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Arkansas

aubreyreynolds9@gmai — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:38:05 CDT

TREASURE HUNTING IN ARKANSAS
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What this area is known for: 1.Quartz Crystals 2.Wavelite 3.Diamonds 4.Marine Fossils 5.Magnet Cove - mineral specimens 6. Arkansas wet stone - Novaculite 7. Rush - mineral specimens 8. Bauxite	Biggest finds in this area: 1.There are incredible specimens of Arkansas Quartz Crystals worth thousands of dollars in museums, rock shops,and rock shows. The Smithsonian in Washington DC has one of the best displays anywhere on rocks, minerals, and gems; including spectacular Arkansas minerals. 2.The Arkansas Diamond Mine is a fun place to visit but a great deal of work is required to find a diamond. But if you find a good one, you are in the money. 3.
Local appraisers: 1. There are many knowledgeable owners of Rock Shops at Hot Springs, Mount Ida, and on Hwy 7 North from Hot Springs 2.. 3. .	Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs: 1. NW Arkansas Gem & Mineral Society 2. http://www.centralarrockhound.org/ 3. http://www.amfed.org/club.htm 4. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/minerals/index.shtml .
Best time of year to go: Arkansas is called the Natural State and is a great place to vacation just about anytime of the year. The summers are warm so leave heavy prospecting for the morning.	Other helpful resources: (newspapers, websites, etc) 1.Rockhounding Arkansas http://www.rockhoundingar.com/ 2.Coleman Mine http://www.colemanquartz.com/ 3.Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine http://www.sweetsurrendercrystals.com
Have a question about treasure hunting or geocaching in this region? Post a comment for fellow treasure hunters below!

THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT
Regions can have multiple good spots to go — add details to build a complete guide.

Location #1: Coleman Crystal Mine General description: The Coleman Mine is open to the public for a modest fee. Some of the world's best quartz crystal finds have come from the Coleman mines. It is just a short drive from Hot Springs which offers numerous attractions for the vacationer.	How to get there: Drive from Hot Springs north on HWY 7. After passing Hot Springs Village look for Colemans Crystal Yard on the left. You can't miss it. See the Coleman's site for additional Information: http://www.colemanquartz.com/
Grade this location: (A to F): A	GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1.Hat to shade the head 2.Bucket to carry your treasures. 3.Hand tools	Helpful notes to newcomers: Coleman Crystal Mine is a family attraction and does not require back breaking work to find crystals. You will find crystals! Fine mineral specimens of quatz can bring serveral hundred dollars. Good Luck!

Location #2: Arkansas Quartz Crystal Mine. You'll come and we will be sure you have a great time. General Description: Sweet Surrender is a commercial quartz crystal mine that has areas for you and your family to come and dig for crystal. We are located just north of Mt. Ida Arkansas which is known as the quartz crystal capital of the world. We will help you to know what you are looking for and get you started.... This way you can have fun and come play in the dirt.	How to get there: Click on the link: DIRECTIONS TO THE MINE ARE: FROM MT. IDA TAKE HWY 27 NORTH (THRU WASHITA) TO HORSESHOE BEND ROAD. HORSESHOE BEND ROAD IS 1/2 MILE PAST WASHITA ON THE RIGHT. GO 1/2 MILE DOWN HORSESHOE BEND ROAD TO THE FIRST MAIL BOX ON THE RIGHT.(FLOYD IRONS) TURN RIGHT ON THE FOREST SERVICE ROAD AND FOLLOW THE ROAD TO THE TOP OF THE HILL UNTIL YOU SEE PICNIC TABLES
Grade this location: (A to F) A	Map:
Handy to bring along: Bring plenty of water, maybe some sun screen and/or umbrella, old hand garden tools, or an old screwdriver. We can even possibly loan you a few tools.	Helpful notes to newcomers: Call to make reservations or to confirm that you will be here to dig the next day (870-867-0104.) If no answer leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Location #3: Bauxite Arkansas General description: Bauxite Arkansas was the largest source of domestic bauxite ore. Reynolds Metals and Alcoa operated extensive mining operations. Bird's eye bauxite, hematite, and geotite can be found. Some of the harder specimens of bird's eye can be polished. There is a mining museum in the town that is worth stopping to visit.	How to get there: From Little Rock take I 30 to Reynolds Road HWY 183 to Bauxite. Turn south on Bauxite Cut Off Road and turn east on Mt Olive Cut Off Road. Specimens can be collected in the ditches. Do not venture into the mine pits. There is more material than you will want with out trespassing.
Grade this location: (A to F):	Map:
Handy to bring along: 1.Rock Hammer 2.Rock Bag 3.Safety Glasses	Helpful notes to newcomers: The bird's eye bauxite is nice to have in a collection but is not particularly valuable. It can make attractive cabochons but is not a hard mineral.

