Post by frane on Jun 21, 2009 20:20:26 GMT -5
Well, I had never been able to go on a trip with the NVMS so yesterday was a first. They had a trip scheduled to the Lucky Lake in McKenney, VA and after a few hours there, we went to the Ligon Beryl Mine in Amelia, VA.
Well, let me tell you, it was hot! I don't care how much water you drank, the humidity seemed to really get to me! We went to the strip type mine and it really was not too deep and from what I understand, they have really only just started to dig down. The buckets that they sell for sluicing are salted but the pit is what you find is what you get. Well, I don't think any of us really found much of anything. I did get a few yard rocks though.
Our first stop well, I am not sure how I feel about it. I was really looking for a bunch of unikite. Mostly what I found was feldspar with very little epidote.
Here is the location;
Here is my big yard rock
A close up of the top
Some others
This one is so soft, it crumbles. it is gritty and when you look close, it looks like there may be little bubbly crystals. At first, in the mud with the light shinning on it, I thought I had some kyanite but I didn't.
Then, we went off to the ligon mine. Well, I didn't know it was at someones house and I kept passing it up. Then the rest of the members showed up and I followed them in.
We went back behind the farm. I know that they had mined for mica and everything else got pushed aside and away from the farmland they had.
Here is the location:
The reason I show this person is because this very young member of our group is extremely knowledgeable about menerals and she was the only one to find beryl...6 of them.
I ended up with a ton of pretty quartz. Some are very clear but it really doesn't show here. Also some moonstone and black Tourmaline in matrix.
Here are some Tourmaline
Needless to say, after the 3+ hour drive there and then getting home after the humid and hot day, I am still beat!
Thanks for looking!
Fran
Well, let me tell you, it was hot! I don't care how much water you drank, the humidity seemed to really get to me! We went to the strip type mine and it really was not too deep and from what I understand, they have really only just started to dig down. The buckets that they sell for sluicing are salted but the pit is what you find is what you get. Well, I don't think any of us really found much of anything. I did get a few yard rocks though.
Our first stop well, I am not sure how I feel about it. I was really looking for a bunch of unikite. Mostly what I found was feldspar with very little epidote.
Here is the location;
Here is my big yard rock
A close up of the top
Some others
This one is so soft, it crumbles. it is gritty and when you look close, it looks like there may be little bubbly crystals. At first, in the mud with the light shinning on it, I thought I had some kyanite but I didn't.
Then, we went off to the ligon mine. Well, I didn't know it was at someones house and I kept passing it up. Then the rest of the members showed up and I followed them in.
We went back behind the farm. I know that they had mined for mica and everything else got pushed aside and away from the farmland they had.
Here is the location:
The reason I show this person is because this very young member of our group is extremely knowledgeable about menerals and she was the only one to find beryl...6 of them.
I ended up with a ton of pretty quartz. Some are very clear but it really doesn't show here. Also some moonstone and black Tourmaline in matrix.
Here are some Tourmaline
Needless to say, after the 3+ hour drive there and then getting home after the humid and hot day, I am still beat!
Thanks for looking!
Fran