|
|
Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Jul 18, 2009 17:16:30 GMT -5
   Unfortunately, I just heard that somebody stole a pocket at Joe Dorris' Smoky Hawk mine in the Lake George , Colorado collecting schist area. The following is a copy of an e-mail from Joe: Hello Folks, Between evening 16 July and morning 17 July thieves dug two pockets on the Smoky Hawk mine. The specimens are large smokies up to 4 or possibly 5 inches with tapering terminations and 2 to 3 inch amazonites. There may be some combos. The pockets were discovered late on the 16th and inspected for contents. We were saving them for filming by Blue Cap Productions. The amazonites are typical Smoky Hawk "green" and the smokies were satin luster. It is possible there were only a few good pieces as the two pockets were relatively small. I believe there were two diggers and that they walked in. They may attempt to contact you with these specimens for sale. They may or may not be cleaned by the time they try to market them. We do have some pieces from the pockets and can make a positive identification. It is possible we also have some "fits" to the stolen pieces. I would appreciate and welcome any information regarding this theft or even if you have ideas as to who might be in the Crystal Creek area actively highgrading claims. Thanks. Joe Dorris (719)685-4479
|
|
|
|
Post by amythestguy on Jul 18, 2009 20:19:21 GMT -5
man that sucks..thanks for the heads up dicky
|
|
|
|
Post by hydrogeologist on Jul 19, 2009 8:08:19 GMT -5
"Claim-jumping" is still a punishable crime in this country.
Although shooting someone for doing so is now frowned upon, unlike during the Old West days...
Anyways, hope the people get caught and the rightful owner gets the pieces returned.
|
|
|
|
Post by carnelianpete on Jul 19, 2009 8:57:04 GMT -5
>:(I find this still hard to believe  that there are people that belong to our little hobby (I mean all of us in general not just the DRH group) that would do this. I have found that 99.9% of us are good honest people. And it always "shocks" me that we have some idiots out there that would steal from a fellow collector for the sake of money or "look what I have in my collection". I would be ashamed to tell anyone about the find since it came on the back of someone elses hard work and money. And it would be an outright lie. How can you tell some one you found this and be proud of it?  ?I hope the B!@#%*&s get caught. This really pisses me off. Most of us do not have the means, time or resources to have a claim and work it and to hear that some one who puts in the time, money and effort to do this gets ripped off is just wrong. All I know is that some how, some way it will come back and bite the guys in the a#@. If they think it won't they are wrong. Sooner or later it does. I will certainly give a heads up if I see some thing that comes close to these specimens showing up. Pete
|
|
|
|
Post by amythestguy on Jul 19, 2009 9:58:39 GMT -5
I would keep my eyes open at Denver show...
|
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Jul 19, 2009 14:46:44 GMT -5
It's infuriating and disheartening to hear about this type of theft. The material from Joe's mine should be extremely easy to identify, since it is very unique. I hope the culprits can be caught, and that the stolen minerals can be recovered quickly.
Mine owners work hard to earn a living at what they do, and deserve to have their property treated with respect. The acts of just a few misguided diggers can have devastating results for honest rockhounds, and can end up closing access to great collecting areas.
I hope everyone on this board keeps an eye open for the type of material that comes from Joe's mine when they attend all of the upcoming shows. Maybe we can help track it down and get it back for him.
Although MAGMA is centered in the southeast, we have people from all over the country (and on other continents) who read this board. If everybody who visits this board and sees this thread keeps an eye peeled for the stolen minerals, somebody might spot it for sale.
|
|
|
|
Post by darrengilbert on Jul 19, 2009 20:02:13 GMT -5
Not that I get to a lot of shows but perhaps a pic of what this stuff looks like would help us all identify it easier should we run across it...
just a thought...
