"I think this would make a great show, Dan. I hope they chose this one along with Don's Fairburn agates in South Dakota. I think we would have two excellent episodes right there.
Eric"

"Thanks Eric,
I know I can keep them entertained on this trip - and filled their pockets full of rocks and gems.
Dan"

"Dan,

I just have one request for that trip if it happens. Save me about half your spoils;) Tehe. Also, if you could send me half a truck load with a portion of the worlds largest Iolite gem, that would be nice to;)

Aaron"

"Hi Aaron,
Do you have a jackhammer? we could go dig it out. When I first found the site, my thought was how am I ever going to dig these gems out. SOmone with experience in blasting or a lot of time on their hands with a jackhammer is needed. Would be fun though.
Dan"

"I think a drill and some of Bob's small poppers like the ones up there at Spruce Ridge would be the way to go. Bangs are way cool. Just enough to rattle and loosen up the goodies. Ewww, just the thought makes me giddy! When is the trip? lol

Paul"

"Yeah they would have to be very small controlled blasts. Bob's little rattlers could be good. Just don't make them very big. A good blaster would be able to drill and load the charges in such a manner as to pick up the whole piece and set it down right where you want it. Directional charges, angled holes, it would be a work of art when done. When I worked with powder, my motto was a little was good but more was always better! lol (not really. I was very careful) But there was this time...... lol

Paul"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Paul! Dan, 5 million carats = a hair over 2200 lbs ... what would we do with it once I pop it out of the ground for ya? Be a pain to backpack. If its a decent octahedron, perhaps we could roll it to the nearest road? But what if it's a macle? lol...

Seriously, Paul's right, this could be done. Depending on how weathered the surrounding rock is, the piece could be separated with non-P-wave charges, then popped out with a directional blast. I've got the boom, do you have a crane?

More is better when you're mining metal ... less is more in my line of blasting. Interesting thread!
Bob
"

"Shucks, Paul, if we're gonna rent a Chinook, surely you can upgrade to a larger faceting machine ;~)) No worries about the powder, nitro-based is pretty much a thing of the past. Gumster noticed that the anfo charges we made with morning coffee hurt like the dickens when they get into a fresh cut. Days without fresh cuts are rare at Spruce. Just a few federal forms to fill out nowadays before I can let ya 'play' with the powder.
Bob"

"I do remember those nitro headaches, nasty! Turned my skin a greenish color, as well. Mostly got those on underground jobs w/ poor ventilation, like mining ametrine in Bolivia. Seems anfo is worse in cuts than salt, or maybe that's just cause anfo is more frequent for me, lol. If you've had a license before, should be no problem to become a Responsible Person person today ... the feds language is entertaining. Now we just need Dan on board.
Bob"