Hi I'm Janie and I'm a rock addict!!

[janie01]

I am glad that i found this thread. I married a geologist which was the first part of my addiction... ;D
Seriously though we are planning a 2 week foray of rock hunting in the NC mountains and possibly in south Carolina. We spent time in Nantahala 2 summers ago with our kids. Even the baby was getting into it. I would love to find good pieces that i could display along side of my pottery. I am a potter also and have used some different minerals in my glazing process. Any suggestions would be great. We want to camp since there will be no kids!! YEAH!!! This is actually a 10 year wedding anniversary trip. Could have gone to Costa rica...but instead we feed our addiction to rocks and minerals...LOL!!!

[earthnhands]

Hi Janie and welcome. Hmmm.... NC for two weeks? I don't know where to tell you to start, but it will definitely be a good trip for you. You just can't have a bad time camping in NC!
Go to the Ray and Crabtree and Little Pine in NC. Go to Diamond Hill in SC; and if you are that far south you really should go to Jackson's Crossroads in Ga (only about 45 miles from Diamond Hill). Then there is Graves Mtn for a completely different experience (also another 45 miles or so, south). Check all the fieldtrip reports for MAGMA on wncrocks.com for info on these sites. These are the standard locations everybody goes to; other people may have more or other suggestions.

It would be great to see some pics of your mineral glazed pottery.
Happy Hunting!
Rebecca

[jpolk123]

Welcome to Dirtyrockhounds Janie! You have come across about the biggest bunch of rock nuts most likely on the planet. Already I can tell that you are gonna fit right in. There is tons of knowledge and talent here so enjoy!
What you need to do is watch the scheduled field trips and plan your trip around those dates. This will allow you to meet some of the folks here and go to places that are known producing places. You can check out the fieldtrip section of the site to get an idea as to where you would like to go. This is a good way to start out hounding in N.C. and surrounding areas. After getting used to the area there are a number of spots that you can prearrainge a visit with owners. The best part is all the great people that's in the club. You might even concider attending the annual roundup. Always a great time plus there are digs set up too.
As you see a lot of people post thier finds and talent here. You work will be a welcome addition to the many other projects that we are into. So post some pics. The addition of a geologist to the board is a great addition too. There are many questions that come up here that get quite deep.
So sit down and dig in...it's gonna take awhile to digest all that is offered here. Jim

[janie01]

Rebecca,

Thanks for all the suggestions!! We auctually live about 28 miles north of Raleigh NC. I have been checking out the field trip sites for MAGMA and i am getting really excited!!
I will see what i can find picture wise of the one pot that i kept . I used a slate slurry from the bottom of my tile saw. We used recycled slate roofing tiles to tile the floor in our upstairs bathroom. It contained lots of iron that auctually formed some micro crystaline formations at the top of the pots. It is really cool....Just read this to my husband and he suggested going to colorado.....2 days in the car...that could be cool...

[janie01]

LOL!!! I guess i should have added to the post that my husband is an environmental geologist. I usually find the answers to my mineral questions by asking others questions or figuring it out on my own...How ever he does come in handy when it comes to asking him about the mineral and chemical make up to the rocks. Especially when i am in glaze experiment mode. I am looking forward to this as i think the whole family could and would enjoy this.

[crystaldigger]

Hi, Janie! I'm Scott and I too am a rock-aholic.

[Dicky the Rockhunter]

did you say Colorado? Wow come on out , however I suggest you wait a few months as most areas to dig are frozen and under snow and will remain so for a while. If ya want to come on out any way I would love to show ya some fine areas and find something for you let me know.

Otherwise welcome to the forum we look forward to your posts

Dicky

[janie01]

Dicky,

That is fantastic!! I will keep that in mind for sure!! Thank you so very much for the offer!! We are planning on a 2 week late july foray....Its a dry heat right?

Scott,
I like the way you are thinking!! LOL!! Things i have noticed about rock hounds, geologist and potters....
1. We never mind getting dirty
2. We always are at our happiest when getting dirty or playing in the mud.
3. Most of us have minds that are just as bad at getting muddy.....

I'm just saying...its an observation...

