jim931
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 117
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Post by jim931 on Jun 25, 2019 21:37:02 GMT -5
Just wondering if anyone wants to go Rock Hounding anywhere in Southern California over the 4th of July weekend. I should be available the 5th-8th. I have the book called gem trails of Southern California and thought it would be nice to get a few people out looking for some rough.
James.
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 557
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Post by vwfence on Jun 26, 2019 0:04:23 GMT -5
be careful with the heat
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jun 26, 2019 15:18:25 GMT -5
I am now learning that Southern California, especially the desert regions (near Barstow) are a mecca, and should be a bucket list destination for anyone that is serious about finding rocks.
There might be locations nearer to LA central, such as the foothills which have much better climates during the peak of the Summer.
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crystaljunkie
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2019
Posts: 1
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Post by crystaljunkie on Aug 8, 2019 21:05:32 GMT -5
I am waiting for my trail book to learn.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Aug 9, 2019 10:32:30 GMT -5
I am now learning that Southern California, especially the desert regions (near Barstow) are a mecca, and should be a bucket list destination for anyone that is serious about finding rocks. There might be locations nearer to LA central, such as the foothills which have much better climates during the peak of the Summer. Yes......there are many locations still. But shrinking rapidly due to land development and public agency oversight. To mention a few we've traveled within the Los Angeles sphere of influence bordering San Bernardino County...: Cucamonga Peak, San Gabriel Reservation, Lake Elizabeth, Quartz Hill and Lucerne Valley........all accessible but fenced in many locations. It's been our experience over the many years of hounding/surveying through out the San Bernadino County regions, the most accessible and abundant common agate/jasper considered "collectible" will be found in the higher mtn/desert areas. The valley/foothill areas are increasingly shrinking with private access becoming common place everywhere. Riverside County used to be plentiful until the Temecula, Murrieta, Corona, Perris land development boom took over. Finds can still be had in the Jurupa, and Hwy.60 Badlands, but you have to know where to go.....and there ain't to many experienced rockhounds around here passing on any information anymore........! There are members here at RTH that can speak to San Diego County, Central Valley and areas west and north of Sacramento, much better......where summer temp's are much more forgiving. I'd suggest another nice California handbook for reference. I'm not sure it's still published new, but many can be found on Amazon used. I bought the 3rd edition new at a local rock/gem show a couple of years ago....(Rocks and Minerals of California: Brown, Allan, Stark. Naturegraph Publishers) .........It's old school location identified (Township/Section/Quadrant) and will get you in the vicinity pretty well. Being a Land Surveyor, like myself, no problems...lol.....but you can use Google maps to dial it in pretty good...........just a thought.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 9, 2019 10:59:37 GMT -5
Yes, Pizzano I can only imagine that the SoCal locations are being restricted by land usage, rezoning, and fencing of now private property.
Thank you very much for sharing some of the local locations which might still be up for rock hunting. I find myself down in those parts a couple times a year, but with Barstow so close, I have to tell you that I will not be going West of Barstow very often in the near future, due to the gold mine for rocks that it currently is.
So, the book you recommend is a good one? Great recommend. As a matter of fact, I found an excerpt of an article from it once, and tracked down the source. The book itself. I have a copy of this book, and got it for an amazing steal of a price of $2.49 from an online retailer of used book. It is new. So far I have hit three locations listed in the book, and all were surprisingly well described and produced nice examples of the rocks. Some of the others, such as "Gem Trails.." or "Rock Hounding.." have been less reliable to date; and in a couple cases, outright not applicable.
I often find that my best results just come from a ton of walking. By just covering a lot of ground, and developing a better eye for what to look for. But often, it is not even that. It is me, just happen to be treading on a very small 20 ft. by 20 ft. location that has never seen a foot before. Which is why I like to do a lot of hiking in general locations which are near to well known finds. It is like fishing though. A lot of the time I end up with either nothing, or maybe one or two keeper rocks. And others, I find something that is one of the best things that I've found so far. But it is a lot of treading around.
I use Google maps, and another GPS tool, which has hundreds of different overlays with it (GAIA GPS), which works with the laptop and the phone real well.
I appriate the write up very much Pizanno!
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Post by socalagatehound on Aug 11, 2019 0:47:03 GMT -5
jim931 PM me when it cools down...October is iffy. November is better. January, February, March are the bomb in SoCal. I'm heat intolerant...LOL! Craig
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jim931
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 117
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Post by jim931 on Sept 18, 2019 10:02:13 GMT -5
Sounds great! I definitely will reach out soon!!
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