Location #4: Crater of Diamonds State Park General description: The State Park offers the opportunity for the visitor to find one of the most prized gems (diamonds)in the world. Of the estimated 25000 diamonds found the largest was 16.37-carat Amarillo Starlight. Beside diamonds there are other pegmatite gems, jasper and agate.	How to get there: http://www.craterofdamondsstatepark.com/
Grade this location: (A to F): A Uncut Arkansas Diamond	Map:
Handy to bring along: 1.Screens can be rented at the park 2.Hat for shade 3.Pick and shovel if you are ambitious 4.Washing screen if you bring your own	Helpful notes to newcomers: Do not think that diamonds are common. Typically 2 diamonds are found each day. I go to the mine mainly to collect jaspers and agate which are plentiful.

Read Becky's Report on the Travel Channel Web Site
http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Cash_and_Treasures/ci.Diamonds_-_Becky.show?vgnextfmt=show

Location #5: Caddo Gap & Near by Quartz Mining General description: Gaddo Gap is a fault that splits a gap through a mountain of Arkansas Novaculite. Hernando Desoto confronted the Tula Indian tribe at Caddo Gap and wrote that they were the most fearsome warriors that he had encountered. Amazing folds of Novaculite line the road passing through the gap. The Caddo river that runs beside the road is known for canoing, fishing and you might gather some specimens along its banks.	How to get there: Caddo Gap is between Glenwood and Mount Ida on HWY 8. Wegner Crystals Mines are 3 miles south of Mount Ida. http://www.wegnercrystalmines.com/ Mount Ida has an annual crystal festival that is well worth visiting. http://www.mtidachamber.com/calendar_of_events.htm
Grade this location: (A to F): A There are several crystal mines in the area. http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/crystal-hunting/	Road Cut at Caddo Gap:
Handy to bring along: 1.Rock Hammer 2.Safety Glasses 3.Rock Bag 4. Hand tools	Helpful notes to newcomers: Novaculite is sold as Arkansas Wet Stone for sharping knives. The harder materials can be napped into Native American Tools. The Wegner Mines is one one the better mines in the area.

Location #6: Petrified Wood General description: South Central Arkansas is Piney Woods country with slow moving Bayous. The sub soils are Quaternary gravels. Petrified woods and some fossil palm wood is found in the Pleistocene age deposits. Lignite coal beds are buried beneath the river sediments. Some of the wood is highly silified with occasional veins of opal. One log I found has beautiful red opal vein running along its length.	How to get there: There a many sites where wood can be found. One that I have collected is north of Fordyce on Arkansas HWY 8. Turn at Bucksnort on CR 131 east or on CR 101 east. Drive slowly and watch the ditches. The roads are dirt and the county grades the roads periodically revealing pieces of petrified wood. There has been large logs (well over a 1000 pounds) over turned by the logging crews . When you find a spot- load up. Some of the gravels are steam smoothed banded chert, quartz and colored jaspers that make good tumbling material.
Grade this location: (A to F): A	GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1.Pick and Shovel 2.Buckets 3.Boots 4. Front end loader ( there are some huge logs)	Helpful notes to newcomers: Do not attempt this rockhounding trip during deer hunting season. The Piney Woods will be full of hunters wanting to shoot a deer and you might be mistaken for one. The best time is the spring of year if the creek don't rise. The petrified wood is mainly tan color but I have found black and red colored wood. The material should be high graded because there is an abundance of leaverite. Leave er rite there. Arkansas Petrified wood found near Fordyce Arkansas

Location #7: Civil War Relics General Description: The Battle of Mark's Mill was a Union disaster. General Frederick Steele had plans to join forces with Brigadier General John M. Thayer and take the port at Shreveport, Louisiana. Steel was plagued with a lack of supplies. A force of 2000 soldiers were escorting 240 wagons to supply Steele troops . The force was ambushed by by a Confederate force in the low lands of south Arkansas at the cross roads from Camden to Pine Bluff. The Union force suffered approximately 1600 casualties and men captured, compared to 300 Confederate casualties. My Great Grandfather, Wilson Polk Wallace, fought in this battle in General James F. Fagan's Confederate Cavalry. The local legend is that the ghost of the soldiers haunt the dark forests and re enact the battle especially on the anniversary of the battle.	How to get there: The Historical Marker is east of Fordyce on HWY 8 and the intersection of HWY 97. Two well known people were born in the area. You will pass the birth place of Paul "Bear" Bryant on HWY 8 at Smith Chapel. Just five miles north at Kingsland, Johnny Cash was born.
Grade this location: (A-F) I have found civil war battlefield collectibles in a small creek that flows about a hundred yards from the marker. A large number of Union guns and other battle weapons were gathered by the local people after the battle and hide or buried for fear of being found with contraband. A friend who lives not far from the marker has a extensive collection of civil war collectibles. Watch "Antiques Roadshow" to get an idea of what these relics can be worth.	Where to look: The battle was over a much broader area than just around the marker. Much of the land is private property or belongs to large timber companies. Always ask permission to collect. As an added bonus Cretaceous fossils and petrified wood can be found in the area. (see posting above Location #5) The gravel also contains quartz, jaspers, cherts, and petrified wood.
Handy to bring along: 1. Metal detector 2. Shovel 3. Back pack 4. Small hand pick	Helpful notes to newcomers: Cleveland county is not on your tourist maps. It is the least populated county in Arkansas. The county is heavily forested and has a wild beauty.