[rons]

Hi Janie...
check out the end of July "Rockhound Round Up"..
IT IS A BLAST.... different mine every day..The Spruce Pine Show runs the same week..Rick has pics of the campground area...... just a thought....welcome to the board, hope to see you at a dig soon......Ron

[stevebarr]

Ron's right. The end of July is when the Roundup takes place. Cheap camping, good food, great company and lots of rockhounds swapping and selling specimens from all over the place. Daily trips to dig sites. And, it coincides with the annual Gem Show in Spruce Pine!

Most of the major fee dig sites in the southeast require making arrangements before you visit them. Some will let you camp there, others don't, so check with the owners or caretakers before you go. Here's a list of some of those places with links to their information:

The Diamond Hill Mine in Antreville, South Carolina… is about 20 minutes south of Anderson, South Carolina.

You have to arrange trips to that mine through the owner, Chester Karwoski or one of his caretakers. Here's a link to his website: www.gamineral.org/commercial-diamondhill.htm

You can find skeletal quartz, smoky quartz and amethyst at that location. It's fifteen dollars a day per person to go there, and you can keep anything that you find.

You might enjoy the Crabtree Emerald Mine in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. Here's a link to the website for that one: www.wncrocks.com/resources/Collecting%20site%20crabtreemine1.htm

Also in North Carolina, you might like to check out the Little Pine Garnet Mine. Here's a link to their info: www.wncrocks.com/resources/Collecting%20site%20little%20pine%20mine.htm

Graves Mountain is in Georgia, and features some awesome and unusual minerals. www.wncrocks.com/resources/Collecting%20site%20graves.htm

Jacksons Crossroads has some of the finest amethyst in the world, and beautiful druse crystals. www.wncrocks.com/resources/Collecting%20site%20jackson%20crossroads.htm

There's also the Hogg Mine, which is located west of Atlanta, Georgia. You can find rose quartz and beryl…sometimes even aquamarine there. Here's their link: www.dixieeuhedrals.net/content/hogg.php

And, if you're in the area while there is a MAGMA sponsored dig scheduled, make sure you come out and play in the mud with us! Keep an eye on our "Upcoming Events" calendar. It gets updated quite often.
www.wncrocks.com/magma/magma.html

[postal]

Steve you mentioned the Hogg Mine .Is Kaolin or was Kaolin used in the pottery industry?If it was there is tons of it at the Hogg Mine.

[stevebarr]

Hmmmm....if Janie101 can find some good pottery clay at some of these dig sites, I bet she'd "clean up" at the Roundup. I know I'd be willing to swap some nice mineral specimens for some North Carolina pottery (especially if they had material in them from mine sites). I bet other people would, too. Janie....come to the Roundup and bring some pottery with you! We'd all love to see it, and I bet you could go home with some awesome gems if you're willing to swap and sell.

[gsellis]

If you go to CO, take Dicky up on his offer. He and 4Cornersrocks have the inside track on Mt. Antero among other things.

[Paka]

Welcome aboard, Janie!! If you are in the Franklin area, I always recommend the Cherokee Ruby Mine, especially if you are interested in corundum; great place and the family who runs it are the nicest folks you'll ever meet. Pieces of old Indian pottery are found there pretty often too.

[stevebarr]

Paka is right. If you want a relaxing day sluicing for rubies and sapphires, the Cherokee Ruby Mine is the place to go in Franklin. They do not salt their buckets. Everything you go through is truly native material, and some fascinating finds have been discovered there. They also give a very nice discount to MAGMA Platinum Members.

Here's a link to their website: www.cherokeerubymine.com/

(She's also right about the owners….it would be hard to find nicer people. They're great hosts, and will help you identify your finds.)

[Chigoe]

Hi Janie, welcome to the board. If you add small amounts of Rutile in your glaze it will add a blue color to the pottery finish. I've seen wood fired pieces done this way and they are beautiful. I have some Matrix Rutile pieces from Graves Mountain that I can give you if you want to try it.
Mark, Sr.

[botanyme]

Welcome Janie! You certainly came to the right place. 2 weeks with no kids, digging and playing...wow...either place would be fantastic. The roundup is a blast and as Steve said, if you make some NC or SC clay pottery, I'm in too. Love to see some of your stuff - post some pics!
becky