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Virginia
| TREASURE HUNTING IN VIRGINIA Add what you know about this area to create a handy guide for other treasure hunters. |
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| What this area is known for: 1. Gold 2. Beryl - emerald 3. Corundum - sapphires, rubies 4.Garnet 5. Star Quartz 6.Rhodonite 7. Agate 8. Fairy Crosses 9. Unakite | Biggest finds in this area: 1.2800 carat garnet - the Rutherford lady 2. World class Amazonite from Amelia County 3. |
| Local appraisers: 1. Name, contact info/website 2. 3. 4. | Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs: 1. http://www.amfed.org/ 2.. 3. 4. |
| Best time of year to go:Best during the warmer months. However, the heat of summer can limit prospecting to the cooler hours of the day | Other helpful resources: 1. 2. 3. |
| Have a question about treasure hunting or geocaching in this region? | |
| THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT Regions can have multiple good spots to go — add details to build a complete guide. |
| Location #1: Fairy Stone State Park General description: With 4537 acres the state park is one of Virginia largest and most popular. The lakes, the scenic beauty make this site a truely enjoyable place to stay. The Park is also a great site to collect Virginia Fairy stones. Fairy crosses are staurolite, a combination of silica, iron and aluminum. Staurolite crystallizes at 60 or 90 degree angles, hence the stone's cross-like structure. | How to get there: From I-81 near Roanoke, take Route 581 to Route 220 South to Route 57 West to Route 346 North (Fairystone Lake Drive) The State Park web site is: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fai.shtml |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Bag to put your crosses in 2. 3. | Helpful notes to newcomers: Legend of the Fairy Cross: Many hundreds of years before Chief Powhatan’s reign, fairies were dancing around a spring of water, playing with naiads and wood nymphs, when an elfin messenger arrived from a city far away. He brought news of the death of Christ. When these creatures of the forest heard the story of the crucifixion, they wept. As their tears fell upon the earth, they crystallized to form beautiful crosses. |
| Location #2: The Allah Cooper Mine General description: Examination of the mine dumps in January, 2003, revealed sphalerite, linarite, galena,gold, chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyromorphite, pyrophyllite, and wulfenite. Virginia Division of Mineral Resources | How to get there: The mine is located in Louisa County, Virginia approximately 5.5 miles northeast of the town of Mineral on Blackwater Branch, a tributary of Contrary Creek Additional information can be found at: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Virginia Minerals publication |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer 2. Bucket 3. Shovel 4. Gloves 5. Safety glasses | Helpful notes to newcomers: The mineral specimens are found in the abandoned tailing piles. Be sure to get permission to collect on private property. |
| Location #3: Morefield Gem Mine General description: The Morefield Mine is a highly mineralized pegmatite dike having a length of 2,000 feet and a depth of 300 feet. It produces over 70 different minerals, with more new ones being discovered. The mine produces mica, feldspar, beryl, phenakite for a few popular ones. It produces minerals of the tantalum/columbite series too. The mine is well known for finding Amazonite. It is truly a varied mixture of minerals. | How to get there: 13400 Butlers Road - Amelia, Virginia For more information check out: ://www.toteshows.com/morefield.html |
| Grade this location: (A to F): A | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer & chisel 2. Rock pick 3. Bucket 4. small sledge hammer - 3 pound | Helpful notes to newcomers: Topaz and garnets and garnets can be found as well as amethyst. |
| Location #4: Visuvius Unakite Quarry General description: Unakite is the Virginia State stone. Unakite is an altered granite composed of pink othoclase feldspar. green , and quartz.. It has various shades of green and pink and is usually mottled in appearance. It is an excellent lapidary gemstone that takes a high polish. | How to get there: On I84 take the Steeles Tavern exit; Hwy 56. Drive east to Vesuvius. The quarry is on HWY 56 just east of town. |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | Coordinates: 37° 53' 60'' North : 79° 10' 48'' West |
| Handy to bring along: 1. Hard Hat 2. Rock hammer 3.Safety glasses | Helpful notes to newcomers: This is a quarry and permission must be obtained to collect. |
| Location #5: (Local beach, park, etc) General description: | How to get there: |
| Grade this location: (A to F): | GPS coordinates: |
| Handy to bring along: 1. 2. 3. | Helpful notes to newcomers: |
| VIDEO FROM THIS AREA Upload a YouTube or Google video of geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
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| PHOTOS FROM THIS AREA Upload pictures of your geocaching or treasuring hunting excursions from this area. |
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Latest page update: made by aubreyreynolds9@gmai
, Jun 6 2008, 8:17 AM EDT
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Edited by aubreyreynolds9@gmai
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