Found a new mine to explore. (pic heavy)

[vegasjames]

Jax and I went out the other day since it was one of the few last days under 90F.  Decided to check out a new mine I spotted my previous trip out off in the distance that looked pretty interesting.  It was quite a hike up to the top of this canyon.




On the way up I found what looked to be the old mining camp.  There was turquoise laying all over the ground around the site.




Further up I was mainly finding nice specimens of malachite with a nice spray pattern and occasionally some more turquoise.

We finally reached the mine at the top.  There was a lot of turquoise, but what was laying around was all really thin superficial layers.  Inside the mine was a lot better other than the snake I posted about in another post.  Found a lot of azurite with malachite. Here is some of what I found and brought down.



This is one of my favorite pieces.  It is a mix of azurite, malachite, turquoise and it looks like minor amounts of gem chrysocolla.




Since it was a little hot out there we cooled off in the mine and found some shade on the way down under a large Joshua tree.  My hat also serves as a water bowl.






When we got back down to the truck Jax and I drove over to the other mine I have been working and knocked out a couple large bag loads of turquoise.  Here is some of it.



Overall it was a bit hot and a long, long day but we had a lot fun.

[Pat]

Yes, finding such pretty rocks is always fun! Jax looks mighty pleased with his water hat.

[vegasjames]

May 19, 2016 2:09:27 GMT -5 Pat said:

Yes, finding such pretty rocks is always fun! Jax looks mighty pleased with his water hat.

 I think she was more happy just to find shade.  When we are out there and she cannot find a shady spot she will come crawl under me while I am digging out rocks just to get out of the sun.

[orrum]

Wow we gotta get 2gether n go hounding that's awesome stuff!

[wampidytoo]

I had no idea that malachite could be found in the USA. Now there are only 1000000000000000000000000000099 things I don't know.

Gotta love the blue and purple stone no matter where it comes from and that is lovable stuff there.

Maybe a small umbrella would make Miss Doggie happy and I don't think it would add much weight but I am not the one that has to carry the load either. Maybe with a little ingenuity Miss Doggie could carry her own shade on her back. I used to have an umbrella that folded and slid into a package about 1 1/2" in diameter and 8" long that would be easy to carry. Just my thoughts on this, not criticizing.
Jim

[vegasjames]

May 19, 2016 5:59:01 GMT -5 orrum said:

Wow we gotta get 2gether n go hounding that's awesome stuff!

Let me know if you get out this way.  Fall will be good. In a few more weeks it will probably be too hot to get out there.

[vegasjames]

May 19, 2016 7:57:59 GMT -5 wampidytoo said:

I had no idea that malachite could be found in the USA. Now there are only 1000000000000000000000000000099 things I don't know.

Gotta love the blue and purple stone no matter where it comes from and that is lovable stuff there.

Maybe a small umbrella would make Miss Doggie happy and I don't think it would add much weight but I am not the one that has to carry the load either. Maybe with a little ingenuity Miss Doggie could carry her own shade on her back. I used to have an umbrella that folded and slid into a package about 1 1/2" in diameter and 8" long that would be easy to carry. Just my thoughts on this, not criticizing.
Jim

Yes, there malachite all over out there.  The largest chunk I brought down was around 70 pounds.  The malachite there is not patterned like the Congo malachite though. It tends to be just green with splotches of brown from the limonite.  I did cab up one piece though and it was a very pretty two tone green.  Eventually I will cut some more up and work with it, but have other stuff to get done first.

I don't worry about Jax out there in the sun.  Yes she gets hot but there is usually a cliff, bush, mine, cave, etc. that will provide shade.  Only problem is that she wants to always be right with me to make sure I am alright. So if those shade sources are not where she can see me she does not go to them.

A small umbrella is light but have to find a way to keep it upright when we stop to dig.  Thanks for the idea. Can't attach anything to her since there are too many things out there to snag it on.

Pretty soon it will too hot to go out unless I go North for the Tiffany stone and beryllium ore.  There is an old abandoned stone house there that is great for getting out of the sun and the cement floors are cool.

[Fossilman]

Nice haul and great photos.........Thanks for sharing...