Location #8: Magnet Cove General Description: Magnet Cove is world famous for the extensive occurrence of different minerals in one location. About 42 different minerals have been identified at the cove. Mines have been operated for several strategic minerals including: vanadium, titanium, molybdenum, barite, calcite and others. Magnet Cove is an intrusive complex that is elliptical in shape with a maximum diameter of about 15,000 feet.The more resistant peripheral intrusives form a rim which surrounds the cove or basin. Much of the property is privately owned and permission must be granted before entering any sites. Road cuts are the easiest place to collect The well known site at the steel bridge is also a good place to stop without problems.Magnet Cove is so well known and so much abuse has occurred that land owners will call the sheriff if their property lines are crossed without asking.	How to get there:Directions to the steel bridge are: Take 270 east from Hot Springs and turn left at HWY 51 (270B) . Travel 3.7 mile and turn left on CR 78. Travel until you reach the bridge. After crossing the bridge, park on the right side of the road. A seam of pyrite crosses the creek. Several minerals can be found including:pyrite, small black smoky quartz crystals, brilliant lustered brookite crystals, orthoclase feldspar, gray films of molybdenite, and even an occasional specimen of iridescent pyrite. Check the following link for the complete information: http://rockhoundingar.com/locations/magcove.html
Grade this location:	GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1.Hand pick 2. Rock hammer 3. Shovel 4, Buckets	Helpful notes to newcomers: Respect for private property is a top priorty. Magnet Cove was named for the lodestone found in the are.

VIDEO FROM THIS AREA
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PHOTOS FROM THIS AREA
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About this photo: Arkansas Turquoise from the Mona Lisa mine weight - 15 ounces Photo submitted by:Bill Reynolds	About this photo: Arkansas petrified wood found near Fordyce Arkansas Photo submitted by: Bill Reynolds
About this photo: Arkansas Novaculite from near Mount Ida Photo submitted by: Biill Reynolds	About this photo: 650 pound quartz crystal cluster Ron Coleman Mine - Jessieville, Arkansas Photo submitted by: Bill Reynolds

Our Mining Claim

sagebrushminers — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:36:45 CDT

Washington

aubreyreynolds9@gmai — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:34:07 CDT

TREASURE HUNTING IN WASHINGTON
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What this area is known for: 1.Petrified Wood - State gem stone 2.Fossils - Nationally known Eocene site. 3.Agates - commonly found in numerous areas of state. 4.Pyrite & quartz - huge pyrite crystals near North Bend,WA 5. Calcite and zeolites - from many lava flows in SW WA	Biggest finds in this area: 1.Kennewick Man - Kennewick,Wa 2.Ritchy-Clovis site - East Wenatchee,Wa 3.Stonerose Fossil site - Republic,Wa 4. Denny Mt. - best in US amethyst scepter quartz 5. Spruce Ridge - famous quartz & pyrite locality in Cascades
Local appraisers: 1. www.desertgemstudio.com 2. 3. 4.	Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs: 1. East KingCo Gem & Mineral club 2. Washington State Mineral Council http://www.mineralcouncil.org/ 3. 4.
Best time of year to go:Anytime U want 2 really Spring,Summer and Fall.	Other helpful resources: 1. http://www.stonerosefossil.org 2. http://www.geologyadventures.com 3. http://www.blueagate.com 4. http://www.dnr.wa.gov/geology/ 5. http://www.blm.gov/or/index.php
*Have a question about treasure hunting or geocaching in this region?* Post a comment for fellow treasure hunters below!

THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT
Regions can have multiple good spots to go — add details to build a complete guide.

