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Post by rocksmarsandstars on Jan 19, 2011 15:23:44 GMT -5
Mitch and co.;
Continuing the search Mitch began, I've come across 2 more great reads, so far:
"…amateurs and students who are continuing the search with much success Among these Mr WE Hidden of New York has spent many months in explorations and mining for these mineral rarities and has himself added a number of very interesting discoveries which are noted in the proper place He has figured and described for me some of the novel forms of quartz crystals above referred to and has also furnished some valuable notes of his observations and discoveries in several counties which are inserted at the end of this chapter Of especial interest is his investigation of the supposed diopside of Alexander which turns out to be a new variety of spodumene and is likely to prove a matter of commercial interest …" From page 3, Geology of North Carolina, by F.A. Genth and W.C. Kerr, 1881
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Post by Barrett on Jan 19, 2011 15:33:40 GMT -5
Pretty much the best book you can get is like Rick said "Field collecting gemstones and minerals" by sinkankas...really can't call yourself a true rockhound/prospector without a copy of that. It's the rockhound bible.
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Post by rocksmarsandstars on Jan 19, 2011 15:38:12 GMT -5
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Post by xtldggr on Jan 19, 2011 15:55:46 GMT -5
Great thread you have started here Ryan, You will do well to take the advice that has been offered from some of the more seasoned rock hounds on this site. I enjoy seeing folks such as yourself getting bit by the rock hounding bug and taking it to a higher level. You remind me a lot of myself when I was a budding geologist. It may seem strange, but many of my colleagues who chose a career in geology lack the intense interest and passion that you seem to posses. Even in geological circles I am often seen as that crazy rock guy. Many a driller that I have lead to a new drill site remarked that they can tell when an interesting rock cut is ahead as invariably my break lights are engaged and my vehicle begins to swerve (nothing like prospecting at sixty-five miles an hour) Keep up the good work and listen to the rocks as they are calling. PS: An excellent source of information is the American Mineralogist website which has all of their journals available free of charge in PDF format from 1916 through 2000 www.minsocam.org/MSA/AmMin/AmMineral.htmla sample article "Sphalerite from a pegmatite near Spruce Pine North Carolina" www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM22/AM22_643.pdfenjoy!! John-xtldggr-Makohon
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Post by postal on Jan 19, 2011 19:38:16 GMT -5
I manage a copy shop here in columbus ga. Not much in my area for mineralization.A good source for info espically for new construction sites to check out.We get plans for new construction jobs even before the job bids.So I am privy to new digging sites prior to construction.I talk mostly to Civil engineers and survey companys,They are first in the field and the ones out there digging.Kia plant La grange Ga.best pottery chards and points I have ever found.Bad part of this after showing my finds to the job foreman" insurance" would not allow me back on the site.Sand and gravel,fill dirt suppliers are also out there digging to keep supplys up.Great fossil finds thanks to Flat Rock sand and gravel here in Columbus.Showed me a spot when I asked them about some marine fossil concretions on their lot when I was begging for freebes for the Boy Scouts.Talk to people.Pete
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Post by Ryan on Jan 19, 2011 22:22:04 GMT -5
Mitch: Ive actually read that! Theres a site with a .pdf version of it. It was very interesting and helpful, but like you said earlier, some of the geo-language was greek to me. "The orogenesis of the periodotite intrusive ultramafic pluton trends southwest along the saprolitic gabbro and diorite and chewbacca took a big crap on my brain!!!" I basically skip over those parts or try my best to comprehend a sentence where I have to google or wiki half the words in it!!! Im learning though. When I first got here, Pegmatite, Alpine fissure, and saprolitic granite were all greek, and now I know what they are. I think its a game of listening to everyone, and then screening out the nuggets of wisdom that you hear and see more than one person demonstrate. Its also helpful to compare notes because Ive been told more than a few falsehoods from rockhounds that dont know as much as they think they do. Mainly out in the woods. Most of the folks here at DRH are on the reliable side. John: I appreciate the kind words. I guess I am passionate about most sciences. I GET science. yknow? Always have. Ill use this analogy: "Politics, religeon, algebra, trig and spanish are all languages I can speak, but I can write poems and melodies with science", so to speak. Astronomy and Biology were my first conquests. Had a big MEADE reflector 'scope a star chart, and a microscope kit with prepared slides by the time I was 10 or 12. (Did I mention I was a dork?) First year of college, I did Bio, MicroBio, and Meteorology. Then archaology in late college. I did not excel at that one, but I can tell you the date on most tombstones without reading them, based solely on the stones shape and composition. My professor had a weird obscession with tombs and resting places. I didnt get SERIOUSLY into geology and rockhounding until a few years ago when my fossil collecting group started to get bored with shale and ferns and sea shells. But even as a child I had a rock collection. Mainly chunks of sandstone and such that I liked because they were big, or round, or sparkly. Then I remember going to places with the parents, like Laurel Caverns, here in PA, and always buying the little cards from the gift shops with stones and IDs glued to them. I have more than a few of these leftover from childhood. Maybe some of you all had these as kids. Look like this: I think threads like these are extremely helpful. Thanks for the minoscam.org link. looks like a good reference resource! Thanks for all the text references everyone reccomended. I think Ill start with Sinkankis and work my way through the list. I may not know it all yet, but Ill get there Mainly with the help of you all. I also have a quality I see most successful hounds display. Im stubborn. That rock will break before I do!!! This thread really took off. Im glad it did. Learning is good. :-) Still waiting for some outstanding stories of hittin the mother lode! I know some of you all have done it once or twice. Id like to hear what the rock was doing right before you hit the good stuff!