Darren
|
|
|
|
Post by Doug on Jul 20, 2009 8:45:19 GMT -5
I DESPISE ANY THIEF, BUT THESE SNEAKERS ARE SOME OF THE WORST. The most appropriate Justice would be for them to be digging someone else's claim and be caught in a cave-in. Don't want them dead, just REALLY humiliated upon rescue with a few REALLY painful injuries. I SINCERELY hope these vermin are brought to justice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Jul 20, 2009 8:57:13 GMT -5
I went out to Joes claim yesterday and the fence and no trespassing signs are all up and in good shape. So noone could have driven in , they must have planned. To see some of his material go to desertwindsgemsandminerals.com/coloradominerals.htmlThose I have sent material to know how good it is- the Dreamtime is just over the hill from Joes.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Jul 20, 2009 10:23:35 GMT -5
Here's a photo of a specimen from one of Joe's claims that's similar to the type of minerals that were stolen from him.  As Joe has reminded me, not all specimens that are brought to market are collected legitimately. It's always good to try to ascertain the legality of materials when you're purchasing or acquiring them. If you are at a gem show and see something like this for sale, inquire about whether or not it was a "recent" find, and where it came from. It may be that the dealer has acquired it legally, or perhaps they unwittingly bought it from the people who trespassed on Joe's claim. Legitimate dealers are usually happy to tell you where they got a specimen, and you might be able to help Joe track down the thieves. If you're suspicious of the origin of the material you see, you can contact Joe at: glacierpeak@pinnacle5minerals.com You can also visit his website to find out more about him and his claims. www.pinnacle5minerals.com/He has numerous dig sites in his area, and has always tried to accommodate collectors and people who wish to visit his mines, so let's try to help a guy who is friendly to rockhounds by keeping an eye out for the missing material. |
|
|
|
Post by mikeybrew on Jul 20, 2009 10:39:58 GMT -5
It's terrible to hear about this kind of thing, really despicable behavior. Sucks that Joe was getting these ready for filming too, I'm sure it was a very disappointing setback. Hopefully he finds some new pockets even better than those pilfered, quickly.
|
|
|
|
Post by amythestguy on Jul 20, 2009 14:49:09 GMT -5
I went out to Joes claim yesterday and the fence and no trespassing signs are all up and in good shape. So noone could have driven in , they must have planned. To see some of his material go to desertwindsgemsandminerals.com/coloradominerals.htmlThose I have sent material to know how good it is- the Dreamtime is just over the hill from Joes. The fence and no tresspassing signs are good so there is no mistakeing what they did was pure theft ...I have often wondered if someone was out hiking or prospecting and stumbled upon a claim like that..without the proper signs or markers they may think they just hit the jackpot unbeknownst to them it is a working claim....it is the propspectors job to know where he is at and who's land he is on no questions about it...out here on the east coast something like that is not a problem. when you are out west prospecting you may accidently stumble upon someones claim without knowing it thats why it's always good to have sign or markers or even better fences..that is just a shame that happened.. |
|
|
|
Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Jul 20, 2009 16:12:34 GMT -5
 To those of us that know the lr200 claim graphs help imensly and any way that area is so heavily claimed there is nothin left. Speaking of claim jumpers-- a few years ago (3 ) there was a gunfight on top of antero when someone tried to move a claim stake . Oh boy the ole WEST still lives.  I probably will see Joe next week and will update ya.
|
|
|
|
Post by hydrogeologist on Jul 20, 2009 19:12:50 GMT -5
Dick that story about the gunfight at 14,000+ feet is awesome.
BTW, do you know anything about that lapis mine in Colorado? I remember Steve Voynick's book stated that the property owner/miners's sign said something like "Don't even think about entering this land. The owner is VERY nearby and is a DEAD SHOT" or something along those lines. But that was back in the early to mid-90's.
Again, the Wild West is more alive than we know it...
|
|
|
|
Post by amythestguy on Jul 21, 2009 12:14:01 GMT -5
Hey steve that is a great pic..love the color contrast and the smokey is black as night
|
|
|
|
Post by darrengilbert on Jul 21, 2009 12:51:35 GMT -5
WOW, that sure is some pretty stuff and I can see why you say it is easy to identify!!!
|
|
that there are people that belong to our little hobby (I mean all of us in general not just the DRH group) that would do this. I have found that 99.9% of us are good honest people. And it always "shocks" me that we have some idiots out there that would steal from a fellow collector for the sake of money or "look what I have in my collection". I would be ashamed to tell anyone about the find since it came on the back of someone elses hard work and money. And it would be an outright lie. How can you tell some one you found this and be proud of it?
?I hope the B!@#%*&s get caught. This really pisses me off. Most of us do not have the means, time or resources to have a claim and work it and to hear that some one who puts in the time, money and effort to do this gets ripped off is just wrong. All I know is that some how, some way it will come back and bite the guys in the a#@. If they think it won't they are wrong. Sooner or later it does. 
To those of us that know the lr200 claim graphs help imensly and any way that area is so heavily claimed there is nothin left. 