Location #1: Saddle Mountain Bureau of Land Management (General description: Great petrified wood. The Discussion Forum has a world of information about this site. Pictures can be found on the Photo Gallery. Rockhounders regularly come from as far away as British Columbia and the Oregon coast as well as other parts of the U.S. to converge on the Saddle Mountains in search of petrified wood that is abundant at several locations on the mountains. Elevation range from 486 feet to 2,700 feet. The fossil trees found at Saddle Mountain include: sycamore, sweet gum, live oak, alder, beech, elm, and Tetracentron types among other hardwoods and softwoods.	How to get there: Grant County in central Washington, 10 miles south of Interstate Highway 90. The southwestern portion of the Saddle Mountains can be accessed from Highway 24 via"R" Road, one mile east of the town of Mattawa and County right of way via O road, 4 miles east of Mattawa.The eastern portion can be accessed from Highway 24 via Corfu Road located at the entrance to the Wahluke Wildlife Recreation Area (about 20 miles east of Mattawa). This road crosses the mountain and eventually intersects Highway 26 at Corfu, Washington Contact "washingtonian" on the Forum; or send me a message. Welcome to the beauty of Washington.
Grade this location: (A to F): A++	GPS coordinates: N 46.47 10 W 119.53 10
Handy to bring along: 1. Shovel 2.Pick 3. Rock hammer 4. Buckets or hand truck (I'm not kidding) 5. Plenty of water 6. The Grandchildren	Helpful notes to newcomers: I have added pictures of the petrified wood and the friendly folks on our site.

Location #2: Adna General description: Carnelian (Orange and Blood Red), petrified wood, and fancy jaspers can be found at this site. The following report on collecting was posted by: (syonix) on the "Discussion Forum" Park on the west side and take the logging road on the right (west) to the split in the trail 50 yards, and then right on the trail about 200 yards to another small trail on the right. A little trail goes down to a creek from here. I've pulled all the material out of the first 100 feet or so.. I could work this place for years and never cover it all lol.. it seems under every rock is something red and pretty. On each successive trip I've managed to get a bigger and bigger deep blood red clear agate..	How to get there: Take I-5 to exit 77 (Highway 6 Exit) Head West on 6 for 4.4 miles. Turn right onto Bunker Creek Rd. for 3.6 miles. Turn left onto Ceres Hill Rd. for 1.7 miles. For more information visit : home.comcast.net/~wams1939/trips /adna.htm#greenwater High Resolution Detailed Topo Map Available Here www.alientaste.com/CT-RockHounds/AdnaMap.jpg Site 1: Diggings On the east and west sides of the parking spot are diggings for 100 yards in every direction. pick and spot and go. Site 2: Creek On the west side there is an old logging road that is blocked by debris. follow this road for about 0.3 miles, staying right, to some flagging. At this point there is a faint trial to the right. follow this trail down to the stream (about 350 ft) and then head upstream for an additional 0.15 miles.
Grade this location: (A to F): Site 1: Diggings: Grade A Site 2: Creek: Grade C	GPS coordinates: Parking on Road @ 46°37'31.82"N 123° 6'36.36"W
Handy to bring along: 1. Shovel 2. Pick 3. Buckets 4. Bucket 5. Bug Spray	Helpful notes to newcomers: Hit an area not picked over by the people who visit the site. This site is very well known and is usually packed on the weekends. Don't be afraid to just start digging anywhere here, the most impressive finds are found in the ground not in the creek. Avoid digging on wet days, the clay is very tough,sticky and hard to get out of clothes. Avoid going up the creek too far, you will hit private property.

Location #3: Any recently burned areas in the forests. (Local beach, park, etc) This was up the Entiat River Valley General description: Find recent forest fire burned areas, last couple of year maxed, or any other area of recently disturbed areas and walk!	How to get there:
Grade this location: (A to F): B	GPS coordinates: It is always changing
Handy to bring along: 1. Good shoes 2. Mushroom bag 3. Lots of water	Helpful notes to newcomers: Never pick or eat any mushroom unless you have gone to schooling about mushrooms or are collecting with someone with a lot of experience. Don't pick or eat any mushrooms unless you are absolutely certain it is safe to eat. Find out from the forest service of any recent controlled burns or forest fires during the past year or so. Once the snow is off start walking the areas. It is always a bit better after a warming trend. And if it has been warm and dry for an extended period of time, a day or so after a good rain may help. Be prepared to walk a lot and keep looking down. Always use a knife to cut the mushroom off above the ground to leave the root system intact.

Location #4: Ellensburg Blue Agates General description: The most prized Washington Agate. It is rare, hard and a spectacular gemstone. A 6mm faceted clear blue stone sold for $1200 and gold ring with a marquise cut about 20x10 mm; sold for $3000. These agates are not laying all over the place for a rockhound to find. It takes hours of searching to find a genuine Blue. The hardness on the stone is a 7.5 on the Mohs scale.	How to get there: Found only in the northwest corner of the lower Kittitas Valley near Ellensburg. The city is located at the intersection of I 82 and I 90 southeast of Seattle. Kittitas valley is a few miles northwest of Ellensburg. A typical exposure is the highway cut on US10, 8 miles northwest of town. The formation is about 19 million years old. But it has never consolidated, that is it has not compressed into rock. The landslide bluffs along the Ellensburg hills across the river from Thorp are continually shedding stones on US10. Reecer Creek and Dry Creek are the best sites of the past to find blues..
Grade this location: (A to F):	GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1. Hand tools 2. Small Handy Maddock Pick 3. Collecting bag (you won't need a big one)	Helpful notes to newcomers: A great day hunting the famous blues is to find one. Yakama Nation - Ellensburg Washington "For the past 86 years, members of the Yakama Indian Nation have trekked down Craig’s Hill on horseback, officially opening the Ellensburg Rodeo and Fair." http://www.kittitascountyfair.com/default.asp