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Post by arappaho on Jan 20, 2011 7:58:50 GMT -5
Well, Ryan, It's kind of like cleaning windows. The window is right where it's supposed to be, the hardest part is getting to it.
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Post by rockshine on Jan 23, 2011 10:04:38 GMT -5
Well Ryan, looks like I'll have to tell you a hiddden treasure story to get you to take a nappy nap. Several years ago, I was leisurely strolling in a certain area of the Buck Creek- Chunky Gal, investigating the outreaches of a known location. Late in the afternoon, I heard a noise (was it a bear???) emanating from a laurel thicket just a few hundred feet from where I was standing. While I pondered my alternatives, while I dithered in indecision, suddenly there came into view..... two elderly gentlemen, with their hiking staffs and digging tools. I knew in an instant it WAS NOT SAINT NICK. Hello Mr. Wykel (may not be the correct spelling of his name, but it was the selfsame he.) "What are you doing up here?" When he and his companion had caught their breath, he said, " We are looking for ____ but we got turned around and aren't sure just where we are now." I pointed out that they were practically at their destination, although they were approaching from the most difficult route. After he had commented on how the landmarks had changed since 1957, he mentioned that about that year, He and his companion had discovered a 200-300 pound sapphire cluster at this location, but as it was late in the day, had decided to hide it and return later to tote it out of the mountains. It so happened that the following week, his rocking compadre had suffered a heart attack, and they had neglected to come back for their find, until now, the time of the tale. "We decided we better come get it while we are still young enough to haul it," he said. At that time, he was 95, and his younger companion was over 90. They went home without rediscovering the huge stone: neither have I found it.
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Post by stevebarr on Jan 23, 2011 11:46:21 GMT -5
VERY cool story, Rockshine. Of course, now we'll never be able to get Ryan or Rick off of that mountain until they find that thing. (Although I have a sneaking suspicion it might already be hidden in Rick's basement....)
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Post by rockshine on Jan 23, 2011 18:23:18 GMT -5
I neglected to mention that Mr. Wykel had a rock shop on US 28 near Bryson City.
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Post by auplater on Jan 23, 2011 20:13:50 GMT -5
Well Ryan, looks like I'll have to tell you a hiddden treasure story to get you to take a nappy nap. Several years ago, I.... kinda like this... |^o www.elkhorncity.org/node/89zzzzzzzzzzzzzz ;D John L.
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Post by rockshine on Jan 24, 2011 8:02:38 GMT -5
stories like that keep me awake all night dreaming about them.
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Post by Ryan on Jan 24, 2011 22:06:48 GMT -5
Wow. 200 lb corundum!!! That would be quite a find!!! And those lost silver mines, well that's another adventure that needs examination. Good stories!
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Post by hydrogeologist on Jan 24, 2011 22:21:37 GMT -5
Just wanted to say that a search by one man in Maryland for a tourmaline locale discussed in the 1930's led to the discovery of a pegmatite that produced some of the biggest blue beryls and apatites in the state. Do the legwork and you never know what you'll find.
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Post by Ryan on Jan 25, 2011 2:14:30 GMT -5
I came across some extremely detailed maps of WNC recently. Some of them actually pinpoint individual pegmetite outcrops. These are awesome. The legend took 4 pages to print. I zoomed into individual counties and made large maps for the more interesting ones (IMO) Yancey, Mitchell, Alexander, and so on and so on. I made a new binder that puts my old one to shame. I tried to match scale so my existing highway transparencies fit over them but to no avail. Oh well, I put some serious hours into those. Whatever. I have an awesome resource now. I got a program online called Lizardtech GeoViewer. Lets me download and view maps that are like 22,364 x 18,384 pixels. I highly reccomend it to anyone interested in geo-mapping. Great resource!!! Also, Ive been picking out a few locations. I have correllated data from a few old mines. Some gold and copper, some precious stone. I have found coordinates on mindat.org, marked them on my map, and now I am researching the history on each, status of each, and am using google maps streetview to gauge ideal collecting spots. Im focusing predominanly on long lost mines, old producers. I am also "predicting" finds at prospects in geological formations, anomalies and occurances that look identical to those of known producers, but exist nearby, in similar geological settings. Id like to run one or two locales by an experienced geologist via PM and see what you think of my first choices for prospecting. Any takers? Anyhow, thats my progress. This thread has been awesome. Truly awesome! Almost 50 replies! I hope it continues with great stories and great information and great finds!!! Keep it up yall!!! PS, hydro, thats a really cool story about your pal in Maryland. That must have felt great to find! Mr. Barr, youre absolutly right, I am WAY more interested in Chunky Gal after the 200 lb corundum story than I was before. But I too suspect Rick already has it and is hiding it from us By the way, one member asked if I ever sleep as my posts come at all hours...Well, its a difficult thing to explain...Lets just say my "kind" doesnt require sleep. I find it silly actually. Mortals are so cute. And GO STILLERS!!! ( Not a typo, thats how we say it in Pittsburguese )
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Post by chromite on Jan 25, 2011 9:26:44 GMT -5
Ask away, it can't hurt. I wouldn't call myself an experienced geologist though.
