Post by crowbait on Nov 9, 2011 22:43:34 GMT -5
Hey guys,
Longtime rock hunter and gold miner new to hounding the southeast. Started off hounding New England as a small kid, with fond memories of hunting tourmaline, green beryl, and garnets by age 5. Have lived off and on in Panama City for a long time and never really rockhounded southeast other than arrowheads and fossils in Florida. Funny just never really thought about it. Do have a pretty decent shell collection though.. ;D
Been all over west coast collecting, from Canada to Mexico and am a part owner of some very productive gold claims in N. California. Got the southeast bug when I recently took my mother up to Franklin area last year and hit Mason's Mine and pulled a 28 ct saphire bell ringer. Got me thinking more and more about rockhounding ths area, and after poor conditions derailed this years kayak trip, made it to several sites with father to include graves mt and the hogg, as well as back to Masons for another ringer (12ct.) Had such a great time, and was so impressed with the potential at the Hogg and at Graves Mt that I've decided to get 'serious' about collecting more here
, and have started planning next years trips to include some more new sites into the mix, in addition to a possible trip to austrailia and the tuscon show.. Unfortunately its like starting over here on the east coast with equipment as all my collecting stuff is in Cali.
My favorites to collect are beryl, opal and gemmy crystals, but I've got boxes and boxes of stuff that must have been really special when I picked it up
. I dont typically buy specimens, as my fun is in the collecting, although I have been known to trade on occasion, and sometimes sell the extras. (how many of one thing does anyone really need?)
I look forward to meeting all of you at the different digs that come up, starting with this Sat, Nov 12 at The Hogg mine dig. Sharing the excitement with like-minded people is what its all about!
BR,
Byl P.
Longtime rock hunter and gold miner new to hounding the southeast. Started off hounding New England as a small kid, with fond memories of hunting tourmaline, green beryl, and garnets by age 5. Have lived off and on in Panama City for a long time and never really rockhounded southeast other than arrowheads and fossils in Florida. Funny just never really thought about it. Do have a pretty decent shell collection though.. ;D
Been all over west coast collecting, from Canada to Mexico and am a part owner of some very productive gold claims in N. California. Got the southeast bug when I recently took my mother up to Franklin area last year and hit Mason's Mine and pulled a 28 ct saphire bell ringer. Got me thinking more and more about rockhounding ths area, and after poor conditions derailed this years kayak trip, made it to several sites with father to include graves mt and the hogg, as well as back to Masons for another ringer (12ct.) Had such a great time, and was so impressed with the potential at the Hogg and at Graves Mt that I've decided to get 'serious' about collecting more here
, and have started planning next years trips to include some more new sites into the mix, in addition to a possible trip to austrailia and the tuscon show.. Unfortunately its like starting over here on the east coast with equipment as all my collecting stuff is in Cali. My favorites to collect are beryl, opal and gemmy crystals, but I've got boxes and boxes of stuff that must have been really special when I picked it up
. I dont typically buy specimens, as my fun is in the collecting, although I have been known to trade on occasion, and sometimes sell the extras. (how many of one thing does anyone really need?) I look forward to meeting all of you at the different digs that come up, starting with this Sat, Nov 12 at The Hogg mine dig. Sharing the excitement with like-minded people is what its all about!
BR,
Byl P.
