Discussion: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report

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pvjjh	Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 21 2008, 12:58 AM EDT Well finally after all this time I finished the trip summary for our vacation we took to Southern OR the week of August 9 through the 16th. Here is the link to my Treasure Hunter Profile where the report is posted. I will be adding a few more pictures just for fun. We had a great time and got some good sunstones and t-eggs. Hope you enjoy the report. Paul Trip report: http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/page/8-08+Vacation%2C+Spectrum+Mine+and+Richardson+Rock+Ranch+Report Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you? Keyword tags: Richardson Rock Ranch Spectrum Mine Sunstones T-eggs Thundereggs Vacation
syonix	1. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 21 2008, 3:23 AM EDT "Well finally after all this time I finished the trip summary for our vacation we took to Southern OR the week of August 9 through the 16th. Here is the link to my Treasure Hunter Profile where the report is posted. I will be adding a few more pictures just for fun. We had a great time and got some good sunstones and t-eggs. Hope you enjoy the report. Paul Trip report: http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/page/8-08+Vacation%2C+Spectrum+Mine+and+Richardson+Rock+Ranch+Report " man your trip reports are just great. i love them! thanks for taking the time to write all that up, yes i read the whole thing! :) You really should come up to little naches for free t-eggs. they are white and cyan blue .. and best of all, free! :) Post reply Do you find this valuable?
washatonian	2. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 21 2008, 9:10 AM EDT Excellent report Paul. Wow that was a trip and sounds like the weather cooperated short of the Temps. Your pics were very good and complimented your story. Did you do any beach hunting while in Newport? Several C&T Agate addicts there in Newport. Time to start practicing faceting on your Sunstones Eh......:) look forward to seeing your handywork. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
debaker	3. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 21 2008, 10:28 AM EDT Great report! If you get a chance, Lucky Strike mine, where the big egg came from, is a great side trip too. Entirely different setting than Richardson's and very interesting people in charge there too. Oh, the diggings different too, they just dump front-end loader buckets of dirt and you catch the eggs as they roll out, literally! Lots of other great spots in that area too, so if you get a chance, it's worth at least an extra day in the Prineville-Madras area. And, on your way home from Richardsons, if you've got room and energy, there's a spot just off highway 97 where there are lots of eggs in a road cut, free! Great pics and story, thanks again! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	4. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 21 2008, 3:11 PM EDT I wish we would have had more time. Everything was a rush to go here and do that. After cutting the large egg, I would like to go to the Lucky Strike and get a few more eggs. They are nice colored and hard. Don't seem to break like others, but then again I have only cut one of the Lucky Stirike eggs. Hey Andy, no we didn't have time to look for agates along the coast. Just too much driving and rockin bs'n. lol Actually need to go in the winter when the hunting is better. Just can't wait to get back out huntin' rocks :-) Paul Post reply Do you find this valuable?
debaker	5. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 21 2008, 4:27 PM EDT Lucky Strike eggs are some of my favorites, for the hardness, color, and surprises inside. And the people who run the mine are a real hoot! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
mudd1973	6. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 21 2008, 4:52 PM EDT Paul, As usual, your pictures are great. Your report makes me want to run away from home farther away than usual and try to get all the way up to Oregon. The Spectrum Mine looks very "remote" - actually someplace I think I could enjoy a lot. It was great that this was a trip that your whole family could do together. It doesn't surprise me that Chris Rose was actually there running the belt run and you weren't aware he was even there - your read that he is quiet and gentle matches mine (I've only met him once also). In the pictures of the Himalaya Mine that Simon King used for his talk about the last pocket they had hit, I think Chris was working and looking serious in all except two slides - in one one he actually smiled (with the stack of tourmaline they had just hauled out of the mine, who wouldn't) and in one other which I think was taken at Simon's house, Chris was actually hamming it up for the camera using a giant tourmaline like a cigar. Shoot - if I were even just volunteering at either the Himalaya or Spectrum, I'd probably have my head down and be digging away and hauling buckets. No need to take time to socialize when there might be tourmaline or sunstones just one shovel or one bucket away. Give us an update on the dirt you carried home. ellen Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	7. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 22 2008, 12:33 PM EDT We had some freinds from the rock club at the house the other day. I cut a couple of teggs for them they got at Naches here in WA. Sheri is an addict as much as you and I when it comes to sorting material. She sorted a bunch of sunstones while we were cutting the eggs. One tegg was pretty large and took a good hour or so to cut. She had a good pile stones and if that is any indication the material ought to be pretty good. The Spectrum is remote for sure. Pretty much the end of the road I believe. Dry, sagebrush, nice people and sunstones. Sounds good to me too. You having only met Chris once, you sure made an impression as when I mentioned your name he lit up and asked how I knew you. You must make soem good brownies! lol ;-) I did ask Jessica about the Himalaya situation and she said they we workng on the access problem. That is about all I will say about it right now as the details are still up in the air. I sure hope they can get things figured out to allow access back up to the mine. It sure seems like a good wintertime trip to sourthern CA sometime. Oceanview, the Himalaya, and probably more rockin' opportunites as well. Hmmm, I wonder if I could afford a 3 or 4 month trip and spend all winter down there! Going to the mines and meeting you and Simon would be a blast! The dirt will be sorted over a period of time but I will keep the finds all together until the material is all sorted. Maybe next year, but I have plenty to play with right noiw. lol Lets see the finds in the Oceanview material. I am looking forward to getting mine. :-) Paul Post reply Do you find this valuable?