Location #5: Hansen Creek General description: Quartz, Chrysocola ,Goethite and Amethyst can be found at this site.The geology of the area is an uplift and erosion of the Old Cascade Volcanic Arc exposed plutonic rock of the Snoqualmie Batholith near Snoqualmie Pass. For more information visit: http://www.washingtonminerals.com/hc.htm	How to get there: Hansen Creek is on the south side of the Interstate going east to the Pass. Get off at either Tinkham road access and circle back along the interstate until you reach Hansen Creek road. Go up, go under the trestle, up a little ways more, and there is a dirt road going off to the left. If you have a good rig and don't care about your paint job you can drive in, but the trees and brush are thick on both sides and they will scrape your car. I've parked here and walked in; it's about a mile and change. Take the road all the way until it becomes a trail, and follow it to the diggings. Bob Jackson's old guidebook showed more material way up top, but if I remember you had to etch the calcite away from the quartz
Grade this location: (A to F): A	GPS coordinates: 47°23'29"N , 121°31'46"W
Handy to bring along: 1. Hand pick 2. Shovel 3. Rock hammer 4. Back pack	Helpful notes to newcomers: There are camps down along the river. Be sure to pack up any litter you can, as it all gets blamed on rockhounds

Location #6: Greenwater General description: Black and red agates can be found at this site.	How to get there: From Enumclaw follow Hwy 410 for about 19.1 miles. Turn left onto Forest service rd. 70 for 5.8 miles. Turn right onto FR 72 for 0.7 miles Turn left onto FR 7220 for 1.0 miles Turn right onto FR 7222 for 1.1 miles Bear right onto 7222 (210) for 1.1 miles Turn right onto a small dirt road 8017.8 for about 0.1 miles to a large flat area. This is a good camp site. Site information can be found @ http://home.comcast.net/~wams1939/trips/Greenwater.htm
Grade this location: (A to F):	GPS coordinates: N 47.101167 W 121.52205
Handy to bring along: 1.Shovel 2.Rock hammer 3.Bucket	Helpful notes to newcomers: The forest road is good up to the last 1/4 mile, then a ATU is required or you can walk.

Location #7: Stonerose Interpretive Center General description: Visit Stonerose and search for your own fossils in our Eocene fossil beds. The picture is an actual fossils found at the site. Truly amazing fossils.	How to get there: Stonerose Interpretive Center is located at 15-1 N. Kean Street, on the corner of Kean Street and Highway 20 W., across from the city park in beautiful Republic, Washington. Visit this link for more information: http://www.stonerosefossil.org/index.html
Grade this location: (A to F):A++	GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1. Hand tools 2. Rock hammer 3. Bag for your fossils 4. Cold Chisel 5. Tools can be rented	Helpful notes to newcomers The Stonerose Interpretive Center is handicapped accessible. Only a limited number fossils can be taken home. The Interpretive center is an educational opportunity for the whole family. The fossils you find will be identified by the staff. Bring the kids and watch their eyes light up.

Location #8: Lucas Creek General description: Lucas creek is well known for agate, jasper, and petrified wood. Nice piece of agate from the creek.	How to get there: Take I-5 to exit 71 (508 Exit) Head east on 508 for 2.4 miles. Turn Left onto Jackson Hwy for 1.8 miles. Turn Right onto North Fork Rd. for 4.9 miles Turn right onto Lucas Creek rd. for 4.1 miles to just before it turns into a gravel road. On your right you will see a gated road. Keep going another .25 miles on the gravel road, you will see the creek on either side and parking. Visit the following site for more information: ://home.comcast.net/~wams1939/trips/Lucas_Creek.htm
Grade this location: (A to F):	GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1.Bucket 2.Good shoes for wading 3.Small hand tool	Helpful notes to newcomers The collecting materials are found on the gravel bars, in the stream, along the banks and at road cuts in the area.

Location #9: Cherry Creek General description: The site is known for multicolored jaspers and black petrified wood with marcisite. Jasper from the site	How to get there: Head north out of Duvall on 203. Turn right onto NE Cherry valley road for 4.2 miles. Stay Right at the Junction of Mountain View Rd. This will turn into Kelly Rd. Follow Kelly road for 2.4 miles. Turn left onto NE Stossel Creek Way for 1.4 miles to Macworth Stat forest sign. Continue straight on Stossel Creek Rd NE. for about 5.0 miles to a bridge crossing a small creek. A map is available at the following link: http://home.comcast.net/~wams1939/trips/cherry.htm
Grade this location: (A to F):	GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1.Shovel 2.Wading shoes 3.Bucket	Helpful notes to newcomers: The creek has to be low enough the collect at the site.

