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Post by writerman2255 on Jun 26, 2008 18:57:37 GMT -5
That sure looks like aqua color. I have found a lot of aqua crystals at the crabtree, but they've always been the typical six sided beryl shape. Maybe this was part of a huge hunk, or a piece of quartz that got bio greened!
Love and Light, Tom.
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Post by romare on Jun 26, 2008 22:13:59 GMT -5
Looks like beryl to me Bammer. I have a piece like that from Catawba Co. NC that is definitely beryl.
Mark
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ken
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Post by ken on Jun 28, 2008 18:13:25 GMT -5
Cleaned a 'little ' piece of emerald matrix.
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Post by lee on Jun 28, 2008 20:08:30 GMT -5
Ken:
You are really making progress with your cab and wrap work. I really like your free form specimens. Keep up the good work.
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 10, 2008 9:41:22 GMT -5
Hello, everybody. With two sleepovers, two birthday parties, and a playdate, I had no opening to zip up to the Crabtree for the machine dig, and believe you me, it was on my mind! But it's the summer, and the family has my priority, period. Even those stones have to take second place! I did go up yesterday, and was amazed at all the crytals laying on the ground, but that's always to be expected after a big rain. I'll take some pictures of them later today. The Crabtree Lives!
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Post by lee on Jul 10, 2008 11:00:59 GMT -5
Tom:
I appreciated your post on this thread. You made a comment that the Crabtree Lives. There have been statements in the past that the Crabtree has been screwed up by moving a bunch of site material. What do you think about all of the soil excavation at the site. Has it helped or hurt one's ability to find an emerald? Is the site now more acceptable to the public for family recreation?
My personnel belief is that the Crabtree Mine is now producing more emeralds than it has in years. Dirt is brought up from all layers of soil piles, the search area is located adjacent to a reliable water source, and the site is cleared for comfortable free camping. Boy this site has changed since MAGMA started being the caretaker for the mine. It is a location where people can find REAL crystals of types that are not common at other "mines".
I look forward to your next post of pictures of your finished jewelry and raw emerald material. Take care and let's get together soon.
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Post by bammer on Jul 10, 2008 13:54:47 GMT -5
Lee's comment/question: There have been statements in the past that the Crabtree has been screwed up by moving a bunch of site material. What do you think about all of the soil excavation at the site. Has it helped or hurt one's ability to find an emerald? Is the site now more acceptable to the public for family recreation?
I have dug at the crabtree a few years before MAGMA managed the site and I feel the clearing of the brush was the biggest improvement at the site. Before I didn't even know there was a pad in the back (the present camping area). The stirring up of the tailing piles is a great way to expose new/old material. I still advise to dig to find the best stuff but after a good rain surface collecting can be very productive. Now that the site is cleared and stirred up it is safer for me and my kid to prospect for the emeralds and the other cool rocks at the mine.
Thanks MAGMA you have made my experience at the Crabtree a 100 times better.
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 10, 2008 20:58:18 GMT -5
Lee: Absolutely, and without question, the moving around of dirt and the taking down of brush in the way has improved The Crabtree. I believe we haven't even scratched the surface yet. My observation is that a few acres may not seem like a lot of land, but when dump piles are twenty feet deep, and you are looking for something usually less than the size of a dime, to fully explore would take many, many, more years and years of searching, and we haven't even done all that much searching yet, so the fun is still there for anyone who wants to take the time and enjoy the beauty up there, along with that dirt! From being there so much, and listening to the stories of some old timers who visited with me up there a few times, a geologist who used to manage the mine, and then a lady who dug there many years ago, the potential for finding many emeralds missed in the past is great. There is treasure there to be found still, of that I am certain. Every single time I go up there, I find many crystals right on the ground, out in the open. I will post pictures of some I found just yesterday.
Love and Light, Tom.
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 10, 2008 21:11:03 GMT -5
The emerald second from the left is a half inch at its widest point. The one right nest to it, is chock full top to bottom, with gem grade green, the prettiest green you will ever find in the world, bar none! These were all up top, with no digging done in this case.
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 10, 2008 21:13:04 GMT -5
Okay, sorry about the fuzziness, but I think you get the basic idea!