mudd1973	8. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 22 2008, 1:50 PM EDT "It sure seems like a good wintertime trip to sourthern CA sometime. Oceanview, the Himalaya, and probably more rockin' opportunites as well. Hmmm, I wonder if I could afford a 3 or 4 month trip and spend all winter down there! Going to the mines and meeting you and Simon would be a blast! :-) Paul " A week of the various tourmaline mines would be great - I'd hire a replacement for work and would be your tour guide! Not far from the Oceanview & Himalaya Mines, there is an older, non-operationing tourmaline mine - the Blue Lady Mine - where you can get permission to dig on the hillside from San Diego State University which manages the land as some sort of plant study zone. In that same area of Warner Springs, another friend has a claim - the Donna Lode - which he usually lets people go to and pound on the rocks. And that it just across the road and downhill from the Cryo-Genie Mine - where you can do an inexpensive fee tour and dig. So - you get to at least 5 different pematites in one trip - if you knew the right people. And - I could definitely guarantee brownies. I'll have to postpone my next trip to the Himalaya until the winter when th snow has closed the Spectrum Mine so Chris might be back down in Mesa Grande - and bring along extra brownies. ellen Post reply Do you find this valuable?
RockPuppy	9. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 22 2008, 4:10 PM EDT Great Report, Paul!!! Makes me want to hit the road. Dave and I have only been to the BLM land looking for sunstones cause it was February at the time. After seeing what your family got to do there at the Spectrum and looking at your finds, I look forward to a time when we can head back down that direction again. Beautiful stones you have there. Of couse the Richardson Rock Ranch is always awesome. Sorry to hear it was so hot though. But be assured it was just as hot here, so better to be diggin eggs than sittin at home and not be. Hope you get more chances to go back. We've been there twice and I still haven't explored all the areas I'd like to. We had some tranni problems the last time so we didn't want to go somewhere and not be able to get out. I'd really like to collect some jasper the next time. Hope you where able to get some additional pictures of the surrounding area. You have to admit, once you get in there, the scenery is beautiful. BTW, how's your settling pump on your saw working for you? Keep on Rockin' Livy Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	10. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 22 2008, 4:32 PM EDT "A week of the various tourmaline mines would be great - I'd hire a replacement for work and would be your tour guide! Not far from the Oceanview & Himalaya Mines, there is an older, non-operationing tourmaline mine - the Blue Lady Mine - where you can get permission to dig on the hillside from San Diego State University which manages the land as some sort of plant study zone. In that same area of Warner Springs, another friend has a claim - the Donna Lode - which he usually lets people go to and pound on the rocks. And that it just across the road and downhill from the Cryo-Genie Mine - where you can do an inexpensive fee tour and dig. So - you get to at least 5 different pematites in one trip - if you knew the right people. And - I could definitely guarantee brownies. I'll have to postpone my next trip to the Himalaya until the winter when th snow has closed the Spectrum Mine so Chris might be back down in Mesa Grande - and bring along extra brownies. ellen" Hey Ellen that would be a great trip! Brownies and all. :-) Now you got me really hankerin' to get down there. Someday.... Someday..... Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	11. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 22 2008, 5:02 PM EDT "Great Report, Paul!!! Makes me want to hit the road. Dave and I have only been to the BLM land looking for sunstones cause it was February at the time. After seeing what your family got to do there at the Spectrum and looking at your finds, I look forward to a time when we can head back down that direction again. Beautiful stones you have there. Of couse the Richardson Rock Ranch is always awesome. Sorry to hear it was so hot though. But be assured it was just as hot here, so better to be diggin eggs than sittin at home and not be. Hope you get more chances to go back. We've been there twice and I still haven't explored all the areas I'd like to. We had some tranni problems the last time so we didn't want to go somewhere and not be able to get out. I'd really like to collect some jasper the next time. Hope you where able to get some additional pictures of the surrounding area. You have to admit, once you get in there, the scenery is beautiful. BTW, how's your settling pump on your saw working for you? Keep on Rockin' Livy" Hi RP, yeah it was fun. We did get lots of stones. Some good facetors and cabbers and lots of tumblers. I figured once they are tumbled, there will be a ton of beads, pendants and pretties. Richardsons was great. I just wish I had a couple of days to dig and explore the different places. After cutting that egg from the Lucky Strike, I do want to go there too. Yeah to was hot all the way home. I fueled up at Biggs and when getting out of the truck it was like wallking into a blast furnace. I like warm weather, but it was just flat out hot. We talked about stopping by the ODOT dump there a couple of miles out of Biggs, but we had spent to much time at Richardsons and everyone was just too burned out to stop. Though I did see the roads and dump area. Next time. Just wish we know where the source was. The pump system seems to be working great. When the oil is cool I jsut shut down the bypass and put all the oil to the blade, but once it gets warmed up it pumps so much I have to open the bypass to keep oil in the sump. My biggest problem is alinging the piece to be cut and holding it in the clamp. For instance book ends it is hard to make sure everything is lined up perfectly so everything stands up correctly and square. You got any tricks for that. Maybe Don does if he is readingh this thread. Also removing the oil out of the piece after cut. It seems to seep out of cracks for a long time. I have tried hot soapy water, rubbing alcohol, even contact cleaner. Maybe I just have to be more patient. What do you guys do? Anyway it is great to have a saw with autofeed, "set it and forget it". Now with all these rocks, I have to figure out what to do with them. Jeff is cabbing and getting better all the time. Still trying to figure out the best way to polish the stuff without a flat lap. I'll get it figured out, it is just getting the right sander for the job. Paul Post reply Do you find this valuable?