Location #10: Jones Creek Quarry General description: The location seems to be a starting point for people who want to ride their dirt bikes around this area so when I got there I found a few families unpacking their ATVs and Bikes.. No one seemed to care about the mountain of rock behind them. I quietly got my gear and slipped behind the mountain of rocks. To my suprise I found some large supporting boulders on the back side holding up the pile. There is a dug wall at this site that yielded that large crystal chunk i have a picture of in the album. I also found when breaking some of the large rocks, a deposit of various minerals layered in the rock .. After a few trips to this location I've managed to get a nice collection pretty stones. The trick here is to go behind the large rock piles (and i mean large) and work the wall or the supporting rocks at the base. The crystals are in the wall, and the base boulders have some nice surprises as well.	How to get there: From either northbound or southbound I-5, take I-205 exit towards Vancouver, WA. Use Hwy 500 East (Exit 30-Orchards Exit). Go east on Hwy 500 to Fourth Plain (1st light) and turn right continuing on Hwy 500 East (Camas). Go 6.3 miles, turn left on 53rd St. Go 3.2 miles, turn left on Ireland Rd. Go .3 miles turn left on Lessard Rd. Continue on Lessard Road for 4 miles and follow signs to Jones Creek OR From parking lot, go straight ahead up the hill. got approx 1-1.1 miles to the top of the hill, when you come to a three way intersection take a LEFT. 100 feet or so you will have a HARD LEFT again that will go UP the hill a a good steep angle. this takes you to the quarry.
Grade this location: (A to F)	GPS coordinates: W122-18'39.13" N45-40'0.39"
Handy to bring along: 1. Rock hammer 2. Buckets 3. Sledge hammer (3lb and 8lb) 4. Safety glasses 5. Gloves	Helpful notes to newcomers There are lots of ORV riders in the area, be careful on the drive up. Avoid this place in the winter the roads can get muddy and you can get stuck.

Location #11: Red Top Mountain General description: This is a mountain of basalt which you can find Blue Agates, Geodes blue and clear (quartz), and various colored Jasper with red and blue/green being the most common. You can either use pick and shovel to dig into the ground or hammer and chisel to actually pick the goodies out of the basalt. This area has been picked over pretty heavily over the years. But there are areas unsearched to this day. A lot of the digging is getting farther and farther away from parking areas so do be prepared to walk a bit. It is a fun place to go and hunt for treasures.	How to get there: There are several ways to get there. The best way is on highway 97. Take the Blue creek Exit which is located just north of Mineral Springs Restaurant on Blewett Pass. Not more than a 1/4 mile. Be careful exiting or entering the highway as the exit is on a sharp corner with not much visibility in both directions. This road is a gravel road in good shape. Passenger cars can make but it is easier if the upper portion of the road has been maintained a bit. Stay on the main road until you come across a Y in the road. The main road continues on to the Teanaway and the left fork to Red Top. This intersection is marked with good signs. This section of road is narrower than the main gravel road you first came up on. It is not graveled and is rough and rocky in several places. Passenger cars can male it, but they may have to be very careful in a few spots. It seems that people like to drive quite fast on this road so take it easy driving up and down. There are a few place to narrow for 2 cars to pass each other so be prepared to back up a little is need be. Be sure if you park at the main parking lot on top of the mountain that you have the Forest Service Parking Pass. There is a route from eh west side of the mountain up the Teanaway River but I am not familiar with it. Check a local map for more info.
Grade this location: (A to F): B	GPS coordinates: There isn't one spot to go to. Most of the mountain about 4000' is probably all good
Handy to bring along: 1. Insect repellent 2. Extra water or fluids for drinking and washing off treasures. 3. Shovel 4. Pick 5. Rock Hammer and chisels 6. A bucket or bag to pack out treasures 7. Forest Service Parking Pass	Helpful notes to newcomers: Just keep digging! Find areas that are recently worked and find a place that looks like it hasn't been disturbed. Start digging looking at each and every rock closely. Sometimes it is just a little piece of agate or jasper lurking under the dirt that may catch you eye. A spray bottle is a must. Best of all have fun.

Location #12: (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:

Location #13: (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:

Location #14: (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:

Location #15: (Local beach, park, etc) General description:	How to get there:
Grade this location: (A to F):	GPS coordinates:
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Red Top Mountain, July 20, 2008

pvjjh — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:27:29 CDT

Red Top Report Jeff and I did a last minute outing with our local Rock Club to Red Top on Sunday July 20, 2008. Fortunately we went to the club monthly meeting on Saturday and found out that there was an outing the next day. There is a bit of a delay getting the information to the webmaster so it could be put on the website. Jeff had never been there and really wanted to go. Long story short we did make it to the mtn to do some digging.