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Post by hydrogeologist on Jul 10, 2008 21:16:27 GMT -5
Tom, No offense to you or any other WNC mineral collectors: but hot d$@&!. Connecticut common beryl from a place I just went to is almost the same color as Crabtree emeralds!!! I may just move up north as long as I can find a job doing environmental consulting...but that shouldn't be TOO hard...
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Post by reverenddeb on Jul 11, 2008 6:42:35 GMT -5
There are genuine emeralds in Connecticut, too. Just not a lot of them.
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 11, 2008 7:04:57 GMT -5
Where might there be emeralds in Ct., Deb?
Tom.
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Post by hydrogeologist on Jul 11, 2008 7:06:37 GMT -5
I got some sweeeet aquamarine up there, too. Real nice color.
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Post by carnelianpete on Jul 11, 2008 7:06:57 GMT -5
I heard it was in Trumball Ct. Next to Bridgeport. In a park of all places. But that was several years ago now. I have not heard of anything lately.
Pete
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Post by reverenddeb on Jul 11, 2008 9:38:05 GMT -5
I believe it was also in that pegmative belt which intersects Trumbull. I'd have to look back into it. Best emeralds are coming out of Greenland and Canada right now. Mostly secret and guarded locations.
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Post by amythestguy on Jul 11, 2008 10:02:04 GMT -5
TrueNorth gems
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 11, 2008 16:08:47 GMT -5
I just read The Crabtree report, and from the incredible amount of emeralds found last weekend, it's obvious that The Crabtree Lives! I'm SO glad people found a lot of material. That one rock looked incredible! You go!
PS: Good job on the report, Rick. The pictures were great!
Love and Light, Tom.
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Post by hydrogeologist on Jul 11, 2008 17:28:33 GMT -5
The CT emeralds are found in calcite pods in Old Mine Park and also in an abandoned construction site right near there in Trumbull. One can also find scheelite, fluorite, and topaz crystals there.
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ken
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Post by ken on Jul 13, 2008 18:18:52 GMT -5
Laterst LARGE find at the Crabtree Sat. by arrapahoe. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 13, 2008 18:49:15 GMT -5
Ken: Sweeeeet! Don't you just LOVE that green!
Love and Light, Tom.
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ken
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Post by ken on Jul 14, 2008 15:48:04 GMT -5
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Post by arappaho on Jul 15, 2008 8:47:16 GMT -5
I did not find anything good on Friday or Sunday, but here are my finds from Saturday, 7-12-08. So, as you can see, I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting anymore of their time at Crabtree. ;D Ken and I are just a couple of old codgers with nothing better to do. Joe
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Post by hydrogeologist on Jul 15, 2008 11:01:08 GMT -5
That common beryl is nice, too. Is any gem heliodor ever found at the Crabtree? I know I've found a good bit of it and gem beryl at the Ray. Just curious.
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 15, 2008 12:02:27 GMT -5
Yes, I have found some very nice gem helidor at the Crabtree. It is bright golden yellow and clear as a summer's sky.
Love and Light, Tom.
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ken
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Post by ken on Jul 15, 2008 13:14:55 GMT -5
I found severl small pieces that were clear yellow, almost like citrine over the weekend. Ken
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Post by lee on Jul 15, 2008 21:55:21 GMT -5
Joe
Nice finds. I agree, the Crabtree still lives and is producing some great specimens. Congratulations Joe and Ken for your finds and keep on looking for the King Kong of beautiful green crystals.
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ken
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Post by ken on Jul 17, 2008 11:27:26 GMT -5
Shhhh Lee. Don't tell everyone that there are still emeralds to be found at the Crabtree Mine. Everyone...he's pulling your leg. Everyone knows there aren't any emeralds left there. Right Tom?
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Post by writerman2255 on Jul 17, 2008 14:43:18 GMT -5
You got it, Ken. I just go there to look at the ducks.
Love and Light, Tom.
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ken
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Post by ken on Jul 17, 2008 15:42:57 GMT -5
And the snakes and frogs. What a lovely sound the bullfrogs make at night. Ken
P.S. And the wild turkeys.
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