mudd1973	12. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 22 2008, 5:28 PM EDT Our shop has a big bin of Kitty Litter in the saw room. You just put your rocks in there after sawing and it absorbs a lot of the excess oil. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	13. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 22 2008, 5:36 PM EDT "Our shop has a big bin of Kitty Litter in the saw room. You just put your rocks in there after sawing and it absorbs a lot of the excess oil." That is a good idea. Unfortuniately we have no cats and no litter. Guess I best go get some. Thanks Ellen. Paul Post reply Do you find this valuable?
havermap	14. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 23 2008, 8:39 PM EDT Nice trip report, Paul: Sounds like you and your family had a nice vacation; and you got to bring home goodies. I can't imagine rockin' in that kind of heat. What will you do with those sunstones? Thanks for taking the time to write the trip report. Pam Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	15. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Aug 23 2008, 9:02 PM EDT "Nice trip report, Paul: Sounds like you and your family had a nice vacation; and you got to bring home goodies. I can't imagine rockin' in that kind of heat. What will you do with those sunstones? Thanks for taking the time to write the trip report. Pam" Hi Pam, it was a good trip. Long and hot, but that was ok. The sunstones, well I will facet some and tumble some and make jewelry. At least that is the plan at this time. :-) Paul Post reply Do you find this valuable?
RockPuppy	16. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Sep 2 2008, 4:42 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 2 2008, 4:42 PM EDT "That is a good idea. Unfortuniately we have no cats and no litter. Guess I best go get some. Thanks Ellen. Paul" Paul, But you do work with wood, so maybe saw dust will work. That's what we're giving a try right now, and if that doesn't work, then we'll definately try the kitty litter. I always remember throwing either sawdust or kitty litter on oil or anything else that may have spilled on the garage floor. Also, I got to thinking about it, scary I know, and I think if you do use kitty litter, the cheaper non-clumping kind might be better. It would suck if you went to rinse your cut rocks in a sink and clogged it with a clump. Livy Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	17. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Sep 2 2008, 6:50 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 2 2008, 6:50 PM EDT "Paul, But you do work with wood, so maybe saw dust will work. That's what we're giving a try right now, and if that doesn't work, then we'll definately try the kitty litter. I always remember throwing either sawdust or kitty litter on oil or anything else that may have spilled on the garage floor. Also, I got to thinking about it, scary I know, and I think if you do use kitty litter, the cheaper non-clumping kind might be better. It would suck if you went to rinse your cut rocks in a sink and clogged it with a clump. Livy" Yeah that would be a bummer plugging up the sink washing off the rocks. lol We would just clean it out side. I am wondering if that scented stuff would work better. I have a tub and kitty litter now and will give it a try. My wood chips are really to big to be good absorbers, however the dust in the dust collecter which is near full now would be excellent I think. Hey how are you doing with all that sapphire gravel? You got it all sorted? Hope you guys are well, be a while since we heard from you. Probably just to dang busy rockin'! :-) Paul Post reply Do you find this valuable?
aubreyreynolds9@gmai	18. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Sep 2 2008, 7:48 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 2 2008, 7:48 PM EDT "Yeah that would be a bummer plugging up the sink washing off the rocks. lol We would just clean it out side. I am wondering if that scented stuff would work better. I have a tub and kitty litter now and will give it a try. My wood chips are really to big to be good absorbers, however the dust in the dust collecter which is near full now would be excellent I think. Hey how are you doing with all that sapphire gravel? You got it all sorted? Hope you guys are well, be a while since we heard from you. Probably just to dang busy rockin'! :-) Paul" The Kitty Litter or (as you said) machine shop absorbent is what most lapidary folks use. If you build a box under your saw it will save a lot of cleaning up. After you cut a rock, put them in the litter and it will absorb most of the oil. Bill Post reply Do you find this valuable?
pvjjh	19. RE: Spectrum Sunstones and Richardson Rock Ranch trip Report Sep 2 2008, 11:34 PM EDT Thanks for the info. I have some now, no cats, jsut need to kep cutting rocks. Back to turning wood right now, and since the rock saw and all my wood working equipment is on a single breaker, I can't do both at the same time. I need my shop! lol Paul Post reply Do you find this valuable?

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