As an aside, anyone here hike the Cullasaja, I would really like get a good look at the geology through the gorge?
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Post by tracey on Jan 25, 2011 19:07:34 GMT -5
Wow Ryan! sounds like you are putting together an amazing volume of research, maybe a book one day?
I've really enjoyed what prospecting I've done but "follow the mica, find the quartz" is as high tech as I got.
Also, I'm not familiar with the mountain counties but here in Catawba County I love the GIS system. You can find out the owner name, address, when it was purchased, the deed, if any building permits have been pulled, topography and arial photos from 2009, 2005 and 2002 (very helpful to see if any dirt was moved around).
Enjoying the voices of experience and learning soooo much, THANKS!
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Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Jan 25, 2011 19:59:15 GMT -5
Do you mean that the info you can get is like the info on the BLM LR 2000?
What gis are you using and what program. I only thought that kind of info was on the BLM sites. I am excited
Dicky
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Post by tracey on Jan 25, 2011 20:23:03 GMT -5
Dicky, not sure about Colorado and have no idea what BLM LR 2000 is.
In many (can't guarantee all) counties land records are on public access websites, most often referred to as GIS. Try a google search with the county name state GIS, also/or try county name state government, that will most likely find you the official government web site for the county and look for links/departments, GIS, Land Records, Tax Accessors.
Good luck, hope the counties of interest to you post lots of good info!
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Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Jan 26, 2011 9:03:57 GMT -5
thanks for the directions . It will help greatly for the private lands. Just a different way of finding I was not familiar with. FYI ==, the BLM LR 2000 is the land records of the Bureau of Land Management Records, and the LR2000 is a section of the geocommunicator in the site where one can look at a goggle earth type of image of any land in the country ( can even switch from satellite view to topo to road to base) and then add data such as mining claims closed and active and then click to find the owner and other info. Really good . below find copy of some of the page directions: www.blm.gov/lr2000/ The Bureau of Land Management's Legacy Rehost System called LR2000 provides reports on BLM land and mineral use authorizations for oil, gas, and geothermal leasing, rights-of-ways, coal and other mineral development, land and mineral title, mining claims, withdrawals, classifications, and more on federal lands or on federal mineral estate. National Integrated Land System (NILS) - GeoCommunicator - Land & Mineral Use Records Viewer Want to view, search, and access your land and mineral records using an Interactive map viewer? NILS GeoCommunicator interactive map viewer allows you to search and display most of the land and mineral, status, and mining claims records along with a variety of reference maps including surface management agency boundaries, T/R/Sec/Aliquot, rivers, roads, topo maps, and imagery. You can link from GeoCommunicator directly to LR2000 to get a serial register page or a township geographic report. GeoCommunicator is meant to compliment LR2000 with mapping capabilities not replace it. LR2000 is the definitive source for the records. To see a record from LR2000 on a map, click the MapIt button on the serial register page to bring up the record on NILS GeoCommunicator's interactive map. Dicky
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Post by xtldggr on Jan 26, 2011 16:04:45 GMT -5
Ryan,
Happy to help you with interpreting geologic settings, shoot me a PM and I'll give you some assistance.
Dicky,
A great place to access local gis information is from the associated county engineering offices near the areas you are interested in; give it try, you may be pleasantly surprised. State geology bureaus often require water well drillers to submit a copy of their drilling logs for the record. This info can be cross referenced in numerous ways often including address or county, city, and road associations. a little work correlating the logs and creating a cross section can be very informative.
John-xtldggr-Makohon Geologist
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Post by nose2ground on Jan 28, 2011 11:07:56 GMT -5
to hopefully add something, I managed to obtain 2 overlays that I use on Google Earth - one tells you the primary geologic composition of the area, and the other is a listing of all recorded mines and occurences with info on them. I had found it while playing around on a treasure forum, will see if can find the links...
Of course I noticed that JXR is not on this particular system even though it is an active mine, so leaves one to wonder. Also nothing on the old Tiffany mine (willamb), though I did see that in that region you transpose between 3 different geologic layers - JXR is within the undifferentiated metavolcanics and quartz micah schist - below that it becomes granite schist. Perhaps that is useful to know?
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