Jeff and I along with 10 other folks left at the meeting place around 8:30 a.m. After about an hour and 20-minute drive we arrived to the dig site. We didn’t go to the very top of the mtn, instead we stopped below the top. He dig site is only a couple of 100 yards so I could even get in there. There were many digs around the area. So Jeff and I just found one and started digging. We did start finding bits and pieces of agate and jasper of different colors.

We could only dig down about 18”s until we hit a hard clay/pea gravel/hardpan layer. There doesn’t seem to be anything in or below the hard layer. We worked an area under some trees roots until we couldn’t reach anymore material. Not wanting to damage the roots of the tree, we backfilled the hole and moved onto another.

The recommendation we had was to find an old stump and dig around it. When we moved we did find a large rotten stump and right on the bat Jeff finds a nice small piece of geode crystals. The scraping the duff off the ground, he found some nice pieces of agate and a little Jasper. We thought this could be really good! Anyway we dug a hole about 2’ X 3’ X 20”’s until we hit the hardpan. The digging was just like home, not a rock and the nicest looking dirt one could ever wish for. Most everywhere else you had to contend with rocks in you dig. But that is where you fond the good stuff. Anyway back at our dig, we found very few pieces but moved a lot of dirt. It was 4:00 p.m. or so and decided to call it a day. However we were not in any hurry and the folks that carpooled with us were still digging. That was Bob and Cheri (twincrystals) and Cheri’s son Casey.

We started walking out and came across several small basalt outcroppings. You could see holes the size of softballs that where worked and the nodule removed. There were some big ones. One outcrop had a fairly large section of rock had fractured away from the larger rock. It sort of looked like a butt but with a filler piece where the crack would be. We had all of out chisels and rock breaking stuff with us. After sometime we eventually got that bugger out. Low and behold on one side there was a nice blue nodule waiting the size of an egg but flatter waiting to be freed.. With a little careful chiseling, we got it free. Well worth the time and effort. Continuing to work out our way out to the truck, we found some additional outcrops that were worked. Jeff did find some smaller nodules and half geodes and chipped them out. Some of these rock outcrops have been reduced to small boulders and gravel. Pretty amazing.

Anyway, after a little prodding from Bob, Casey and Jeff, Cheri who is one of the most die hard diggers I have ever seen finally got out of her dig and they headed back to the truck. I think it was about 6:00 p.m. or so when we left the dig site. Everyone was happy with his or her finds, dirty and tried.

I have posted several pics of the dig and our finds. Our finds are still dirty except for a good washing with water just before the pictures. The agates went into some bar keepers friend and hot water and I would imagine a week from now the clean pictures could be taken that is if everything cleans up good. That is about it for the Red Top trip.

One thing about Red Top there are many places to dig. Once you get up high enough on the mountain, I think one could just about go anywhere off the road and find something to dig. Just as long as there are rock outcrops above you dig area. One of the group that went with us did go to the top and hiked into a dig site. He did very well from what he said. He largest piece was about 10 pounds. We didn’t really get anything larger than a few ounces except for a couple of fractured Jasper pieces. .

The Ol' Man in the dig.	Bob and Sheri, twincrystals, digging around their stump.
Club members digging and finding	More club members diggin away
Our finds for the day. Pile of Jasper and junk rock on the left and geodes and agate on the right.	The Red Top Agates we found.
Jasper and junk rock.	Just another picture of the blue agates

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Table of Contents and page links

pvjjh — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:21:56 CDT

Table of Contents and Page Links

Main Page : pvjjh's faceting pics and more

Page 2: Polishing the Pavilion

Page 3: Transferring the Stone

Page 4: Cutting and Polishing the Star Facets

Page 5: A few finished stones

Cut Stones

The "and more Stuff"

Wood Turning

Wood Turning page 2

Wood Turning page 3

The Big Bowl

The Big Bowl pg 2

Treasures

Treasures pg 2

Saddle Mountain trip #2 Paul's Story

Red Top Mountain WA Dig. 7-20-2008

The 24" Rock Saw

The 24" Rock Saw pg 2

Miscellaneous

Rock Pictures for Comparison

Photo Albums

pvjjh Cut Stones

Saddle Mtn Trip #1

Saddle Mtn Trip #2

Jeff's Finds

Fire pictures 7-10-08

pvjjh misc rocks and treasures

Great Treasure Museums

aubreyreynolds9@gmai — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:47:49 CDT

