Muratic to remove. The coating does protect the crystal and once removed exposes some very nice crystal. Have you tried Super Iron Out? (Home Depot - plumbing section) That worked very well for me when I used it to remove the manganese coating on some Stone Canyon rocks. Be VERY careful of the fumes! Mixed up in hot water and set rocks in bucket of mixture in the sun for a few days. Works better when warm.
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 14, 2017 12:58:55 GMT -5
Whatever the coating is at Sweet Surrender, Super Iron Out barely dents it. Was told is was Mg/Fe of some sort, The Super Iron Out will clean crystals from all of the other mines and I use it extensively. Use the Bucket in the Sun method here a lot, especially if you set it on the concrete patio.
The miners in Arkansas primarily use heated Oxalic or Muriatic Acid to clean crystals. Both of which have health issues associated. Muriatic fumes are bad juju!
H
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 14, 2017 13:33:28 GMT -5
Are you going to Arkansas for Quartz Crystals? If yes I will make some suggestions. H Yes we are and Yes PLEEEZE suggest on!!!
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