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Post by Tinpan on Jul 24, 2005 21:40:21 GMT -5
A group of us prospectors took a break from gold prospecting and headed out to Morefield Gem Mine in Virginia. Wow, was it fun. I found some nice quartz crystals, citrine, garnets, amethest and this amazonite, which this is mine apparantly is known for. I'm sure you guys know all about this place, but anyway, i thought i'd share what we found. I bought the Black Tourmaline in the gift shop. I just had to have a piece of Virginia Black Tourmaline. Tinpan
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Post by dr00bie on Jul 25, 2005 7:34:42 GMT -5
Nice looking stuff! That amazonite from Moorefield is such a great color!
Drew
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Post by Craig on Aug 2, 2005 14:25:47 GMT -5
Very Nice Tin pan......How is your Mapping going. I would love to see your latest additions. Sorry I havent been at the VAGold site in a while, I hope all is well there and I will stop by and say hello. Thanks for the pics.
Craig
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Post by Craig on Aug 2, 2005 14:31:37 GMT -5
Hey TinPan...Is there a new site address for VaGold. I can't seem to open the site address I have. Thanks.
Craig
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Post by Tinpan on Aug 13, 2005 21:05:09 GMT -5
Thanks Droobie & Yepp. Mapping went pretty well. I finshed that up a few months ago. I have every goldmine in Virgina mapped out in Global Mapper and I down loaded that to my laptop. I just received a GPS and downloaded all of the co-ordinates into that. Whoa man is that sweet. The only problem I ran into was trying to save a usable map in jpeg for other people to be able to use. The problem is that in order to take a county map and be able to zoom in and see the detail I have to make the map 3000 by 3000 resolution. Zipped they end up 15 to 18 MB and it's just to big for people to download. Oh well.. Took my son,Luke, back to Morfield today. Boy did he have fun. Luke Sluicin' That is either a piece of Amazonite or a space ship Some of what we got today Close up of today's take. This batch was alot darker I'm in deep trouble on this one. I would really like to learn how to slice some these into slabs and cut them into Cabachons. I think I'll have to figure out how to source an inexpensive saw and I guess wheel or wheels. See I'm in trouble already. The VA Gold site is www.va-gold.comAnd... anytime any of you want to hook up and do some gold prospecting, let me know. I'm going to Contrary Creek tomorrow and next sunday. It is located in Mineral, VA. I can also take you out in Goldvein. I pretty much go every weekend and I have plenty of spare equipment anyone is welcome to borrow. All you'll need is a number 2 shovel and a bucket.
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Post by kawill on Aug 28, 2005 20:34:19 GMT -5
Hi Tinpan, Just registered at Vagold. Looks like a great site. I had a high capacity highbanker made and only used it once at a paysite. I would like to give it a real test on a creek. Are there any good sites in Va that a highbanker would be useful? Thanks , Keith
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Post by Tinpan on Sept 5, 2005 22:21:41 GMT -5
Hi Kawill,
Boy that's a nice looking highbanker. Yeah, we think highbankers are not allowed. According to the state we can't dredge or use gas powered equipment. Mind you there are no laws that say you can nor are there any that say you can't. We have been waiting 2 years for the state to officially approve dredges again. I don't know if gas powered highbankers will make the list.
Now battery powered equipment is a whole nother discussion, as you've probably seen. BTW, you do know there are over 600 goldmines in NC.
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Post by usarmy on Oct 28, 2005 7:10:18 GMT -5
took my kids down there and we all loved it well worth the small admission price we hope to go back soon
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Post by sapphiregirl on Jan 7, 2006 19:13:39 GMT -5
Hey I think we were there the day that you came to Moorefield. We are finding some other places to go to and find common opal or cheroot. Over in Powahatan, Virginia. There is probably more there as well as in the Ligon mine. The black tourmaline is really abundant in that mine. We will probably go back in a few weeks to see. You know Sam at Moorefield would probably show you how to do a cabochon. I bought one for a necklace shortly before Thanksgiving. It got a lot of comments.
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Post by Steve Barr on Jan 7, 2006 20:50:46 GMT -5
Sapphire Girl.....if you enjoy the Moorefield Mine, get there often this spring. I have heard that they will be closing for an undetermined amount of time this summer....they'll still open in March, but it will be a short season and who knows if they will reopen after that?
Just thought I'd give you a "heads up" in case you hadn't heard. A buddy in Va. just sent me that news a few days ago.
Also....are there any gold mines near Grayson Highlands/Mount Rogers National Recreation Area that are legal to work? Just wondering, I go there several times a year and would love to take my godson panning....
-Steve
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Post by sapphiregirl on Jan 8, 2006 17:41:48 GMT -5
Hey Steve I know that they plan on closing indefinetly in June. Sharon and Sam both have health issues. I have to wonder if they will sell. Most people here in the area hope someone will be able to buy it if it does go for sale. About the gold panning awhile back I used to go over to Dillwyn near the Slate River and pan, found some small stuff back years ago. Right now the forest service does not allow people in certain areas. It just depends. There are other sites but you really have to know the farmers in the areas. There is an area near Route 60 called Macon that is a site for some common opal and may have arrowheads. I know they found some at a site that is going to be a church. We bought one from a young guy that loves to collect rocks and gemstones as well. We want to wait until it is a little warmer here to go but should be fine before all the foliage comes in.
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