|
|
Post by nancyh on Jan 30, 2007 22:56:52 GMT -5
Help! I will be going to visit a friend in Alabama in about three weeks. My husband and I will be traveling from Raleigh, NC. Are there any roadside collecting spots or road cuts I could stop at along the way? My dear husband is willing to stop a little for me but we can't go too far off of the main highway. Please, are there any rocks in my future?
|
|
|
|
Post by catannc on Jan 30, 2007 23:44:04 GMT -5
I don't know of anything, never been down that far south. But you may want to check mindat.org if you haven't already, they list some roadcuts.
Cathy
|
|
|
|
Post by snakewrangler on Jan 31, 2007 11:23:17 GMT -5
Northern or Southern Alabama? If your headed towards Southern Alabama all you will find are arrow heads and maybe the very occasional fossil.
I think that there is a place near Birmingham (Northern part of the state) where you can find hematite.
Kyle
|
|
|
|
Post by geodepat on Jan 31, 2007 18:29:01 GMT -5
Give us your route and destination. I have found some nice garnets in a soft green shist near Hog Mt. Off of 280. Do you have an Alabama gazetteer? That would help. Pat  |
|
|
|
Post by nancyh on Jan 31, 2007 20:22:43 GMT -5
We are going to Decatur, Alabama and its in Morgan county. Map-quest says I-95 south, I-20 west, I-65 north.
|
|
|
|
Post by geodepat on Jan 31, 2007 22:08:05 GMT -5
I've never done any rockhounding in the northern part of Al. But I have wanted to see Little River Canyon. The only quick stop that I can see would be to get off the interstate somewhere in the Talladega National Forest and find a creek to do a little surface looking. You will be in major gold contry. Try getting off of 20 at mile marker 199 and go south on hwy 9 to Belltown. Pick up cr 13 and head west it will go into the forest and cross a creek not to far from there. After you check out that area you can go a little bit further and take the first right turn and up that road a little way is a place where that same creek and another meet and follow the road for a ways. Kind of looks like the area where we camp at Buck Creek in N.C. You can either back track to get back to I 20 or you can turn around and take a rt. and hit cr 6 go west to hwy 1 which will hook up to I 20 at mile marker 191. If you find some greasy greenish gray rock break it open it has garnets in it. Thats the best I can come up with. If I was taking the trip that is where I would pull a quick rock stop. Good luck, Pat
|
|
|
|
Post by jewelonly on Feb 1, 2007 9:57:38 GMT -5
Hi Nancyh,
There aren't a lot of road cut opportuntities on the route you are taking to Decatur. However, if you like fossils, you might try checking out the high cliff cut on I-65 S, south of Exit 299 which is about 36 miles North of Birmingham on your way back from Decatur. You can't help but notice it on your way up, 'cause it looks like they cut the mountain in half. I have found Mississippian period fossils weathering out there, but the site is not prolific. There is a much smaller weathered bank S of the exit in the North bound lane, but I have never spent much time there.
Once you arrive in Decatur, you are not far from Huntsville, and you may find several newer road cuts in the surrounding areas of the city, as it is growing by leaps and bounds and they always seem to be doing road construction. Also, I have always wanted to examine the banks along the Tennessee River there in Decatur to see if I could find any geodes.
Sorry there is not a lot to report...now you see why I drive 5 to 8 hours to dig for minerals. (smiling)
Good luck,
Leah
|
|
|
|
Post by JohnD on Feb 1, 2007 10:31:33 GMT -5
Nancy, about 50 years ago I found some beautiful kyanite clusters in a road cut near Sylacauga and also some pyrite crystals in a quarry in the same area. Good luck  |
|