Use this page to share the World's Greatest Museums

The Hope Diamond can be seen at the Smithsonian Museum

Name of the Museum: Columbia River Ancient Resources General Description: There are at times in history when the passion of a persons interests takes them to a level of knowledge and understanding so deep that it drives them to embark on a mission of enlightenment and education which goes well beyond their own needs and desires. One such person which has personally influenced my perspective of early man is Mr. Fred Van Ronk and his lifelong passion & pursuit. Andy	How to get there: KALAMA, WA Visit the following web site for information: http://www.columbiariverman.com/

FROM: 45-KL-5: OLD ALDERDALE TOWN SITE, AT EAST END OF ALDER CREEK ENTREE IN TO COLUMBIA RIVER. KLICKITAT, CO. WA. fvr 60's	FROM: 45-KL-5: OLD ALDERDALE TOWN SITE, AT EAST END OF ALDER CREEK ENTREE IN TO COLUMBIA RIVER. KLICKITAT, CO.fvr1965 WA.

Name of the Museum: Sam Noble Museum of Natural History General Description: The Sam Noble Museum contains a superb collection of ancient life. The dinosaurs and ancient marine fossil are tremendous. There are also superior displays of Oklahoma Peoples. I wish my wife's father could have visited the museum. Native Americans had camped on his farm thousands of years before he was there. Ben was all the time finding artifacts in his garden.I stood in amazement at a recreated village of the Fouche Moline peoples who called his home their home. There is much more to enjoy, so you will just have to see it yourself.	How to get there: University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma See the following link for information: http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/
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Picture: Clash of the Titans	Picture: Nigersauras

Name of the Museum: Ben E. Clements Mineral Museum General Description: "Ben E. Clement left an outstanding, one-of-a-kind collection of minerals, period journals, photographs, mining tools and other items. The collection has been visited by various authorities on minerals and is believed to be one of the finest in existence." I can vouch for this claim. The mineral collections especially the treasures from the mining era of the region are spectacular. Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky Region was the major source of Flourspar. The crystals of Flourspar have no domestic equal	How to get there: The Museum is located in Marion Kentucky on 205 North Walker Street. The following link gives futher information: http://www.marionkentucky.us/clementmineralmuseum MAP & Directions

Picture: A Huge Yellow Fluorite	Picture: One of the many show rooms

Name of the Museum: The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County General Description: The is a crown jewel of Los Angeles' museums. The battle of the titans, T-Rex in combat greet you as you enter the museum. One of the finest collection of gems and minerals anywhere. The collection includes the largest collection of gold specimens in the world.Three floors of permanent exhibits enthrall the entire family with minds-on exploration.	How to get there: The Natural History Museum is located at 900 Exposition Blvd. The Museum is open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:00pm, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays 10:00am-5:00pm. Visit the Museum's web site: http://www.nhm.org/information/aboutus.htm
Stilbite	Gold on Quartz
Picture: Stayton district, San Benito County, California	Picture: Colorado Quartz mine, Midpines, Mariposa County, California

Name of the Museum: The Smithsonian General Description: Not only the finest museum in our nation but the finest museum in the world. Not just one museum but fourteen museums and the national zoo. The Smithsonian is a national treasure that will draw you back over and over again. My personal favorite is the Natural History Museum. My children still speak of the Smithsonian right at the top of our vacations.	How to get there: The Smithsonian is in our nation's capital- Washington, DC This link provides a world of information to the visitor: http://www.si.edu/
Variety: Sapphire Weight: 27.97 carats total weight Origin: Montana, U.S.	Variety: Amethyst Weight: approximately 56 carats Origin: Siberia, Russia
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Name of the Museum:Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture General Description: Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm. On the first Thursday of each month, the museum stays open until 8 pm—and admission is free.	How to get there: View Link www.washington.edu./burkemuseum/
Amethyst Crystal	Aturia specimen is a fossil nautiloid. Photo by Ron Eng
Skull of Hoplophoneus sp. (UWBM 87094) Oligocene, ~30 million years old.

Name of the Museum: University of Arizona Mineral Museum General Description: The Mineral museum is founded by the University of Arizona and The Tucson Gem & Mineral society. Visit the folowing link. http://www.uamineralmuseum.org/visit-us/	How to get there: The University of Arizona Mineral Museum 1601 E. University Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85719 (520) 621-STAR
Planchéite with Malachite	Silver
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Name of the Museum: Mineralogical Museum General Description: Upon the campus of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology lies one of the great treasure troves of the southwest. Gold, silver, and precious gems, the objects of the Conquistador's travels and travails, glitter on glass shelves next to other spectacular mineral forms. Three thousand mineral specimens in 1938 have grown to over 15,000. Coronado's Treasure Chest is still renowned as can be seen at invited exhibitions at the Denver and Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows and featured articles in mineralogical magazines from around the world.	How to get there: New Mexico Tech Campus Socorro, New Mexico Veiw the following link for full details: http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/museum/home.html

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Page IX

JBare — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:33:15 CDT

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